AFF Lake Almanor Hex Hatch Outing 2025

POLICY: IF YOU PLAN TO GO, RSVP THROUGH MEETUP! Members and guest(s) of all levels of experience are encouraged to attend. AFF Paid Members inviting guest(s) are responsible for the needs of their guest(s) and getting the signed Liability Waiver (link to AFF website below) to the Fishmaster(s) prior to fishing:
https://www.amadorflyfishers.org/AFF_Forms/2023_AFF%20Release%20of%20Liability-FILL-IN.pdf
If you or your guest(s) would like to request instruction or any loaner equipment, contact the AFF Host at least a week prior to the outing. If you RSVP but later are unable to attend, please be courteous and change your status to “Not Attending” so that we are not waiting for you. You can also directly notify the AFF Host or another attending member. Similarly, for safety reasons let the AFF Host or another attending member know if you leave an outing early.

AFF FISHING HOSTS:
Ron Calvert & Mike Greely (direct contact info provided after sign-up)
We will be arriving Wednesday 6/25 and leaving the morning of Saturday 6/28 (we totally understand though, if attendees want to stay the extra day and fish Saturday night).

GENERAL INFO:
We will be fishing for trout and bass in and around Lake Almanor. The Almanor Hex Hatch is an evening event starting around 5PM and continuing until after dark. Other daytime fishing opportunities in and around the lake include (but are not limited to): Deer Creek, Echo Lake, and Crater Lake. We'll try and get a read on what's fishing well ahead of the event and let folks know their options.

The Hex Hatch and other lake fishing is best done from a personal watercraft; local streams would be walk-and-wade fishing. Have a current (2025) fishing license, and know the regulations for the waters we will be fishing. This outing is barbless hook and catch and release.

For folks arriving Wednesday 6/25, we will use Plumas Pines Resort and Bar as a rendezvous point; it is on the west side of the lake where the Hex Hatch occurs, and it serves lunch and dinner. Alternate rallying points may be added as needed.

If you are not already in our contact lists, we will be requesting your cell phone number so we can use group text to coordinate our activities.

Flies and tackle can be purchased in Chester or in nearby Hamilton Branch (see suggestions below). However, it's usually best to plan in advance and bring what you need.

GROUP DINNER:
Since folks may be arriving and departing on different days, we'll set a dinner location and time once we have a better idea of everyone's schedule.

LODGING:
NOTE - MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY! This is a popular summer vacation spot; lodging is limited and books up quickly.

Chester is the closest town of any size and is located at the north end of the lake. Around the lake are campgrounds, RV parks, and smaller and older hotels and cabins. Ron and Mike will be staying at Best Western Rose Quartz Inn in Chester. (The Antlers Motel is another good option.)

EQUIPMENT:

• Personal watercraft
• Headlamp (and batteries!)
• 5-8 WT fly rod & reel. One rod will work, but experienced float tubers carry two rods so they don't have to change over from floating to sinking line fishing.
• Floating and sinking fly lines. For the Hex Hatch, you will be fishing 15-30 feet deep. You can either slowly troll with a fast-sink line (Type 3-6) or suspend flies under a deep water indicator rig.
• 1X-5X leaders, 2X-6X tippet
• Indicators and split shot
• A wading staff and a PFD are good to have in creeks, rivers, and on the lake. Play it safe!
• For Lake Almanor, Hexagenia Mayfly patterns are best - you can find patterns online for tying or buying. It's possible to fish dry fly Hex patterns, but 95+% of the fishing is typically done with nymph patterns (Mercer's Rag Hex, Lance Gray’s Balanced Hex, Burk's Hexagenia Nymph, Saddleback Hex, etc.). Other handy patterns include Black AP Nymphs and Balanced Leeches.
• Flies for moving water and other lake fishing are all the usual suspects including nymphs, dry flies, streamers, etc.