Almanor Lake--First Brown of the Year

Thought I could cut across from Shelter Cove to Red Bluff to Almanor.  But I heard Hwy 36 was a very windy road so I ended up traveling via Ukiah and Clear Lake to Red Bluff and it took nearly six hours.  We got in camp after 9:30 PM on Sunday.

Yesterday was cold, rainy and windy so I just rested up but today I got out on the water for the first time.  Just about had the whole lake to myself it seemed.  It was a bit windy and the bite was slow, but I did manage to get a nice 19.5 inch brown for dinner tonight,

Nice fish thanks for sharing!  Although the roads you drove are windy, most provide amazing scenery.  As long as you aren't in a rush, that is a beautiful drive.

WTG on the Brown!

The real scenic route would have been to Garberville, Zenia, Ruth, to Highway 36, and probably half an hour shorter.  Six hours to almanor from shelter cove isn't terrible.  Unless you are in an airplane. . .

That's a hardcore trip, nice to see it paid off for ya!

So how does 36 from 101 to Red Bluff compare with Hwy 12 and 36 from Red Bluff to Almanor?  I meant to solicit advice on the road before GS IV started but forgot to.  We got to visiting with Boogieman and his wife and left so late--3 PM that I didn't want to chance taking a new route in the dark.

So how does 36 from 101 to Red Bluff compare with Hwy 12 and 36 from Red Bluff to Almanor?

You would have made I-5 before dark.  The worst parts of 101 to 36 are between the coast and Ruth Lake.  If you went through Zenia (which is much shorter than taking 101), you would skip that part.  It is a nice albeit very remote drive.  Hit it up next year!

Nice going! I'm here wishing i was a fishing and not Dog sitting Bentley

What did you catch it with?

Nice one Doug - congrats! 

36 is windy, but not like the shelter cove drive!  It only takes me around 3 hours to make it to Eureka from Red Bluff. 

With the family I usually take 299 over.  It is a bit longer drive (40 miles more), but takes the same amount of time, and isn't so windy (easier on my wife's and daughter's car sickness).  It is also much better with a trailer or boat.  Again it is about 3 hours, and a bit less if you push it.

Matt

That's a beauty! Hardcore of you to drive up there after GS4 too!

I actually like the (36), but I also like to drive for fun.     It is windy, but I personally don't think it is much worse than the (299).  The (36) is REALLY windy right off the bat coming from the coast, but mellows out once you get past the Hayfork cutoff (Wildwood).  I think the (299) is not as windy but stay windy the whole way to the (5).  Just my opinion.

What a football! Doug, man I miss that lake. You are definitely putting the hours in. Nice vacation!!!
 Randall

Man... you logged some serious road time there. But that is a beautiful fish. Nice one...

Freddie

Thanks for the comments and thanks for the tips on driving 36.  I think I'll try it next year after GS-V if I decide to link the two trips together.

Alex, I got him on a black and silver Rattlin" Rouge in ten feet of water,

Congrats on the brown Doug and great seeing you at GS4.

Jedmo