Copyright 2009 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Hat Creek California
If you think you are the best fly angler in the World, then
maybe you haven't fished the smooth, flat water of
California's Hat Creek. The trout can quickly determine if
you have the proper amount of dressing on your fly, if it
is applied to heavily or to lightly. They don't fall for
anything but "Perfect Fly" flies. (Just kidding) You still
stand a good chance with other flies, just not as good of
a chance.
This stream is a very beautiful spring creek that flows
from the Mt. Lassen. It's cold and clear and can be
fished day every day of the season. The water remains
about as stable as any trout stream in the country. It has
a very diverse aquatic insect population.
Fly fishing Hat Creek becomes a match the hatch dream
situation except for one problem. Often there are
multiple hatches and figuring out what to do is not easy.
The trout usually key in on one insect but it may well
change within a few feet of water to yet another one.
There are even hatches of Salmonflies that occur in
May. There is a huge amount of Little Yellow Stoneflies
that hatch for almost two months. Green Drakes hatch in
June. Pale Morning Duns hatch from late June through
August. Several different species of caddisflies hatch
staring in April and lasting all Summer into the Fall.
Trout can be caught on imitations of the caddisflies late
in the day and early evening all summer long. Late
Summer and early Fall brings about some huge hatches
of the White Wing Curses, or Trico mayflies. There are
hatches going on all season on Hat Creek.
You have two choices for fly fishing Hat Creek. You can
choose the fish the upper Spring Creek or the section
below Powerhouse #2. Serious anglers fish the section
below the powerhouse. It is the wild trout section and the
section we will focus on most.
Just below the powerhouse there's a fast water section
of riffles. That's where many anglers prefer to fish simply
because it's easier to catch trout in the faster, broken
water. The stream quickly settles down into a smooth,
gin clear stream where wild rainbow and brown trout will
challenge your skills to the utmost. This section is gin
clear and smooth as glass. It has a dense weed growth
on its bottom that is a perfect home for many species of
aquatic insects.
Anytime you are fishing water where you can clearly see
trout you can rest assured they can see you. This has
both advantages and disadvantages. It requires longer
than normal cast and long, light leaders and tippets.
At the very end of this section the water again picks up
speed and runs through some riffles and runs as it goes
under highway 299.
Seasons:
The first of the season is the most popular time to fish
Hat Creek.
Spring:
May and June are the best months due to the many
aquatic insect hatches that takes place.
Summer:
Summertime sees a few good hatches and the water
remains cool providing good fishing.
Fall:
Fall maybe the best time for fly fishing Hat Creek simply
because the stream is much less crowded.
Fly Fishing Guide to Hat Creek:
The upper section of Hat Creek flows for about thirty
miles mostly through private land. It is stocked in many
areas. Fly fishing Hat Creek is fairly easy in the stocked
area. (Click here to continue)
If you think you are the best fly angler in the World, then
maybe you haven't fished the smooth, flat water of
California's Hat Creek. The trout can quickly determine if
you have the proper amount of dressing on your fly, if it
is applied to heavily or to lightly. They don't fall for
anything but "Perfect Fly" flies. (Just kidding) You still
stand a good chance with other flies, just not as good of
a chance.
This stream is a very beautiful spring creek that flows
from the Mt. Lassen. It's cold and clear and can be
fished day every day of the season. The water remains
about as stable as any trout stream in the country. It has
a very diverse aquatic insect population.
Fly fishing Hat Creek becomes a match the hatch dream
situation except for one problem. Often there are
multiple hatches and figuring out what to do is not easy.
The trout usually key in on one insect but it may well
change within a few feet of water to yet another one.
There are even hatches of Salmonflies that occur in
May. There is a huge amount of Little Yellow Stoneflies
that hatch for almost two months. Green Drakes hatch in
June. Pale Morning Duns hatch from late June through
August. Several different species of caddisflies hatch
staring in April and lasting all Summer into the Fall.
Trout can be caught on imitations of the caddisflies late
in the day and early evening all summer long. Late
Summer and early Fall brings about some huge hatches
of the White Wing Curses, or Trico mayflies. There are
hatches going on all season on Hat Creek.
You have two choices for fly fishing Hat Creek. You can
choose the fish the upper Spring Creek or the section
below Powerhouse #2. Serious anglers fish the section
below the powerhouse. It is the wild trout section and the
section we will focus on most.
Just below the powerhouse there's a fast water section
of riffles. That's where many anglers prefer to fish simply
because it's easier to catch trout in the faster, broken
water. The stream quickly settles down into a smooth,
gin clear stream where wild rainbow and brown trout will
challenge your skills to the utmost. This section is gin
clear and smooth as glass. It has a dense weed growth
on its bottom that is a perfect home for many species of
aquatic insects.
Anytime you are fishing water where you can clearly see
trout you can rest assured they can see you. This has
both advantages and disadvantages. It requires longer
than normal cast and long, light leaders and tippets.
At the very end of this section the water again picks up
speed and runs through some riffles and runs as it goes
under highway 299.
Seasons:
The first of the season is the most popular time to fish
Hat Creek.
Spring:
May and June are the best months due to the many
aquatic insect hatches that takes place.
Summer:
Summertime sees a few good hatches and the water
remains cool providing good fishing.
Fall:
Fall maybe the best time for fly fishing Hat Creek simply
because the stream is much less crowded.
Fly Fishing Guide to Hat Creek:
The upper section of Hat Creek flows for about thirty
miles mostly through private land. It is stocked in many
areas. Fly fishing Hat Creek is fairly easy in the stocked
area. (Click here to continue)
| Type of Stream Spring Creek/Tailwater Species Rainbow Trout Brown Trout (Wild and Stocked) Size Small to Medium Location Northern California Nearest Towns Burney Season Last Sat. of April through Nov. 15 Access: Good Non-Resident License State of California Weather National Weather Service Link Hatch Chart Perfect Fly Hatch Chart Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies Hat Creek Stream Flow Data |
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Hat Creek
California
California
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Photo Courtesy of David Knapp Photography
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