Copyright 2011 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Pit River California
The Pit River has several distinctly different sections.
The ones that provide the best trout fishing and the
sections we are focusing on are the ones below Lake
Britton. There is about thirty miles of river that flows
through a canyon below the Reservoir. Included in this
area are several dams and powerhouses each of which
create a small lake or reservoir and a tailwater.
The river is very difficult to negotiate in most areas due
to the tight canyon, large boulders and pocket water that
is as slick as it can get. That is due to the river's high PH
but the high PH is what provides the large, diverse
aquatic insect population accounting for it large trout.
Most anglers consider the very best fishing to be in the
uppermost section below Lake Britton. It flows down to
Pit #3 Powerhouse. It isn't quite as difficult as the other
sections. There are two more similar areas above the Pit
#4 and Pit#5 Powerhouses. Some areas can be reached
from the road, some areas you must hike along the
stream to reach and some have thick brush obstructions
along the banks. The Pitt Canyon Road parallels the
river most of the distance but it is very difficult to get
down to the water in many areas. There are two more
Pits, #6 and #7, but they are not fished very much. The
biggest problem is wading the slick rocks. Since the PH
is high, algae is very prevalent and the bottom is very
slick.
Seasons:
Fly fishing the Pit River is good all season long
Spring:
Spring brings on the most hatches and the best fishing
of the year. .
Summer:
Summer is usually good but the water can get pretty
warm on the hottest days of summer.
Fall:
Fall brings back some great hatches and better fishing.
It is easily gets our vote for the second best time to fish
the river.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Pit River:
The water flows very steady from each of the Dams at
stays at a fairly stable temperature. Fly fishing the Pit
River depend greatly on the discharges. (Click Here to
Continue)
The Pit River has several distinctly different sections.
The ones that provide the best trout fishing and the
sections we are focusing on are the ones below Lake
Britton. There is about thirty miles of river that flows
through a canyon below the Reservoir. Included in this
area are several dams and powerhouses each of which
create a small lake or reservoir and a tailwater.
The river is very difficult to negotiate in most areas due
to the tight canyon, large boulders and pocket water that
is as slick as it can get. That is due to the river's high PH
but the high PH is what provides the large, diverse
aquatic insect population accounting for it large trout.
Most anglers consider the very best fishing to be in the
uppermost section below Lake Britton. It flows down to
Pit #3 Powerhouse. It isn't quite as difficult as the other
sections. There are two more similar areas above the Pit
#4 and Pit#5 Powerhouses. Some areas can be reached
from the road, some areas you must hike along the
stream to reach and some have thick brush obstructions
along the banks. The Pitt Canyon Road parallels the
river most of the distance but it is very difficult to get
down to the water in many areas. There are two more
Pits, #6 and #7, but they are not fished very much. The
biggest problem is wading the slick rocks. Since the PH
is high, algae is very prevalent and the bottom is very
slick.
Seasons:
Fly fishing the Pit River is good all season long
Spring:
Spring brings on the most hatches and the best fishing
of the year. .
Summer:
Summer is usually good but the water can get pretty
warm on the hottest days of summer.
Fall:
Fall brings back some great hatches and better fishing.
It is easily gets our vote for the second best time to fish
the river.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Pit River:
The water flows very steady from each of the Dams at
stays at a fairly stable temperature. Fly fishing the Pit
River depend greatly on the discharges. (Click Here to
Continue)
| Type of Stream Series of Tailwaters Species Rainbow Trout Brown Trout (Wild) Size Small to Medium Location Northern California Nearest Towns Burney Redding Season Last Sat. April through Nov. Access: Fairly accessible but difficult Non-Resident License State of California Weather National Weather Service Link Hatch Chart Perfect Fly Hatch Chart Fly Fishing Guide Hatches and Flies Fly Fishing Gear Stream Flow Data |
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Pit River California
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Photo Courtesy of David Knapp Photography