This TVFF trip was designed to catch the Salmonfly hatch of size 2-12 bugs on the creek, and we sure did. We had several resources say that it was too early, including one well-known Redding fly shop (un-named), but we witnessed a good hatch of these big guys throughout the two days we were on the creek. Pictures here: https://tvff.wildapricot.org/Hat-Creek-photos
They are just amazing to see, and as once described to me, appear as miniature helicopters as they flutter across the river. We saw them over the river never touching down, and they were also seen in the bark ridges and folds of pine trees near the creek if you looked hard enough. The results: I had only one strong take on a size 12 dry Salmonfly and it was aggressive. Sad to say; no fish to the net. The bugs only periodically hit the water, usually dropping from streamside trees so it’s not like fishing a profuse Caddis or Baetis hatch. Best approach is to fish Stonefly nymphs off the banks late in the day and just before night when they crawl out to bust out of their exoskeletons.
The rest of the trip was very good. Starting with Gary Prince knocking down a few rainbows in the first day’s evening hatch at Carbon Bridge with the largest about 16”. Hat Creek is a two stage fishery with hatches in the early AM, quiet at mid-day, and then a large amount of fish rising in the late evening, just before dark. And they have substantial cover being laid down by the mosquito hordes, which are just as hungry and must be on the trout’s payroll. Don’t go without your insect repellent! Nevertheless, Gary was persistent as usual, staying until there was no light available (8:40 PM) and returning up the trail via flashlight. Mark Spruiell, Chris McCann, Roger Perry, and I were all shut out with multiple takes and a shortened evening as we were all driven out early by the mosquito’s and the call of a cold beer.
Day 2 began at the Powerhouse 2 riffles with cloud hatches of tiny Tricos in the early AM as we arrived. No one wanted to tackle tying on a size 24 Trico dry fly imitation, but I’ll be back after those little guys in the future. Just because I’m a glutton for punishment with dry flies on 7X tippet with #22-24’s, and just because I want to say that I could. Quite a contrast to the size 2 Salmonflies. A few of us jumped into the riffles at the Powerhouse which were only running about 6” higher than normal with the strong winter, with Euro nymphing setups. We had early season company with about 6 other guys and another 4 or so downstream in the flats. It was a busy day at PH #2 for a while, and almost everyone left by noon as the fishery quieted down.
I had a good day in the riffles with dries raising about 20 fish, hooking eight, and landing five with the largest an unusual Brown at 14”. Based on past experience I anticipated that the Baetis and Pale Morning Duns would come off right at 9 and last until about 11:30, as they did. I ended up chasing pods of the rising fish downstream as they followed the drift and hatch, and then again back upstream. So much fun; so little time until the hatch died. We all packed up and then headed to the downstream side of highway 299 for an afternoon of fishing the riffles in the shade, and moving toward the final stretch before the creek drops into Lake Britton where the Salmonflies congregate. As I recall Roger netted our only fish that afternoon, which was a disappointment in such a beautiful stretch of the creek. When I caught up with him Roger was mesmerized by a 19-20” rainbow that was jumping and clearing the water way out of reach in the middle of the stream. Of course that kept us there longer than normal trying to get a cast to him, with no luck. We called it a day, while Gary, Chris, and Roger departed back to Carbon Bridge again to try and replicate the previous evening, but without much success this time around.
So off we went to all areas of Baum Lake on Thursday as the fully recognized “TVFF Flotilla” in our prams, pontoons, and fishing rafts. Reading a lake is tough for a stream based dry fly guy like myself, but not nearly so challenging for Mark Spruiell who headed off in his pram like he knew EXACTLY where he was headed further down in the lake. And he sure did, netting 10 rainbows over 17”. Mark is clearly the “Wizard of Baum” as he sure knows where, when, and how to speak trout. Chris is a good strong 2nd at Baum with his two rainbows, which is below his normal take rate up there, but he is still chasing Mark. A great job by Chris and Mark on a windy day for those of us in the pontoons and rafts that spent our day back rowing, dropping anchors, and flailing at the water. Overall, the trip went well with success depending on what type of fishing suited your style best, and we certainly had all styles represented. Weather was terrific as well, but the food in Burney? Very limited to non-existent options with late night fishing after 9 PM. So if you go; fish the mornings and evenings until dark, but you better bring your own dinner…LOL.
