Event Description: This is a 2 night-3 day trip to explore t
he 3.5 miles of fishable wild trout water at Hat Creek. It is scheduled for the traditional large Salmonfly hatch that occurs during this period, as well as several other hatches. We will be fishing five different areas on Hat Creek from knee deep riffles at the Powerhouse and mid-stream to the gin clear, quiet flats, and to the downstream area of thigh deep water. This is a wading trip although it is recommended to stay out of the water unless absolutely necessary as the fish as very skittish due to the fishing pressure. It is barbless hook, catch and release water only. Fishing styles can include Euro nymphing, streamers, and indicators in the riffles, with dry fly presentations on the flat water.
The trip will encompass the Powerhouse 2 riffles in the early day followed by late morning dry fly activity below the riffles in the flat water to rising fish. Mid-day will shift to the mid-stream shallow riffles for high sticking/euro nymphing, or indicator fishing. Late in the day we will continue moving downstream to the meadow area for the Salmonfly hatch.
This is a wading trip and will require moving around frequently with some hikes of a maximum of about 2 miles in some areas, although individuals can choose to fish specific areas rather than transit between them during the day.
We will be leaving early AM from the Tri Valley with stops in Redding at The fly Shop for last minute supplies/flies as well as for gas and a lunch to eat in the car. That will get us to check-in some five hours after leaving the Tri-Valley and put us on the water the first evening ready for the late afternoon/early evening caddis hatch at Carbon bridge.
Cost: Accommodations and food; approximately $350 depending upon your choice of accommodations and food. And don’t forget your contribution to The Fly Shop’s continuing success…
Fishmeister: Rob Farris, RFFarris@comcast.net, (925)286-5502
Accommodations and Food: Lodging is available nearby in Burney, CA which is in-expensive and about $125 per night. I recommend the Green Gables if you won’t be camping. It is rudimentary but quite clean and comfortable. Camping is available in the area for those desiring it at the Burney Falls State Park (about 7 miles away) which is fully developed, and there is also camping at Baum Lake’s campground (rustic); 4 miles south of where we will be accessing Hat Creek in the mornings.
Each individual is responsible for their own food and accommodations. Burney only has a few really good restaurants and most close before 9 PM, so if we are out late it will be a challenge that leads us to either the local steakhouse (more expensive), the local McDonald’s, the local Indian Casino (not much) or the bowling alley. There are also gas grills available at the hotel which I have used before if I have brought along food to cook.
Breakfast is available in town at a reasonable café that is quite good. Be sure to bring a lunch for each day as we will not be returning to town after leaving in the morning. There is a Safeway in town that does prepare their normal Signature sandwiches and salads unless you wish to bring your own lunches for the trip.
Gear and Tackle Recommendations:
Rod & line weights/types: 4, or 5 weight rods, reels and floating lines
Leaders and tippet: Fishing style dependent but normally I fish a 9’ 4X leader and adjust with added tippet of up to 4-6’ of 5 or 6X for the dry flies. Depending upon the weather we also hit a Trico hatch in early morning in which case you will need 7X for the #22-26 flies. Euro nymphing rigs (i.e. mono rigs) will also be useful in the riffles.
Other gear; Note that no float tubes are allowed on Hat Creek in the wild trout section.
Flies: Flies to match and we will send out a more current list as we get closer to the dates and better understand how the weather and water are impacting the hatches. Typically you will need Salmonflies in sizes 8-12, various nymphs (complete list to follow), and an assortment of dry flies in sizes 14-18’s (list to follow as well). The fish are very picky and this is noted as a technical spring creek type fishing environment with dry flies, so fly matching with either dries or emergers is important, as is long leaders (up to 12 or 14’) with excellent presentation skills in the flat water.
