California
Hat Creek
Latest report: Hat Creek Report — The Fly Shop, 9 days ago
Solunar · next 7 days
About Hat Creek
Hat Creek's Wild Trout section is 3.2 miles of spring creek that will make you question everything you thought you knew about trout fishing. The water flows gin-clear over volcanic rock, the currents are slow enough that the fish — rainbows averaging 10-14 inches with some to 20 — have all the time they need to inspect and reject your fly. California designated this stretch below Powerhouse #2 as its first wild trout water back in 1967, and the fish have only gotten harder to fool since. When the PMDs start coming off in late May and the Green Drakes follow in June, the flat water sections produce some of the most technical dry fly fishing in the West.
The Wild Trout section has three distinct characters: shallow, easily waded riffles at the top, glass-smooth flats in the middle that demand 12-15 foot leaders and 6X-7X tippet, and a lower reach with more gradient and structure that's somewhat more forgiving. Browns make up roughly 20% of the population but account for the biggest fish, particularly in fall when they move up to spawn. The riffle water below Rising River offers a more accessible experience if the flats are humbling you, and the upper meadow sections above Old Station fish well for stocked trout under general regulations.
Weekends from May through June can be crowded — the Wild Trout section is well known and road-accessible from Highway 299. Fish weekdays if you can. Burney is the nearest town, about 50 minutes from Redding. Wind kills the fishing on the flat sections, so calm mornings and evenings are your windows. Beyond the PMDs and Green Drakes, look for Mahogany Duns and BWOs in October-November, Trico spinner falls in midsummer, and evening caddis hatches from July through September.
Species
- Rainbow Trout
- Brown Trout
| Species | Abundance | Best Season | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Abundant | Apr-Nov | 10-18" |
| Brown Trout | Secondary | Sep-Nov | 12-22" |