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Hat Creek

An angler casts to fussy spring creek trout on Hat Creek
Guided Fly Fishing Trips
Full Days: $650 for 1-2 Anglers, additional anglers $150 each
Half Days: $500 for 1-2 Anglers, additional anglers $150 each
  • Year-round
  • Walk/wade

Hat Creek is one of the most famous spring creeks in the West. The 3.5 miles between Powerhouse #2 and Lake Britton include classic spring creek flatwater and long riffles. The riffles at Powerhouse #2 and the lower end of the creek provide an excellent on-stream classroom for beginner fly fishers. Conversely, the flatwater in between the riffles is some of the most challenging water to fish anywhere in North America. The depth of the water makes wading difficult in many areas, calling for long casts. Fish are spooky and feed very selectively. Getting a fish to rise to your fly here is a great accomplishment.

Overcast days bring good hatches throughout the season. Salmonflies and golden stones attract large fish in late May and early June. Mayfly and microcaddis frequently hatch in large numbers on spring and summer evenings. Little yellow stones hatch heavily on early summer evenings in the Powerhouse riffle. Summer mornings feature a very consistent and thick Trico spinner fall, bringing up many good rainbows and browns. Fall fishing is good with a variety of mayfly species hatching.

Most of our Hat Creek guide trips start in Burney, Fall River Mills, or Redding. Guides Brian Kohlman and Mike Wright do most of our Hat Creek guide trips.

Hat Creek Hatch Chart

Mayflies
Green Drakes
Baetis
PMD
Callibaetis
Trico Spinners
Mahogany Duns
Caddisflies
Rhyacophila
Glossosoma
Hydropsyche
October Caddis
Stoneflies
Golden Stones
Giant Stoneflies
Little Yellow Stones
Terrestrials
Grasshoppers
May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
 
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
 
                         
                         
                         
                         
 
                         
                         
                         
 
                         

Lodging Recommendations

Hat Creek is located 10 minutes from the town of Burney, California. Please visit our Burney Info Page for ideas on lodging, logistics, and other activities in the area. Many of our guests also base their Fall River trip out of Fall River Mills, Mt Shasta City, or Redding.

Hat Creek Photo Gallery

Fishing the flatwater on Hat Creek
Guide Dax Messett looks for the perfect fly on Hat Creek
Hat Creek is home to some funky brown trout
An angler fishes Baum Lake, an impoundment on Hat Creek
A guide and angler fishing the Powerhouse Riffle on Hat Creek
A typical rainbow from Hat Creek
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