|
If your looking for trout with higher degree's in fly
fisher management and consistent fooling techniques?
This is the place and you my happy go lucky fly fishing
associates will be taken to school and turned into potential
golfers and birdwatchers. Hat Creek trout see more shiny
new waders then almost any other trout in California.
So what is the fascination with this easy access almost
chalk stream like water?
Water clarity and constant temperature combined with
an unwavering volume of creek flows, allows one to
fly fish here almost year round under the exact same
conditions! Of course there is a price to pay for this
park & throw wonderland. You can be sure of plenty
of company and rest assured that will be the case regardless
of the time of year. If you are new to the sport and
want an education in presentation and technique, Hat
Creek may be perfect. Many of the most skilled California
fly fishers make the trek to Hat Creek and test their
skills against each other. One can simply park and
walk and learn everything from casting long distances
to understanding the use of fifteen foot tippets and
flies so small only superman can tie them. |
Two Hat Creek Choices
Fly fishers have a no brainer when it comes to choices
within this popular fishery. Fast water and flat water
are on the menu, fast water gets most of the fly pressure
of course and that area is about a 450 yard area below
Powerhouse #2. This area north of Hat Creek Park near
Hiway 299 is always home to many bug tossers. It is the
flat-water section where the real skill and patience
pays off big dividends. If you can repeatedly hit a two-
foot circle at forty feet and feel hits without gaudy
strike indicators. This may be your cup of tea? If on
the other hand you cherish solitude and endless vistas,
well friend keep driving north toward the California
border for peace and quiet. The flat-water area is about
as majestic as it gets with wide-open meadows and fleets
of ducks cruising on windowpane glass water. Bring your
camera and take along a screen for sampling local insect
populations.
Hat creek has an exceptional pedigree; it was the
first western fishery to be designated for wild trout
in 1967. The ratio of rainbow's hovers around 80 percent
and brown trout at 20 percent. A word of caution for
waders working grassy banks, muskrat holes everywhere
have made the going a bit dicey. Be careful and use
a wading staff when you're not sure of footing. If
you love to work streamers along the grassy edges and
sneak up on browns holding in these hideouts, prepare
for sudden thrills. The need for highly developed casting
skills here cannot be over emphasized. As far as seasonal
catch rates are concerned, six fish mornings and evenings
are common. If you can only throw flies from 10am till
mid afternoon, well you know the answer to that quiz?
Best Flies
Parachute Mayflies #16-22, in colors brownish, black
or tan. Mayflies hatch almost everyday of season until
late November. In the fast area a bushy Elk Caddis will
make the fat guys stand up and take notice. If the wind
is up and it is at times in the fall, weary aqua citizens
have less time to check your offering. It never hurts
for those who like to tie their own flies to buy local
flies and copy them. In fact local bars and restaurants
may be the best place to find guides or experts on what
works and when. You can put all that floatant you been
hauling around to good use as well as your line prep
gear. Tippets in the 5.6 and 7x range are standard. Fly
rods 3/5 weight or even lighter will get the thrill machine
cranked up! But, remember, presentation, presentation,
and presentation... If all else fails and your arm is
about to fall off, search out those size #22 Mosquito's
or ants or spiders. Remember all meetings of the over
weight senior citizen trout club are conducted about
a half hour before the sunsets.
Access
Pacific Gas and Electric own the land surrounding wild
trout water. Begin at junction of Highway#299 and 89,
then go east on 299 about two miles to Cassel Road turn
off, follow two miles south to Crystal Lake State Fishery,
go east about a mile to get to Baum Lake. To get to Hat
Creek Powerhouse #2 follow south on paved road for about
2 miles ending in Powerhouse Parking area. This area
is the start of a trail for a large section of the creek.
If your looking for bathroom facilities and company,
head north to Hat Creek Park turn off, if your disabled
this may be best area to get on the action. Picnic tables
and scenery abound along with plenty of company. The
catch and release manifesto is the only way to fly here
and absolutely must be adhered to. One last fly thought,
if your into spinners, cripples, exotic tiny midges,
wacky self tied bushy terrestrials, stuff your pockets
till the cows come home. Depending on the wind, hatches,
ripples, almost any well tied tiny bug will get a look
see from these over educated trout! Remember always check
local regulations and ask questions, taking along a couple
of bottles of single malt scotch for bribes usually works. |
