Cooler weather has brought on better insect hatches, resulting in better Fly Fishing on Hat Creek

Hat Creek - CA (Shasta County)


by The Fly Shop
10-30-2011
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Current River Conditions:
In the AM hours, expect hatches of BWOs, midges, PMDs! Sometimes the hatches are easily noticeable, sometimes sparse. Mid day, switch to small caddis pupae and various cripple/emerger patterns. In the late afternoon and early evening, look for more small baetis and possibly October Caddis. Swinging and stripping leeches has been working. Hat Creek affords anglers with an idyllic autumn setting for a classic day on the water.

Click here for flow report on the trophy trout section of Hat Creek

Click here for flow report on the upper section of Hat Creek

The Fly Shop's ? Tips:
Look for rising fish along the flats below the Power House #2 riffle. For the best presentation, drift your D&D Cripple down and across to rising fish. For a fun challenge, try catching Hat Creek trout on as many tactics as you can: small indicators with nymphs, swinging wet flies and/or streamers, and, of course, with a well-presented dry fly. The Powerhouse #2 Riffle is one of the best spots on the creek, but also one of the most popular. Anglers seeking a real challenge should sight-cast to trout in the fabled "carbon flats" section, and those looking for solace can hike into the freestone section just above Lake Britton. 5wt rods are perfect. Have an extra spool loaded with a Scientific Anglers Wet Tip Clear Fly Line.

Flies:

Dries:

• Orange Stimulator
• D&D Cripple-ANY!
• Normans Loop Wing BWO & PMD
• Hackle Stacker BWO
• Parachute Adams #14-18
• Fox's Crowning Poopah
• Spotlight Caddis Emerger Olive #16
• Mercer's Missing Link #16-18

Nymphs:
• WD-40 (Any)
• Brassie (Any)
• Glass-Bead Micro May-Black or Olive
• Mercer's Gidget Brown or Olive
• Pat's Brown Rubber Legs #6-8
• Hogan's S&M Olive #16
• Micro Poopah #16 Cinnamon or Black
• Harrop's Bubble Back Caddis #18 Black
• Mercer's Tungsten Swing Caddis
• Black Zebra Midge #18-20
• PT Nymphs #16-20
• Posse Bugger #14
• GB Birds Nest #16
• Beeottis Olive/Gold #16
• TB Pseudo Nymph Black #18
• Red Copper John #18

Streamers/Leeches:
• Fox's Cone Bugger Rust
• Double Bunny
• Beaded Mini Leech Olive