Hat Creek Fish Report - CA (Shasta County)

Hat Creek opens April 27th, 2013

Hat Creek - CA (Shasta County)

by The Fly Shop
3-16-2013
Website

Current River Conditions: Hat Creek will open for the season on April 27th, 2013. Conditions couldn't be better. Warm weather this month has triggered insect hatches that feed the rainbows and browns. Looks like the fishing will be great for this years opener on Hat Creek!

The Fly Shop's?? Tips: Look for hatches of BWOs, PMDs and possibly a few Green Drakes. Best hatches occur late morning through early afternoon. Be on the look-out for rainbows and brown trout rising near the edges of the river for best chance at a hook-up.

A great option that often produces some of the very best Hat Creek "fish stories" is to fish #6-8 leeches, like Zack's Swimming Leech and buggers like Fox's Peacock Buggers near sunset.

Look for rising fish along the flats below the Power House #2 riffle in the early AM and very last light. 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. 5 wt rods are perfect. Have an extra spool loaded with a Scientific Anglers Wet Tip Clear Fly Line.

Suggested Fly Patterns:

Dry Flies:
• Quigley's Green Drake
• Foam Parachute Sulfur #18
• Galloup's Cripples PMD/BWO
• Para Extended Body PMD/BWO
• Midge Hanger
• Last Chance Cripple #14-22
• Normans Loop Wing BWO & PMD
• Parachute Adams #14-18
• Spotlight Caddis Emerger Olive #16
• Mercer's Missing Link #16-18

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• WD-40 (Any)
• Black Zebra Midge #18-20
• Hogan's S&M #16 Brown
• Fox's Wire Body Beeottis (Any)
• Tungsten Jig PT
• Posse Bugger #14
• Glass-Bead Micro May-Black or Olive
• Mercer's Gidget Brown or Olive
• Pat's Brown Rubber Legs #6-8
• GB Half-Flashback PT #14-20
• Burk's Crystal HBI
• Zack's Pseudo May #16-18 (Any)

Streamers/Leeches:
• Zack's Zugger's Yellow/Brown
• Fox's Peacock Buggers #8
• Zack's Swimming Leech Various
• Fox's Cone Bugger Rust
• Double Bunny
• Beaded Mini Leech Olive

Fly Fishing Gear:
• TFS Waterproof Swingleaf Nymph Fly Box
• Simms?? G4 Pro Wader
• The Fly Shop's?? Stocking-foot Chest Waders
• Wading Boots
• Get Buff

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The Fly Shop Reports
for Sunday, March 3rd, 2013

Klamath River - Upper - CA: Fishing has been good this week on the Klamath, but this river will slow down through March
Sacramento River: Fishing has been great this week and more good times are in store for the Lower Sac
Pit River: The fishing has been great on the Pit since early February. Currently there's decent mayfly hatches
Trinity River: We are still finding good steelhead fishing on the Trinity
Sacramento River: The fishing has been good on the Upper Sac & there are mayfly & caddis hatches
Baum Lake: Fishing has been fair to good at Baum Lake, PG&E is messing with the flow so be aware
Iron Canyon Reservoir: The fishing is great at Iron Canyon Reservoir for both Rainbows & Browns!
Keswick Reservoir: Fishing at Keswick Reservoir has been fair to good, flow fluctuations have affected the fishing
McCumber Reservoir: Fishing at McCumber has been fair to good, we expect it to pick up beginning in March thru June
Lewiston Lake: The warmer days and the lack of wind has made for really good fishing at Lewiston Reservoir