The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Greetings! New to the Forum. I will be traveling in erly July from Seattle to LA. Looking for a few suggestions for fly fishing stops along the way in Northern CA. Would drive I-5, and looking for some "not too far off the beaten path" fishing options as I will be driving the midlife crisis Porsche. Any easy access wade fishing - Sac, McCloud, Hat, etc? Also what about pay for play spots like on Hat Creek area?
Thanks for the help and will return the favor for anyone coming to Seattle area!

Welcome to the party, always room for another Porsche driver...The McCloud is easier to wade than the Pit, always fishes well and the road into either Ah-di-Na or the Nature Conservancy will be clear of snow at that time of year.

Have fun,

Paul

I'm not trying to steer you away from any of the well known waters in the Nor Cal area, but I WOULD NOT take a Porsche down the road to the McCloud unless you like big repair bills or getting stuck. It's not as bad as some roads I've been on, but it is not meant for a sports car like that.

The Upper Sac is right along Interstate 5 and can have some decent caddis hatches in July. The Fall River can be good too, but you'll need to either have a boat or hire a guide with a boat, but there are some nice hatches and big fish in the Fall that time of year.

I dare not say more, or face the wrath of others on the board.

Cheers!

--Fly Guy Dave

Thanks for the tips. Our fishing colleagues up her are equally protective of their favorite spots and want to share preferred locations. I've always been an, "honor among thieves" kinda guy, so I try to share...but understand the hesitancy. I'll pull some good guide books and seek the easy spots as I make my way to the third granddaughter's birth in L.A.. Your guidance is appreciated. Keep 'em coming, folks...

Hat Creek should have PMD's, caddis in the evening, and Tricos later in the month. Likely may run into Little Yellow Stones as well.

If you take the long way down the Eastern side of the Sierra, there is lot's of water and some fun curvy roads as well. On the way home you could run up through the Owens Valley to Tahoe, and cross over on 80 to 5 and back home. Purty country.

Phil

Well, Early July brings one "Hatch" to mind.. HEX!!! If you have never experienced a hex hatch, that is the time to do it and Fall River would satisfy that craving.

I am with Phil on a return up the Eastern side of the Sierras...

Hot Creek, Mammoth area, Bridgeport, Truckee...Saaweet!!!


PT/TB

Lots of snow in the Upper Sac drainage and early July should be prime on the Upper Sac. Keep in mind that heading east off I-5 (Pit, McCloud, Hat) is a two hour + round trip excursion. Unless you are a James Bond type the Pit and Mac will be tough to access in you Porshe. There are a few other options south of the Upper Sac, but none are all that close to I-5. I would wet a line in the evening on the L. Sac if you find yourself in Redding in the evening (caddis dries). The E. Sierra option would be great if you have the time, but keep in mind LA to Sac is about 6 hours and the LA to Bishop to Sac is about 10 hours.

Thanks for all the tips. From the looks of things it's probably best for me to fish the upper Sac round Redding for an evening, and possibly Hat Creek for ease of access with my vehicle. Anyone have any thoughts about the Donner Hat Creek Ranch? I understand Hat Creek gets lots of pressure, so maybe a pay for play spot makes sense? I would appreciate any suggestions or reviews of this property.
Thanks!

Pauk,
Know anything about Donner Hat Creek Ranch? Thinking of it as I understand there is alot of fishing pressure on Hat.
Larry

lnb wrote:
Pauk,
Know anything about Donner Hat Creek Ranch? Thinking of it as I understand there is alot of fishing pressure on Hat.
Larry

I know a little about Hereford Hat Creek Ranch Campgroud (off Hwy 89) and have stayed there many times, usually to fish Manzanita Lake in Lassen Park...the little I know about Donner Hat Creek Ranch (on the same road as Hereford) is that it's $100+ a day to fish their (stocked) ponds and 1/2 mile of Hat Creek that flows through their property.

The fishing pressure on the wild trout section of Hat Creek (lower) tends to be consentrated in the area below the Hat #2 Powerhouse. Get there early, stakeout your spot in the bucket at the "famous" Powerhouse Riffle, nymph with a bobber and you can catch and release more fish than anyone else...of course if you're not fishing in the bucket (even 10 feet away or on the "wrong" side of the flow) the "pressure of the crowds" will undoubtedly create a negative experience.

Go to the rest of the wild trout section of Hat...walk the whole thing, find and spend some time at the the memorials to Joe Paul and Roderick Haig-Brown that are on the bank...challange yourself, fish the freestone water above the fish barrier, fish the pocket water near the foundation remains of an old building, sit & wait for the evening rise at the old Carbon Bridge site and fish it FROM THE BANK, or stalk fish in the flatwater above the 299 bridge with tiny dry/nymph combinations...or, hang out at the Powerhouse riffle...just don't ignore the area above the bucket (or the other side of the island) at the Powerhouse riffle.

Paul

Or run a Bird's nest on the swing through the flat below the bucket late in the evening during the caddis rise. Or brassie's during trico time, or PMD's beginning at 10:00 in the morning during July.

I need to get fishing.....too much work.