Few recreational anglers realize that Hat Creek CA is recognized as one of the premier native trout streams in the continental United States! As a matter fact, the lower stretch of water, 3 1/2 miles up from Lake Britton was the pilot site for California’s Wild Trout Program initiated in the early 1970’s.
This area is heavily regulated, requiring only artificial baits with single barbless hooks. Check current regulations before setting out. It is estimated that rainbows outnumber browns in an 80/20 spread on the lower stream, with most fish ranging between 10 to 16 inches.
But there are some tanker browns. Park where Hwy. 299 crosses the creek. In contrast, upper Hat Creek CA upstream of Baum Lake is populated primarily by planted rainbows with an occasional native strain fish mixed in. Access is good from 5 campgrounds along Hwy. 89.
Fly fishing is the name of the game along the lower run. Bigger dry flies – especially the #6 and #10 Salmon fly – can be outstanding at times. Other assorted favorites include Cahill, Olive, Tan or Yellow Paraduns, Humpies, Blue Dun, Black Fuzzy, Renegade, Adams, Sulphur Dun, Deer Hair, Spider and Joe’s Hopper.
This is a broad, meadow stream. Wading or using the bank works. In fishing a “ wet ” presentation, try the Pheasant Tail Nymph, Tricots, Hare’s Ear and the Rusty Spinnerfall. Muddler Minnows and Marabous will be well chosen streamer patterns.
Hardware slingers will find the upper Hat Creek CA water much to their liking. Spinners such as the Mepps, Rooster Tail and Panther Martin series are proven winners. Spoons, including the Wob-L-Rite and Super Duper will catch fish along with smaller Rebel and Rapala plugs fished in the deeper water.
Fishing baits on the upstream drift will also be very effective. Nightcrawlers, red worms, mealworms, crickets, grasshoppers and salmon eggs will account for many planted rainbows.
Baum Lake can really be a “ sleeper.” The lake is populated by over 40 percent brown trout with fish recorded at over 20 pounds! It is open all year long, but no power boats are permitted.
Float-tubing has been a favorite technique for tying into some of Baum’s trophy-class fish. The fly and bubble combe with standard fly fishing tackle is preferred by the float tubers. The same basic fly patterns outlined for Hat Creek will work on Baum Lake.
More information on these trout waters is available from the Burney Basin Chamber of Commerce at (916)335-2111 or Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney, (916)335-2381.
Smooth, accurate casting is essential in Hat Creek’s tight corridors—use a smooth, deliberate casting stroke to fight prevailing winds, and focus on roll casts and controlled reach mends so your fly lands softly near seams.
Below the powerhouse, nymphing demands tight contact; drop two heavy nymphs on droppers, maintain a slight downstream tension, and let the current swing the rig before a gentle lift invites a strike.
For deeper pools, bold streamers match the aggressive browns—strip slowly with intermittent pauses, aiming the fly along current seams and near submerged structure where larger fish lurk. When targeting trophy browns, slow your cadence, present flies near undercut banks, and expect short, violent takes; keep slack out and be ready for hard, long runs.
Spring brings steadily rising water temps to Baum Lake, shifting trout from deep winter holding areas into the shallows where runoff oxygenates the water and aquatic insects hatch. Anglers should target shallower bays in April and May as fish follow warming margins, using steely presentations before the sun fully stabilizes the surface.
By mid-summer a thermocline settles below the mid-lake points, forcing trout into cooler, oxygen-rich strata; look for suspended fish along the edge of that temperature break and fish deeper presentations with slow retrieves during stable water periods.
In fall, trout move upstream toward spawning grounds, condensed in creek mouths and sheltered channel bends; tightening complexes with heavier offerings rewards patient casts. Winter sees Baum Lake’s trout hugging the deepest basins, so vertical presentations over the deepest humps and ledges are key when surface eddies freeze over.
Wild rainbows in Northern California tailwaters possess spring-fed temperaments, more wary than planted stock that acclimates to anglers near release points. Focused drift presentations with sparse scent keep wild fish unspooked, while stocked pupils respond to bulkier attractors.
For the key 10-to-16-inch range, a twitchy nymph just above the streambed appeals to the most active size classes, whereas subtle dries on long leaders let bigger adolescents settle without spooking. Aggressive feeding windows appear around dawn and dusk; push fast hands and short casts during those pulses to track fast-busting trout before they tuck back into cover.
Clear water amplifies gold, olive, and pale pink hues, so favor fluorocarbon leaders and flies dressed in those shades to trigger bites in sight-fishing conditions. Consider chartreuse highlights for contrast, and try copper beadheads.
Begin with a 5- to 6-weight, 9-foot fast-action rod to balance casting control and gentle presentation on Hat Creek and Baum Lake winds. Match it with a sealed-drag reel that has enough line capacity for quick peels yet keeps fights smooth in cold tailwater.
Load a weight-forward floating line for dries and a sinking-tip or intermediate for deeper nymph drifts. Use 5- or 6-weight cores to remain nimble while still punching through current. Opt for 9-foot tapered leaders that drift from 4X to 5X for dries, switching to 3X to 4X for weighted nymph rigs.
Fluorocarbon tippet around 8–10 lb breakshide keeps invisibility in frigid flows and holds knots in slick water. Pair tungsten-beaded nymphs with micro-wire droppers to keep flies probing seams. Spool extra 20-25 lb braided backing ready.
Start by reading seams where faster current meets slack water, because these junctures in Hat Creek concentrate emerging mayflies and invite trout. Walk the meadow stream banks, scanning for changes in flow, depth variations, or submerged rocks that create calm pockets where fish hold.
Mark feeding zones near undercut banks and woody cover; trout often patrol those edges looking upstream for drifting insects. Watch mayfly emergence by noting clusters of spent shucks on gravel bars, hooked wings twitching on ripples, and rises that scatter surface film; those cues pinpoint which dry patterns or emerging nymphs to present.
Finally, adjust the drift: lengthen or shorten leader and mend direction when the riffle speed quickens, and let the fly swing slower when the water eases, keeping the offering synchronized with seam speed.
Hat Creek anglers honor conservation through Catch-and-Release priorities, carefully reviving fish before release to sustain healthy populations. Under Wild Trout Program regs, barbless hooks are mandatory, helping minimize handling damage while allowing safe hook removal.
Respecting native brood stock means avoiding spawning zones, releasing brood-stock-sized fish promptly, and reporting notable specimens so habitat managers can monitor genetic integrity. Wading should be kept to durable substrates; avoid sensitive tailwater margins and use low-impact cross techniques to prevent bank erosion and protect subsurface invertebrates.
Clean gear between trips to avoid invasive species transport, and pack out all litter. Together, these stewardship habits keep Hat Creek’s wild trout heritage safe for future anglers.
Planning a multi-lake trip or exploring more Northern California fly fishing? Check out these resources:
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