Susan River Fishing Guide: Trout, Buzz Johnson Trail & Trip Planning

Susan River Fishing: Trout Guide and Buzz Johnson Trail

Susan River

Susan River is a little-known trout stream near Susanville. It pairs good rainbow and brown trout fishing with history, scenery, and easy hiking. Trout here take a number 12 Royal Coachman, Captain, or Western Bee, plus hardware and bait — most of all when the water is up. The Susan flows west to east toward Susanville. The Buzz Johnson Trail, a reclaimed railroad bed, follows this gentle stream for most of its run.

Susan River Fishing

Hikers and mountain bikers use most of the 25 miles of trail. Anglers now use it too — it is a great way to reach trout in the Susan Canyon. The main access points are Goumaz, Devil’s Corral, and one upstream from Hobo Camp. Fishing pressure is heavy only in spring, at the lower end of the trail near Susanville. Contact the Bureau of Land Management for a map.

River Geography and Water Characteristics

The Susan River runs northeast from the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and feeds into Honey Lake. It is about 67 miles long. It winds through sagebrush valleys and marshland, growing wider as it drops from its alpine feeders.

The bedrock is volcanic basalt, with gravel and alluvial streambeds. The upper river has fast riffles, gravel bars, and cold springs. The lower reaches slow into wide meanders with mud banks and tule marsh.

Flows peak with snowmelt from April through June, when the river is fullest and coolest. By late summer the water drops low and clear — often under 100 cubic feet per second.

Fish before mid-August if you can. After that, expect warm, low water. Time your trip around these patterns and you will catch more fish.

Fish Species and Seasonal Patterns

The Susan holds more than rainbow and brown trout. Mountain whitefish run 10 to 14 inches. Brook trout of 8 to 12 inches live in the higher tributaries. Sacramento suckers, and the odd largescale sucker, show up in the warm lower reaches.

Whitefish bite best from October through March, when the water cools. Brookies hold in spring-fed pockets all year but peak during runoff in April and May.

The lower river can hold channel catfish of 1 to 5 pounds and carp of 10 to 15 pounds in summer. Spin anglers can switch to heavier rigs for these fish.

Native fish do best in the riffly, well-oxygenated stretches. Fish the upper canyon in spring and early summer. Come back to the slower meadow reaches in late fall, once cool nights put oxygen back in the water.

The Buzz Johnson Trail: History and Access

The Buzz Johnson Trail follows part of the Susan River and honors the pioneering local guide. It starts near the Westwood Trailhead off Highway 36 and traces old logging roads through former mill towns.

There are several access points: Westwood, the Reach 2 parking lot near Johnstonville, and a trailhead near the Honey Lake Wildlife Area. Most of the 35-mile trail is wide singletrack with gentle grades, some gravel logging tread, and a few log bridges.

It suits hiking or pack trains, but expect washouts after heavy snow or spring runoff. You can drop down from the trail to the river at the points where they meet.

The trail crosses side channels and swampy beaver ponds full of trout. A good outing: hike out from Westwood in the morning, fish a dry-dropper through shaded riffles, then loop back on the trail.

Few California trout streams pair hiking and fishing this well. The easy terrain puts good water within reach of any fitness level.

Proven Fishing Techniques for Susan River

Fly anglers do best by matching the hatch. Pale morning duns come off in early summer. Fish a size 16 to 18 Elk Hair Caddis or a pale Griffith’s Gnat, with a size 16 beadhead pheasant tail nymph as a dropper.

In the low water of August, go tiny. Beadhead zebra midges in size 18, or emergers under an indicator, are lethal. Pinch your barbs for the smaller bites.

For streamers, swing an olive or black woolly bugger, size 4 to 6, slowly through the deeper pools. This shines in the lower reaches, where trout hold near structure.

Spin anglers can toss 1/8 to 1/4 ounce spoons, or inline spinners with Colorado-style blades, above the riffles. Use light 4- to 6-pound fluorocarbon for stealth.

Late in the season, dead-drift a brown lacewing nymph along undercut banks. For carp, bounce a small soft plastic on a light jighead.

Trip Planning: Lodging and Camping Options

Susanville has most of the lodging. You will find hotels, motels, and vacation rentals there, plus guide services.

Westwood, on the upper river, has the rustic Susan River Inn and a supply store for last-minute gear. You can camp at the Susanville KOA, Canyon Dam Reservoir, and many Forest Service sites along Highway 36.

Most sites are first-come, first-served, with vault toilets and potable water. Pack extra water, waders, and bug spray — mosquitoes thrive in the marshy lower river.

Cell service fades beyond Susanville, so download maps or carry a GPS. The best trout windows are April through June and late September into October.

Book early for spring runoff weekends. Park at the Reach 1 and 2 road pullouts, and leave gates as you find them — the grazing leases depend on it.

California Fishing Regulations for Susan River

The Susan River near Susanville is a quiet high-desert trout stream, and the rules help keep it that way. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid California freshwater fishing license.

Most trout anglers here also carry the inland trout or salmon stamp or report card. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife still recommends it for trout harvest records. Standard inland trout rules apply: five trout daily, ten in possession, and only one over 12 inches unless posted signs say otherwise.

The river crosses CDFW wildlife areas and federal public land, so watch for seasonal or temporary rules. Many stretches go artificial-lures-only, or catch-and-release, during the spring spawning pulse.

Private land closures may apply on the lower river near Susanville. Check the current CDFW pamphlet and posted boards before you head out.

Conservation and Habitat Restoration

Restoration work on the Susan River keeps growing more collaborative. The Susan River Watershed Council, the Susan River Conservation District, and CDFW partner with the Bureau of Land Management and local ranchers.

Together they re-carve meanders, reconnect side channels, and plant willow, cottonwood, and alder to shade pools and hold banks. Beaver-mimicry log structures and new riparian fencing have cut erosion.

Crews also pull invasive plants — mainly Himalayan blackberry and tamarisk — so native sedges and rushes can rebound. Prop 1 and local grants now fund river daylighting in spots once straightened for irrigation.

Volunteers track stream temperature to protect the brown and rainbow trout from summer heat spikes. Fish habitat across the watershed is much better for it.

Local Guides and Outfitters

Susanville’s small guiding community keeps the river open to newcomers. Downtown outfitters and fly shops offer maps, rental rods, and current river conditions.

They work with independent guides who run single- and half-day trips through the Susan River Wildlife Area and Susan Canyon. Trips often mix an easy walk on the Buzz Johnson Trail with lessons in dry-fly tactics, streamside manners, and low-impact camping.

The best pockets sit a short drive from town, so outfitters also team up with lodging providers. They arrange multi-day Lassen County trips that add Honey Lake and the east side of Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Hire a local guide on your first visit and you will cut the learning curve fast. They know the water, the recent hatches, and the access points that are fishing best.

Historical and Cultural Significance

The Susan River has deep cultural roots. Long before Susanville’s 19th-century homesteaders, Achomawi and Atsugewi peoples moved seasonally along the downstream terraces. They took salmon and small game, and gathered tule reeds for baskets.

The town is named for Susan Roop, daughter of Isaac Roop. Tribal events and place names still honor the riverside camps where stories and stewardship grew.

Today the community marks that shared history with river cleanups and school programs. The events tie fishing traditions to respect for tribal treaty rights.

Knowing this history makes the fishing richer. You are part of thousands of years of careful use of this water.

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities

Wildlife is a bonus here for anglers and hikers alike. The riverside stands host migrating warblers, yellow-breasted chats, and great blue herons.

The wider valley holds sandhill cranes, migrating ducks, and the odd bald eagle hunting cutthroat trout fingerlings. Mule deer, coyotes, and river otters show up near the restoration ponds.

Beavers keep rebuilding lodges downstream from Susanville. Camas lilies, lupine, and spring wildflowers bloom in the willow-shaded margins — worth a quiet look between casts.

Bring binoculars and a camera. All this life reflects the healthy system that grows good trout.

Why Susan River Deserves Your Attention

The Susan River is what a destination trout stream should be: good fishing, fine scenery, real history, and easy access. The pairing of the Buzz Johnson Trail with quality trout water is hard to find anywhere else.

Pressure is light compared to California’s famous streams, so you can often fish alone. Spring runoff brings the best conditions; fall brings color and aggressive feeding.

Cast dries to trout rising in a pale morning dun hatch, or work hardware through pocket water — the Susan delivers either way. Local conservation work keeps the fishery on track for the long run.

Plan your trip for April through June or September through October. Walk the Buzz Johnson Trail while you are there, and take in the cultural and natural history too.

The Susan River may be little known next to the famous names. But it has what serious anglers want: challenging fish, beautiful water, and a real tie to the land and its past.

Related California Lake Guides

Planning a multi-lake trip or exploring more Northern California fishing? Check out these resources:

• California Fishing Guide 2026 - Complete guide to 60+ California lakes, rivers, and fishing spots with species info, seasons, and local tips.
• Lake Almanor - Premier trophy trout destination just south with German browns over 10 lbs.
• Hat Creek & Baum Lake - World-class fly fishing waters near Burney.
• Manzanita Lake at Lassen - Catch-and-release trophy trout in Lassen Volcanic National Park.