Hat Creek is a slow flowing stream running through a quiet meadow located between the town of Burney and Fall River Mills. It’s clear, glassy water with steady year-round temperatures and an abundance of weeds support a diverse insect population and thousands of trout per mile. The Wild trout section is three miles long starting at the Hat Creek Powerhouse and ending at the confluence of Pit River. It is the classic dry fly stream, requiring long casts, long small leaders, and delicate presentations.
And did I mention presentation? On this stream, one who presents well is king! Because of the accessibility of this stream these fish see a lot of flies, so you really need to be on top of it all to be in the game. It can be the most frustrating stream for me to guide on but also very rewarding when you see a good fish take your fly after working him for an hour or so! I think at one point or another every angler should spend time on Hat Creek before he calls himself a complete angler.
