Hat Creek Walk & Wade

Hat Creek is a legendary spring creek and one of the best walk-and-wade fisheries in the region. With gentle terrain, minimal elevation change, and no large boulders, it offers some of the easiest and most accessible wading you'll find. While wading is easy, the fishing can be challenging. Hat Creek hosts a wide variety of hatches, making it an ideal place to hone your casting skills and learn different presentation techniques. The slow, flatwater sections between riffles demand precision and strategy, especially given their depth and clarity. The trout here are selective and elusive—so every rise to your fly feels like a true accomplishment. Target Seasons & Species Hat Creek is now open year-round for catch-and-release fishing. As a spring creek, it stays cold and crystal clear throughout the year, making it a reliable fishery in all seasons. Early Season (May–June): This is prime time on Hat Creek. Starting around Opening Day (last Saturday in April), major hatches like salmonflies, Green Drakes, Pale Morning Duns, yellow stoneflies, and caddisflies offer excellent dry fly and nymph fishing. Fish can be selective with so many bugs around, but drifting nymphs under an indicator in riffles can be highly effective. Popular areas like the Powerhouse #2 riffle can get crowded, but we know plenty of quieter, productive spots. Summer (July–August): Despite the heat, fishing remains good—especially early and late in the day. Expect Trico hatches in the morning and strong caddis activity in the evening. Midday lulls are common, so many anglers explore nearby rivers like the Pit during the day, then return to Hat Creek for the evening rise. Fall (September–November): Fall is a favorite among locals. With fewer anglers around, you can often have the water to yourself. Trico hatches continue in the morning, caddis and October Caddis emerge in the evening, and overcast days can trigger Blue-Winged Olive hatches. Dry flies work well, but nymphs or dropper rigs under attractor dries are also very effective.