Hat Creek
spring creek in California
The quintessential spring creek experience, requiring stealth, long leaders, and perfect imitations.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
What's working on Hat Creek
- 01Upcoming Mahogany Dun (size 16) and Blue Quill (sizes 18-22) hatches are the main events for dry fly anglers.
- 02Expect to see robust October Caddis (sizes 6-10) activity, drawing aggressive strikes from opportunistic fish.
- 03Consistent subsurface action with various mayfly nymphs and midges, especially with favorable overcast conditions for Baetis (BWO) activity.
- 04Precision casting and drag-free drifts are paramount on Hat Creek's notoriously clear and often glassy waters.
- 05Focus on slower, glassy sections, riffles, and runs where trout target emerging insects and nymphs.
Past reports week by week
13 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Baetis Nymph
Mimics active Baetis (BWO) nymphs, which are prevalent in spring creeks during fall BWO hatch periods, a staple for Rainbow and Brown Trout.
Comparadun (BWO)
Ideal for selective Rainbow and Brown Trout feeding on Blue-Winged Olive emergers and adults during fall hatches in the glassy water of Hat Creek.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Pheasant Tail Nymph
An excellent general searching nymph, mimicking various active mayfly nymphs which are a consistent food source year-round, especially with fall BWO activity.
Zebra Midge
Midges are a consistent and primary food source in spring creeks year-round, making this weighted pattern essential for getting into the strike zone for feeding Rainbow and Brown Trout.
Buy at AmazonMahogany Dun
Actively hatching from mid-October to mid-November on Hat Creek, providing excellent dry fly opportunities for selective Rainbow and Brown Trout.
Buy at AmazonOctober Caddis
A significant fall caddis hatch, with larger trout like Rainbows and Browns actively keying in on these substantial adults.
Blue Quill Dry
Expected to hatch from mid-October to mid-November, providing excellent dry fly opportunities for selective Rainbow and Brown Trout.
Where to fish and who to ask
Carbon Bridge Access
The main parking area providing access to the famous flat water where the most technical dry fly fishing occurs.
Powerhouse #2 Riffle
A great spot for swinging streamers or fishing nymphs where the creek enters Lake Britton.
Get Hat Creek reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
California season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Best Spring Creek Fly Fishing in the USA – Limestone Waters
Discover America's premier spring creeks and limestone streams offering challenging, technical fly fishing for selective trout in crystal-clear waters.
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Steelhead populations face unprecedented threats. Learn the causes behind their decline and how anglers can help protect these iconic fish.
Quick answers
Common questions about Hat Creek.
What flies work best on Hat Creek?
Our top scored fly patterns for Hat Creek right now are Soft Hackle Wet (Partridge & Orange) (90% confidence), Tungsten Bead Pat's Rubber Legs (90% confidence), PMD Sparkle Dun (85% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What are current flow conditions on Hat Creek?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Hat Creek are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Hat Creek fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Hat Creek each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.