Hat Creek - A Wild Trout Legacy

The history of Hat Creek's Wild Trout Waters is very much entwined with the history and people of CalTrout. With historic, never-before-seen footage of the Wild Trout Water ceremony the film takes you on a journey through the rise, then decline, then rise again of this iconic fishery. Filmmaker Mike Wier weaves stories of the history, restoration and people of Hat Creek to demonstrate why it's such a remarkable and special place.

[@flywheel986]

Man I get the "learning how to fly fish, on Hat Creek" statement. Fished all of the Blue Ribbon rivers and streams in Colorado and Montana. Work meant a move to the Bay Area in 1986. Was completely stunned by the smorgasbord of great fisheries California offered. Went from 😞 to😊 really quick. First time I fished the Power House riffle, I was convinced after a few hours that an 8" rainbow was the norm. Sat down to munch a sandwich and watched a dude approach the stream, in the deep flat water downstream of the riffle. This dude was wearing a suit and patent leather shoes. It was Sunday, so I figured he had come right outta church. Had a cobby old 9 foot fiberglass rod with a cobby old reel. Couldn't see what he tied on, but it looked big. He also tied a yarn indicator, and threw a long loop, right out to the middle of the water. Within two minutes it was fish on and that rod was bent! He landed it on the grass, without touching the water. He had caught a beautiful, fat, 18" rainbow. I didn't want to bother him but I moved over closer. He released the fish, got his line ready, cast out further in from the middle, let that big stonefly nymph drift, and damn if he wasn't hooked to another rod bender. Landed a twin of the one he just released. I gave him a round of applause for that one. Got it all ready again, and this time he drifted the nymph about three feet off the bank, bang! fish on! and this one was a for real 24" fish. He gave and took with that fish for ten minutes or so, that fish jumped like a damn Marlin. Unfortunately the fish executed a perfect LDR, and the dude just smiled and said "Get him next Sunday". Then he laughed, broke down his two piece, wished me good luck, and walked back up to his car. I was hooked for good, I fished the Hat for fifteen years, caught some amazing fish, but more importantly, learned something new every time.

[@daled8221]

Thank you all for not only the countless hours, effort & vision, but the fight that it had to take to make it happen with the gov & as a group!!! When I retire (3-4) & have more time I would love to experience this special place & help with some labor if the timing is right with your projects!

[@paulred9950]

I went there in July caught three beautiful fish release them🎉

[@MrMurf2you]

It's been over 35 years, but I swear I saw a shot of Tom Peppas. I worked in the Powell Fly Shop through the mid 80's. Loved coming to Hat Creek with the Chico Fly Fisher's Club.

[@MrRushCreek]

As a former Vice President and legal counsel on its major litigation in the 80’s and 90’s, Cal Trout has done nothing but self-promotion and taking credit for the hard work of others.

[@jamesmccreery250]

My first trout on a dry fly was a wild rainbow from Hat Creek.

[@noisypopcornguy]

This is so cool ! I would love to go back in time and see this event take hold.

[@karendurant4981]

Thanks guys

[@noel3383]

Yes it is history.

[@eqlzr2]

I came to California in 1987 and soon after visited the Lassen Volcano National Park area. We often stayed at Rim Rock Ranch, a quaint rustic little 1920s-looking place with crystal clear small streams you could step over running right up to the cabin doors. I quickly discovered nearby Hat Creek, and it looked nothing like the wide creek running in open fields that you see here. The banks were rather thickly covered with trees, bushes, and underbrush, and in many cases it wasn't very easy to even get to the actual creek, which was only about 20 feet side if that. There was no sign of any of these guys or their organization in sight. In fact, nobody at all was there, but the fishing was incredible.

[@FlyFishingGuide]

Sounds like you were on Upper Hat creek which is very different water. Much smaller than the wild trout section talked about here. The wild trout section is a 3 mile stretch of water from Hat Power House 2 to the barrier dam just before Lake Britton.

[@aimega860]

Love your videos

[@kekoamaunakea4473]

Love this channel, love the folk’s, fishing is a life supporting system when properly monitored with care.-ML&Aloha Your Boy Kekoa&Ohana.🌲🤙🏽🌲🐺

[@fortnoxz71]

I live in Burney and love the hat creek. Where can I buy a cal trout hat?

[@thomasokeefe7744]

Commented for the fish

[@plugboot]

So... Where did the silt come from?

[@FlyFishingGuide]

No one ever figured that out. One theory (more like a wild guess) is that there was a lava tube filled with silt that got broken open somehow and then the silt washed into the river

[@dh23ftc]

@@FlyFishingGuide damn climate change!

[@redroadrunner1545]

Thank you! I go every year. Need to learn how to fly fish. How does one get involved with these efforts? Iv been going for over 30 years. Love the area

[@gabegortarez9116]

Guppie trout

[@tonyhernandez2483]

Can u fish there year round

[@TroutWest]

Last Saturday in Apr. through Nov. 15. Minimum size limit: 18 inches total length. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. Aquatic invertebrates of the orders Plecoptera (stoneflies), Ephemeroptera (mayflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies) may not be taken or possessed.

[@housebuyer]

@@TroutWest thats in certain areas correct?

[@TroutWest]

That is the statute for the waterway under the guidelines in a specific stretch of water yes. Particularly the one in the video you are watching. They have it listed on the Dfw website pretty good you should check that out

[@FlyFishingGuide]

Regs changed on Mar 1 2021. It is now open year-round