There’s no doubt about it that some of the best fly-fishing in California is located in the northern part of the state. The Sierra Mountains provide some great scenery as well as some great rivers and streams where the fish are plentiful and the weather is great. Because the California weather is quite static, year-round fly-fishing is available to the fisherman.
Located above Crowley Lake, the Owens River is one of the best places to fish for trout in California. The river is one of a kind with a gentle current that flows through a glacial valley between mountains that are 9,000 feet tall or more. At one time, the Owens River provided water and power to Los Angeles. When they converted the gorge, much of the fish died out. With a restoration of the river bank to a fly-fishing destination, you can now find some beautiful brown or rainbow trout at any time of the year.
The McCloud River is one of California’s premier trout fisheries. This River feeds Lake Shasta and was the breeding ground for rainbow trout that was shipped all over the country to stock other rivers and streams. You can find big brown trout as well as rainbow trout in plentiful supply on the McCloud.
In Northern California, the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River provides some great fly-fishing for some excellent trout. This river is one of the few places designated as wild trout waters by the state. This area receives a lot of fishing, so it’s a good idea to get there early in the morning to stake out your spot. Besides the normal species of trout, this river also boasts a hybrid variety of rainbow and golden trout with bright orange sides.
Hat Creek is another great place to fly fish in California. These, too, have been designated trophy wild trout waters, and you will find plenty here. This creek is very well-suited to both beginners and experienced fly fishers. The banks are laden with heavy brush that provides some great hiding places for brown and rainbow trout. Much of the creek is heavily stocked, but there is some natural reproduction that takes place making Hat Creek a very easy place to fish.
If you are looking to go fly-fishing in California, you have a lot of options available to you. Much of the best fly-fishing would be in the northern part of the state, but you can also find many other places where fish are plentiful and challenges. You can’t go wrong with a fly-fishing vacation in California.
