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Fly Fishing in California

50 featured rivers, lakes and streams in California, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

American River (South Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Below Chili Bar with rainbow and brown trout. Popular rafting and fishing destination.
Battle Creek (Rainbow Trout, Steelhead)
Near Red Bluff with wild rainbow trout. Important salmon and steelhead restoration stream.
Baum Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Spring-fed lake in the Pit River system. Trophy rainbow and brown trout.
Big Pine Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Near Big Pine with wild trout below glaciers. High Sierra adventure fishing.
Bishop Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Eastern Sierra stream near Bishop. Multiple forks with wild trout fishing.
Burney Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Near Burney Falls with wild rainbow trout. Spring-fed water in volcanic landscape.
Carson River (East Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Eastern Sierra freestone with wild trout. Scenic canyon fishing near Markleeville.
Convict Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Near Convict Lake in the Eastern Sierra. Beautiful alpine stream with wild trout.
Cottonwood Creek (Inyo) (Golden Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Southern Eastern Sierra stream with wild golden and rainbow trout. High altitude fishing.
Crowley Lake Tributaries (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Multiple streams feeding Crowley Lake. Trophy trout during spawning runs.
Deer Creek (Rainbow Trout)
Tehama County wild trout stream with native rainbow. Last unimpaired tributary to the Sacramento.
East Walker River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Trophy brown trout fishing near the Nevada border. Large fish possible with proper technique.
Eel River (South Fork) (Steelhead)
Mendocino County steelhead stream. Winter-run fish in scenic redwood canyon.
Fall River (Rainbow Trout)
A classic spring creek with crystal-clear water and large rainbow trout. Technical dry fly fishing.
Feather River (Middle Fork) (Rainbow Trout)
Wild and Scenic River with native rainbow trout. Remote canyon fishing in Plumas National Forest.
Golden Trout Creek (Golden Trout)
Home of the California state fish. Native golden trout in remote wilderness.
Hat Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
A legendary spring creek with technical fishing for wild rainbow trout. Excellent mayfly and caddis hatches.
Hot Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
A geothermal spring creek in the Eastern Sierra. Crystal-clear water with large, technical trout.
Independence Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Eastern Sierra stream near Independence. Wild trout in remote canyon setting.
Kaweah River (Rainbow Trout)
Below Lake Kaweah with wild rainbow trout. Gateway to Sequoia National Park fishing.
Kern River (Lower) (Rainbow Trout)
Below Lake Isabella tailwater with rainbow trout. Accessible southern Sierra fishing.
Kern River (Upper) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Wild trout water above Lake Isabella. Native Kern River rainbow trout in scenic canyon.
Kings River (South Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Sierra Nevada freestone with wild rainbow trout. Beautiful canyon fishing near Fresno.
Klamath River (Steelhead, Chinook Salmon)
Famous for its steelhead runs. The lower river offers excellent fishing in scenic canyon country.
Little Truckee River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Tributary of the Truckee with wild brown trout. Technical fishing in scenic Sierra meadows.
Lone Pine Creek (Rainbow Trout)
Below Mt. Whitney with wild rainbow trout. Gateway to the highest peak in lower 48.
Lower Sacramento River (Rainbow Trout, Steelhead)
World-class tailwater fishery below Shasta Dam. Large rainbow trout and seasonal steelhead.
Mattole River (Steelhead)
Lost Coast steelhead fishery. Remote winter fishing in pristine coastal environment.
McCloud River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Home to native McCloud redband trout. Beautiful freestone river below Mt. Shasta.
McGee Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Eastern Sierra tributary to Crowley Lake. Wild trout in scenic high country.
Merced River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Flowing from Yosemite with wild rainbow trout. Scenic Sierra fishing near the park.
Mill Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Wild and Scenic River near Lassen with native trout. Remote backcountry fishing experience.
Mokelumne River (Rainbow Trout, Steelhead)
Below Camanche Dam with rainbow trout. Accessible fishery in California's gold country.
North Fork Feather River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Below Lake Almanor with wild brown and rainbow trout. Scenic canyon tailwater fishing.
Pit River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Multiple sections with wild rainbow trout. Challenging wading but excellent fishing.
Putah Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Below Lake Berryessa with wild rainbow and brown trout. Technical tailwater fishing near Davis.
Rising River (Rainbow Trout)
Spring creek near Rising River Lake. Crystal-clear water with wild rainbow trout.
Rock Creek (Mammoth) (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Eastern Sierra stream near Mammoth Lakes. Wild brook and rainbow trout in alpine setting.
Russian River (Steelhead)
Sonoma County steelhead fishery. Winter-run fish with good public access.
San Joaquin River (Upper) (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Below Mammoth Lakes with wild brown and rainbow trout. High Sierra fishing experience.
Scott River (Steelhead, Chinook Salmon)
Klamath tributary in Siskiyou County. Steelhead and salmon in remote mountain setting.
Shasta River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Klamath tributary known for large trout. Spring creek characteristics with wild fish.
Smith River (Steelhead, Chinook Salmon)
Last major undammed river in California. Winter steelhead in pristine redwood setting.
Stanislaus River (North Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Sierra foothill stream with wild rainbow trout. Scenic gold country fishing.
Trinity River (Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Rainbow Trout)
Northern California steelhead and salmon fishery. Excellent fly water in scenic canyon.
Truckee River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Flowing from Lake Tahoe, offering year-round fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Scenic mountain setting.
Tuolumne River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Below Don Pedro Reservoir with rainbow and brown trout. Scenic canyon fishing.
Upper Owens River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
A meadow stream in the Long Valley area. Technical fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout.
West Walker River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Eastern Sierra stream with wild rainbow and brown trout. Beautiful canyon scenery near Bridgeport.
Yuba River (North Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Sierra Nevada freestone with wild rainbow trout. Gold country fishing with beautiful swimming holes.

Fly Fishing in California

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