In the shadow of Mt. Shasta, a famous spring creek rises clear and cold from Thousand Springs and flows nearly thirty miles through the lush Fall River Valley where its large wild rainbows come readily to a well-fished dry fly or nymph. The Fall River's legendary hatches range from the tiny #22 Trico spinner to the giant #6 Hexagenia mayfly. This river is fished only from aluminum prams with electric motors.

Hat Creek is California's version of the chalk streams of southern England where fly fishing was born.  Managed for wild trout only for over twenty years, Hat's rich waters support a diverse insect population and thousands of trout per mile in the three miles of Trophy Water.  The fishing is tough on the flats, with large fussy trout, small flies, and 7X tippets. There is also over a mile of productive riffles and runs for nymphing. The evening caddis hatches often bring the fish to the surface in a feeding frenzy.

The Pit River might be the finest naturally occurring wild trout fishery in California.  The final 25 miles below Lake Britton are in a deep canyon and are divided into three reaches by dams and powerhouses.  Access is challenging, but the beauty of the canyon, the extensive pockets and pools, and the high catch rate of bright wild fish are perfect if you are an energetic wader.

A classic pool and pocket water river in a magnificent wooded canyon, the McCloud River is northern California's most famous freestone fishery.  McCloud rainbows are world renowned.  Special regulations protect this fishery capable of producing trout up to 24 inches, typically on nymphs and streamers.  In the fall, spawning browns add an extra thrill. The three miles of Nature Conservancy water is zero-kill and limited to ten rods a day.  We fish both this water and the six miles of public water above the Conservancy.

After a chemical spill in 1992 and subsequent closure for three years, the Upper Sacramento has astonished everyone with the speed and success of its recovery.  The rainbow are back on this classic little trout river, all wild fish, and in remarkable numbers.  Nearly 40 miles of pools, pockets, riffles, and runs, with relatively easy access and wading and the promise that with continued enlightened management, the Upper Sac will soon regain its place as one of California's premier wild trout fisheries.