Current River Conditions: The evening bite has been fun. Go fish at sunset, but pay attention to fishing regulations and the evening cut off time. Fishing has been slow mid day. Caddis are coming off in the early mornings. Anglers swinging Poopahs and non-beaded Bird's Nests have been into fish. Look for fish in the shade, along weed edges and just above the few turns found along this river between the Power House and the fish barrier.

You will find a few hook ups at the Power House #2 riffle, but you will also find other anglers out enjoying the fishing this week. There's always room downstream. A good time to fish the riffle is at sun-down. Expect to find selective rainbows rising to #16-18 Baetis, #16-18 Cripple mayflies and emergers. Stripping or swinging leeches early in the AM and then again near sunset is a great plan!

The Fly Shop's?? Tips: Best hatches occur in the morning. Get on the water early, before 9:00 AM! Be on the look-out for rainbows and brown trout rising near the edges of the river for best chance at a dry-fly hook-up.

A great option that often produces some of the very best Hat Creek "fish stories" is to fish #6-8 leeches, like Zack's Swimming Leech and buggers like Fox's Peacock Buggers near sunset.

Look for rising fish along the flats below the Power House #2 riffle in the early AM and very last light. For the best presentation, drift your D&D Cripple down and across to rising fish. For a fun challenge, try catching Hat Creek trout on as many tactics as you can: small indicators with nymphs, swinging wet flies and/or streamers, and, of course, with a well-presented dry fly. The Powerhouse #2 Riffle is one of the best spots on the creek, but also one of the most popular. Anglers seeking a real challenge should sight-cast to trout in the fabled "carbon flats" section, and those looking for solace can hike into the freestone section just above Lake Britton. 5 wt rods are perfect. Have an extra spool loaded with a Scientific Anglers Wet Tip Clear Fly Line.

Suggested Fly Patterns:

Dry Flies:
• Ant Misbehavin
• Generic Foam Beetle #14-16
• Galloup's Cripples PMD/BWO
• Para Extended Body PMD/BWO
• Midge Hanger
• Last Chance Cripple #14-22
• Normans Loop Wing BWO & PMD
• Parachute Adams #14-18
• Spotlight Caddis Emerger Olive #16
• Mercer's Missing Link #16-18

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• WD-40 (Any)
• Black Zebra Midge #18-20
• Hogan's S&M #16 Brown
• Fox's Wire Body Beeottis (Any)
• Tungsten Jig PT
• Posse Bugger #14
• Glass-Bead Micro May-Black or Olive
• Mercer's Gidget Brown or Olive
• Pat's Brown Rubber Legs #6-8
• GB Half-Flashback PT #14-20
• Burk's Crystal HBI
• Zack's Pseudo May #16-18 (Any)

Streamers/Leeches:
• Zack's Zugger's Yellow/Brown
• Fox's Peacock Buggers #8
• Zack's Swimming Leech Various
• Fox's Cone Bugger Rust
• Double Bunny
• Beaded Mini Leech Olive

Fly Fishing Gear:
• TFS Waterproof Swingleaf Nymph Fly Box
• Simms?? G4 Pro Wader
• The Fly Shop's?? Stocking-foot Chest Waders
• Wading Boots
• Get Buff