Current River Conditions: Fishing at the Power House #2 riffle is almost always productive during the days of autumn. Consistent hatches in the AM hours keep the rainbows active until mid day. Look for fish sipping emerging caddis near sunset along the flats above HWY 299 bridge. There should be decent caddis hatches in the morning too! Swing #16 non-beaded Bird's Nests. Hat Creek is a great river for swinging black leech patterns. The rainbows will chase buggers too. Have October Caddis Dries like Goddard Caddis and Orange Stimulators!

Always have various midge dries and nymphs!!! A great top water midge pattern is the Midge Hanger. Don't even try to see it when presented. Just look for a rise and lift. Last but far from least, today is a good day to start searching the waters of Hat Creek with October Caddis Nymphs. This cased caddis is on the move right now, getting ready to hatch in about two weeks. Okay?

The Fly Shop's?? Tips: Best hatches occur in the morning and then again near sunset. 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. As we close in on October, expect October Caddis hatches at sundown.

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. 5wt rods are perfect. Have an extra spool loaded with a Scientific Anglers Wet Tip Clear Fly Line.

Suggested Fly Patterns:

Dry flies:
• Galloup's Cripples PMD/BWO
• Goddard Caddis - #8
• Orange Stimulator #8-10
• 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:
• Bird's Nest - #16
• Zack's October Caddis
• Mercer's October Caddis
• 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:
• PMS Leech - Black
• 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 Swin
gleaf Nymph Fly Box
• Simms?? G4 Pro Wader
• The Fly Shop's?? Stocking-foot Chest Waders
• Wading Boots
• Get Buff