Clearwater Lodge, California

Nestled between Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta on the banks of Northern California’s Hat Creek, Clearwater House is a renovated turn-of-the-century farmhouse with an unsurpassed reputation for its guide service, fly fishing schools and comfortable accommodations. This is the ideal location from which to fish the state’s most famous waters including the Fall River, Pit River, Upper Sacramento, and McCloud. Clearwater is open from late April through mid-November and employs some of California’s finest guides. Accommodations and meals are first class, and the lodge offers a wide variety of fishing schools and packaged programs of different lengths.  Clearwater is open from late April through mid-November and employs some of California’s finest guides. Accommodations and meals are first class, and the lodge offers a wide variety of fishing schools and packaged programs of different lengths.

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

Hat Creek
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
The Pit might be the finest naturally-occuring 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.

The McCloud River
A classic pool and pocket water river in a magnificent wooded canyon, the McCloud is northern California's most famous freestone fishery. McCloud rainbows are world renown. Special regulations protect this fishery and it produces trout 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.

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

The Sacramento River Float Trips
The Sacramento below Redding has become recognized as a world-class rainbow fishery. We use drift boats to fish the excellent water between Redding and Anderson, getting out on the gravel bars and islands to wade and fish. While it's mostly nymphing, there are good caddis hatches from spring to fall.

Northeastern California Stillwaters
Baum Lake, Eastman Lake, Manzanita Lake, McCumber Lake, Eagle Lake, McCoy Flats - these and other stillwaters around Clearwater offer excellent fishing for outsized rainbow and browns. We provide float tubes and pontoon boats for our guests and guide many of these fisheries. If it's big fish you want, these stillwaters are the place. 5 pound fish are frequent; 10 pounders not unknown.

The Clearwater Lodge on the Pit River is a magnificent Arts and Crafts building completed in 1921. Using lava rock and clear fir from the surrounding forests, skilled craftsmen created a masterwork of lodge architecture unique in California. Paneled walls and tall beamed ceilings rise above the clear fir floors. The original copper and stained glass chandeliers illuminate the Great Room. A massive stone fireplace with cozy inglenooks on either side invite you to linger and relax. Comfortable Mission chairs and settles offer places for reading and chatting around the fireplace. The Library offers a fine selection of books on fly fishing for trout. It’s the perfect place for relaxing with friends, enjoying a glass of wine and sharing stories of the day’s adventures. Magnificent old sycamore trees create a canopy of shade on the wide front porch. There are chairs among the oaks and pines on the beautiful grounds for relaxing.

Located in a park-like setting on the Pit River, midway between Burney and Fall River Mills, Clearwater Lodge caters exclusively to fly fishers with fine meals, accommodations, guiding, and fly fishing schools. The Lodge offers seven comfortable bedrooms in the main building, each features a queen bed and a private bath. Fly fishing prints decorate the walls and the rooms feature antiques and oriental rugs. After a day of fishing, you can look forward to excellent family style meals from a chef who understands that fishing builds hearty appetites. Modern amenities include wireless internet access and air conditioning.

The Annex, connected to the Lodge by a portico, provides European-style lodging accommodations, with six single bedrooms and two large shared baths. The Annex’s spacious sitting room features a natural rock fireplace and is perfect for gathering with friends to discuss the day’s fishing. Three individual Cottages, set away from the Lodge among trees and lawns, offer one and two bedroom accommodations.

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