|
|
Accommodations: Bailey Creek Lodge: 5 bedrooms, 5 baths Cost: Fishing/lodging $295 pp dbl occ. & $135 pp non-fishing Dates: April thru November Duration: No restrictions Location: Manton, California Not Provided: Calif. Fishing license, alcoholic beverages, fishing gear, float tubes, fins, personal expenses & gratuities. Phone Number: 530-474-4600 Physical: Moderate Provided: Lodging, meals, private fishing. Species: Rainbow & Brown Trout Technical: Beginners - Intermediate Technique: Fly Fishing Website: BaileyCreekLodge.com
|
|
| Bailey Creek Lodge - Shasta County, California |
 |
THE SETTING
The Lodge sits right above Bailey Creek on the Twin Creeks Ranch below Mt. Lassen. This is a five bedroom, five bath beauty that you will find extremely comfortable. From each room, guests can relax to the sounds of rushing stream waters, which are both soothing and invigorating. The bedrooms are on the bottom floor and the entire upper floor is designed for eating and relaxing around the fireplace, watching TV, tying flies or shooting a little pool. Picture windows look out to a magnificent view of the green canopy over Bailey Creek and a forested mountain ridge beyond. The entire north side of the building is a spacious deck looking down on a large patio area and a lovely heated 20 x 40 foot pool and Jacuzzi. The whole area around the lodge, pool and Jacuzzi is surrounded by lawn, lots of lawn! Bailey Creek Lodge is the perfect place to end each day and share stories over a glass of wine and fine food. The lodge is small enough to reserve the entire venue for a truly private vacation.
Outside, a wood deck stretches the length of the windows and affords a great view of Bailey Creek. Below is a very spacious patio area, complete with tables, chairs and an open fire pit bordered by lush garden planters. Walk across manicured lawn to the 20 x 40 foot heated swimming pool or relax in the adjoining hot tub spa.
Deer are frequent visitors to the park-like grounds and pasture lands surrounding the lodge. Guests can also spot red tail hawks and bald eagles nesting in the tree tops above. The ranch lands are home to the common quail, long-eared jack rabbit, and elusive wild turkey.
Fishing
Anglers at Bailey Creek Lodge will enjoy easy access to Bailey Creek, which has open paths, shaded pools and very little streamside brush. Bailey Creek is a trout Mecca, rich in oxygen and a diverse natural food supply. Having a relatively low elevation translates into a very temperate climate and fast-growing fish. Riffles and pools in this freestone stream are filled with mostly rainbows - averaging 16- 18 inches - with many a trophy of 20 inches or more.
The secondary waters of Rock Creek offer a more rugged terrain amid large rocks and trees - this one's for the more adventurous angler. Rock Creek has a larger brown trout population. A magnificent canopy of alders, streamside bay trees and oaks makes for a very enjoyable experience. Bordered by 2,000 acres of federally protected wild land, natural beauty and wildlife abound!
In the lakes, expect to find damsel flies, various mayflies, midges and caddis, plus aquatic beetles and water boatmen. Around the edges, terrestrials (ants, beetles and grasshoppers) make their annual appearances. The streams will contain various mayflies, caddis, stoneflies and, of course, terrestrials. As a general rule expect larger flies to work best in early season and smaller flies to work best during the late season.
FOR THE LAKES, bring floating and sink tip or sinking lines (up to type III). You will need long leaders tapered to 5x or 6x for the dry activity, and a little shorter leader tapered to 3x to 4x for the wet activity. EXPECT A LOT OF ACTION USING EMERGING INSECTS JUST UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE. Many of our regulars fish some type of dry or emerger with a dropper, short or long, and a nymph or midge pupa attached. Expect midge activity to start in early spring and continue all year. Mayflies start in late spring and early summer. Terrestrials are effective most of the season, especially after early spring. Leeches, damsels and dragonfly patterns seem to work best from late spring on. A crystal bugger or leech with a nymph trailer can be deadly. You must experiment with various retrieves at different depths until you strike gold! Many lake fishermen have great success fishing a nymph of some kind at various depths underneath an indicator. Just let it sit there for a bit, patience is a virtue at this point, and then pull it slowly back for another cast.
FOR THE STREAMS, shorter leaders tapered to 4x or 5x are more appropriate. Deer hair flies with short droppers or no droppers will produce. Nymphs of various sizes and colors should be in your box. Yellow Humpies, Stimulators and Elk Hair Caddis are high on our list for dries, but there are a number of other popular patterns, such as Parachute Adams, that will work well. Hanging a nymph underneath these high floaters can sometimes turn the trick. Black AP's, PT's Prince Nymphs and Golden Stones are some of the wet flies we would try first. Small nymph patterns will begin to be the best choice in the late summer and fall.
RESERVATIONS
Space is intentionally limited to ensure a quality, enjoyable experience. This is a full-service lodge, so fresh linens are provided. You need only bring your personal gear and fishing equipment. Email above for reservations or call Gary @916-296-6199
Regular season runs from April through November. Lake fishing is available year round.
Rates include all 5 fly fishing waters, including Lake Christine:
$295 per angler (double occupancy)
$135 for the non-angler
The Lodge Package includes:
Full-service lodge, fishing, family style breakfasts, lunches and a hearty dinner.
Email or phone owner to ask questions & request reservations
|
