More Pics Accommodations: European Lodging and Cottages - Very Nice Cost : $360 pp/day, dbl occ.-- lodging, meals & guide --see below for schools/clinics Location: Fall River Mills, California Phone Number: 530-336-5005 Website: ClearWaterLodge.com

Clearwater Lodge on the Pit - N. California

Welcome to eastern Shasta County's newest and most remarkable fly fishing destination! We've combined the ambiance, elegance, and spacious accommodations of the extraordinary 1921 Arts and Crafts-style Pit River Lodge with the talented guide staff, creative menus, and renowned fly fishing schools of Clearwater House on Hat Creek to create a brand new, full-service fly fishing destination, offering meals, accommodations, guiding and instruction on northeastern California's five great wild trout rivers and spring-fed stillwaters.

Accommodations:

Located in a park-like setting on the Pit River, between Burney and Fall River Mills, this remarkable building has hosted anglers in eastern Shasta County for over 80 years. It features seven bedrooms, each with a private bath. The adjoining Annex offers six singles and two large shared baths. The three cottages set among the oaks and pines and broad lawns, feature 2 and 3 bedroom suites.

Rivers:

Walk to fishing on the Pit River. We also float fish the Pit from the Lodge in our drift boats and rafts. A five minute drive brings you to the Trophy Water on Hat Creek. It's just ten minutes east to either of our two private launch spots on Fall River.

Fall River: This renowned spring-fed river rises clear and cold from Thousand Springs, in the shadow of Mt. Shasta, and meanders 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. All flat-water, the Fall is fished only from aluminum prams with small motors. Big wild rainbows and extraordinary hatches mean great fishing all season.

Hat Creek: The most famous spring creek on the west coast, Hat Creek is California's version of the chalk streams of southern England where fly fishing was born. In 1968, it became the west's first fishery to be managed exclusively for wild trout. Clear and weedy, Hat's rich waters support a diverse insect population and thousands of trout per mile in the three miles of Trophy Water. There are 16 fishable hatches. 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.

Pit River: Described by fisheries biologists as the finest naturally-occurring wild trout fishery in California, the Pit River offers over 30 miles of beautiful, remote canyon water. Below Lake Britton, the river is divided into three reaches by dams and powerhouses. Wading can be challenging, but the beauty of the canyon, the miles of productive pocket water and pools plus the high catch rate of bright wild rainbows make it perfect for the angler seeking solitude and adventure.

McCloud River: Northern California's most famous freestone fishery. The McCloud is a classic pool and pocket water river in a magnificently wooded canyon. The McCloud rainbow is highly prized. In the late 1800s, it was the source of rainbow stocks now found around the world. In the autumn, it has a fine run of brown trout from Lake Shasta. Special regulations protect this fishery and it produces trout to 24 inches, typically on nymphs and streamers. 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. We also fish the upper river, above the reservoir, where the wading and access are easy and the many small fish quite willing.

Others: We also fish and guide on the Upper & Lower Sacramento River, Burney Creek and Fall River Valley Stillwaters.

Schools:

Choose Mastering if you have little or no recent fly casting or fly fishing experience, virtually no familiarity with the tackle or knots of fly fishing. Previous fishing experience is not necessary. 4 nights – 3 days $1295 pp

Choose Big Trout Tactics if you have been through the Mastering program or if you already have a reliable and reasonably accurate overhead cast, the ability to place your fly in a six foot circle at about 20 feet consistently, a general familiarity with the knots and tackle of fly fishing, and basic wading and stream fishing experience. 4 nights – 3 days $1295 pp

Choose the Master Angler if you wish to become an expert angler. 4 nights – 3 days $1395 pp

Choose the Guide School if you want to teach fly fishing skills. 4 nights – 3 days $1795 pp

Rates:

Lodging: Clearwater Lodge operates on a full American plan. The rate for a night's accommodations and three excellent meals is $175 per person or $275 per couple. State and local taxes are in addition to these rates.

Guides: Full day rates are $370 for one or two anglers. Where the fishery permits, a third angler is $75. Full days begin at 8 AM and go until dark. They include excellent lunches and soft drinks.

Half day rates are $300 for one or two anglers and $50 for an additional angler. Morning half days start at 8AM and end in the early afternoon. Afternoons start after lunch and end at dark.

Evening fishing sessions are $150 for one or two anglers and $50 for an additional angler. Evening fishing sessions start at 7pm and end at dark.