We Are Getting Close!!

With only a month away from our rendezvous at Lassen I decided to compile some pics from years past to in a way remind and revisit in anticipation of this years trip. For as much as I talk up the fishing and camping in my home state of Oregon (and for good reason) there is an area in nor-cal that I hold with such high regard you'd think I was speaking of Oregon. It's a special place that reaches all expectations for a fishing/camping trip, with great mountain scenery, cold and clear flowing streams, lakes, lots of good camping, and of course exceptional fishing. And with the many varied places to fish like hat creek which offers two totally different fisheries, Upper hat contains brooks, rainbows, and browns in clear cold fairly fast moving stream as it makes it's way from mt. Lassen to the town of Cassel it can be considered more of a bait fishery with heavy stocking near the campgrounds and accessible areas, however once away from the heavy traffic areas one can be treated to good fly fishing opportunities in the riffles and runs flowing through arid volcanic scrub land, then it runs to the powerhouse and changes into a wild trout fishery as storied as any in California and one of the true gems of the west. Many notable people from former presidents (Eisenhower) to movie stars (Bing Crosby) and countless others have tried there luck on these difficult waters but for good reason. Even though lower hat isn't what it used to be it's still an amazing place, the riffle and carbon flats sections are arguably the best spots to fish but don't forget there is plenty of other water on this soried stream, then you have manzanita lake the main draw for me scenery, fly-only, big browns nuff said, McCumber lake however is what keeps us coming back year after year, this small mountain reservoir containing the north fork of battle creek is a gem in it's own right we have camped at the walk in site for 4 years now and found it has everything. Location is good and you're within 30 min of all the places we want to fish, has a real short walk to carry in camp, nice fairly quiet camp with a spot to moore the boat right at camp, pretty setting lake and camp and only electric motors is a nice touch too, the fishing can be as good if not better than any other place visited on the trip, and if that's not enough grab your rod and walk to the outlet just 20 or so steps from camp and try at some small browns and bows from battle creek..........ok I can't wait.