Rock Creek Lake

This terrific fishing property lies at 3,200 ft in the foothills below the western slope of Mt Lassen National Park. It is a comfortable 50 minute drive from either Red Bluff or Redding, and is easily accessible by paved roads except for the last 200 hundred yards or so. This gravel portion leading to the front gate, and the mile long driveway leading to the lake, is passable to any 2 wheel drive vehicle. There is a cabin nestled in the woods just off the lake for our clients to use. This is the perfect get-a-way for any kind of group; providing fishing for the anglers, comfortable cabin and loads of hiking opportunities for the non-angler, plus site seeing at the nearby National and State Parks.

The Lake is completely surrounded by a mixed forest of pines, cedars and oaks which gives one a real sense of isolation, and at the same time, a feeling of intimacy. Rock Creek itself runs right through the middle of the lake and provides a short spawning section for the lakes many browns and rainbows. The lake was built in the 30's as a water source for a historic lumber mill, but now it is used only for the pleasure of our clients. It is quite deep where the creek channel runs, but a good part of it is around 12 ft deep and has wonderful weed beds, which are incredible insect factories. Over half the lake's shore is covered in willows that harbor all sorts of insects, including terrestrials, plus any number of trout fry. You will always find many Rock Creek Lake rainbows and browns nosing in and around the willows looking for an easy meal. Each year we get reports of trout

It is such a special place and we know those that have not yet experienced it are going to quickly become enamored, while those who have been there already know its value as a private recreation area. This is one of the easiest of our private ranches to access and utilize. The 3000 foot plus elevation provides an ideal temperature for excellent water conditions and hatches. It takes the sting out of hot weather with cool evenings and mornings, and it rarely gets uncomfortably cold. It is a great spot for groups, couples, or as a family getaway.

We take reservations for Rock Creek Lake anytime during the year. Most of our regulars simply tell us they want the lake over the same time period every year. If you want to fish this lake in the Spring or early Summer

Prices:
The cost of the daily fishing (costs shown are per person) and cabin rates (costs shown for group) for the Rock Creek Lake package are:

Fishing:
•  Full Day:  $135 per day/per person (2 or more anglers)
•  Single Angler Package:  $350 per night (includes cabin and fishing)
•  Cabin Rental:  $135 per night (plus $13.50 County Bed Tax)
•  Float Tube & Fin Rental:  $12 per day

March to early May:
Cold and sometimes discolored water is the norm for the early part of the season. You can be fishing in rain and occasionally snow, or in beautiful sunny weather. It will be cold to cool at night and you may need to dress warmly during the day, although sometimes all you will need is a light shirt, and this can be especially true as you get into late April and May. Usually hatches, especially in the first month or two, will be few and far from prolific. None of this means that the fishing will be poor; on the contrary, some of the best days of the season come in these early months. The fish are coming off of a long, cold winter and are ready to take on some calories. They are hungry, and this hunger can make them gullible at times, enough to make even novice anglers feel like a pro. They can be tough to fool at times as well, and knowing a few techniques for lake fishing will really pay off then.

March will mean off colored, cold water and you usually won't seem as many rising fish. However, they will slam those streamer type flies so you will want to have a good supply of various buggers and leech patterns. The larger sizes (#6-#8) can work at this time, but be sure to have some of the smaller patterns as well. Midges seem to be a factor every month of the season so having midge nymphs, emergers and some dries will be necessary. Something to remember is that when you are faced with cold water situations a slow to slower retrieve can be the ticket. That can be true when using these streamers and also with some nymphs. You can get away with heavier tippets in off colored water, but keep that slow retrieve on the back of your mind.

By late April and May the Callibaetis mayflies will begin to hatch, so you will want dries, nymphs and emergers of that fly. Crippled patterns seem to out fish dries by quite a good margin. There can also be other mayfly species hatching and usually these will be small (#16-#18) and light yellow, tan or sulfur in color. There is one terrestrial insect event you could see in May and that is an ant or termite flight. You will know it is going on because every fish in the lake will working the surface and you will catch more trout during the ant flight than at any other time on the lake. Carry winged ant patterns in May!

June through August:
Summer is always associated with warm to hot weather which means light weight clothing while on the water and maybe a warm jacket or shirt for the evenings, which are usually cool due to the 3200 ft elevation the lake sits at. This warmer weather also means that every kind of insect in the lake and around the lake is becoming active. June is considered Callibaetis month in this country, but you will also see other mayflies,

From Red Bluff (45 minutes):
Proceed east on Antelope Blvd. (Hwy 99E) for three miles to Hwy 36. Turn left (north) on Hwy 36 and travel 11 miles to Dales Station. Turn left (north) on Manton Road (A6) and travel 16 miles to the community of Manton. Turn left (north) at the general store onto Wilson Hill Road and travel 1 mile to Rock Creek Road, and proceed 5 miles to the end of the pavement. You will be crossing Rock Creek at this point. Now go 200 yards up a gentle incline on the gravel raod to the ranch entrance (on the right side of the road). The address is 34055 Rock Creek Road (Canyon Creek Ranch).

From Redding (50 minutes):
Proceed east on Hwy 44 for 35 miles to the community of Shingletown. Turn right on Wilson Hill Road and travel seven miles to a stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign onto Rock Creek Road and proceed 5 miles to the end of the pavement. You will be crossing Rock Creek at this point. Now go 200 yards up a gentle incline on the dirt road to the ranch entrance (on the right side of the road). The address is 34055 Rock Creek Road (Canyon Creek Ranch).

Entering the Ranch:
Pull off the road and park in front of the gate. You will have been given the gate combination after we have received your trip deposits, and

Day of Arrival:
Once we have received your trip deposits, a full information packet will be sent to you, and will include a schedule we try to adhere to for Rock Creek Lake. The normal arrival time at the lake is 3:30 PM. We know it is hard to hold yourself back from coming in before that time, especially when you find yourself at the front gate before 3:30. If at all possible we will tell you if you can fudge some on the arrival time, but in the event we don't please don't enter the ranch before your appointed time. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than an incoming group arriving when the outgoing group is making preparations to leave or are still relaxing and enjoying the ranch. Nobody wants a group to do that to them, so please do not infringe upon another groups time at the ranch, either.

When you do enter the ranch there usually will be no one to greet you. At various times the housekeeper may be just finishing up turning over the cabin, but usually they will be gone by then. Feel free to make yourself at home and settle back and begin to drink it all in - the scenery that is. The ranch caretaker may put in an appearance sometime during your stay to take care of anything needed, but we really want your time at Rock Creek to be as isolated and uninterrupted as possible, and that includes right up to the time you drive off the property.

Day of Departure:
On departure day there are a couple of things to keep in mind, depending on whether or not there will be a group coming in on the same day, and whether or not the housekeeper will