Pit River/Hat Creek/Burney Creek

[WinterrunRon]

Just got back from fishing the Trinity and Pit (3 & 4) Rivers, Hat and Burney Creeks (upper and lower) & Lower Sac. I took a 3 1/2 day trip. In fact, I fished the Pit, Hat, Burney, Lower Sac and American in the same day (just made it back in time for last ½ hour of daylight on the Amercian)! That’s 5 different rivers in one day (my goal was to hook at least one fish on every system I fished).

The trip was too encompassing to offer it in words, so here’s some pics (in no particular order) from having fished for four days and traveled 765 miles. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed taking them! :)

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7945.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7941.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7938.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7909.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7901.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7887.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7872.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7865.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7826.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7818.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7724-1.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7811.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7806.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7803.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7766.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7763.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7754.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7753.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7744-1.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k63/WinterrunRon/Pit_Burney_Hat/IMG_7738.jpg

[bolden]

Where were #4 and 5 taken? The colors on both of them are gorgeous.

I didn't fish this past weekend, so i haven't been out since the weather got colder. Did it seem like a lot of the trees and bushes have changed color,
or was this fairly local (looks like burney creek)?

Anyway, it looks like you had a great trip. This might have to be my weekend trip.

[MrBig]

I'm guessing #4/#5 are Burney Creek, below the falls? Did you catch anything there? Great pix by the way! And great trip!

[jbird]

Ron

You just ascended to a whole new level as a photographer in my book!!!! Not to mention a commando fly fisher! :D =D>

Jay

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Great Ron......I see those Insonychias mayflies were out on the Pit River.

Spectacular photos.........what camera?

[Adam Grace]

Wow, now that is a hard core fishing trip.

Very nice pictures, great colors and composition. I am also curious what camera took these pictures. The must me some type of manual mode to get those slower water shots.

Great job, thanks again for the pictures.

[k.hanley]

Well done Ron! :P
Cheers, Ken

[Darian]

Ron,.... Didja bring that Caterpillar back with you :?: :?: Great collection of photo's. Spectacular colors and country. :D :D :D

[jhaquett]

Excellent pictures and a very unique trip...

Could you expand a bit on the fishing report? I'd especially be interested in hearing about the Pit. Thanks.

[dryflychico]

Ron,

Awesome photos and cool trip, wish I could get one of those in this year.

dryflychico

[Hairstacker]

Ron, an epic trip and absolutely beautiful pictures!

[Paul B.]

pic#10 Bears? Great pictures Ron. Thank you. Paul

[Gregg]

So rad! Just had a quick vacation while at work looking at the pics. Amazing shots Ron!

[WinterrunRon]

Thanks, fellas.

You trout guys should really make it a point to make a fall trip to this area at least once. I was lucky to hit it on a rainy, overcast day, which is my type of weather, so I was in heaven. It’s really gorgeous there this time of year!

To answer a few of the questions:

The first two are Hat Creek. The third photo isn’t anything special, unless you missed the trout in front of the rock! Ahhh, “now I see it” you say. Who missed the trout… c’mon, admit it.

Those following are of lower Burney Creek, the rest are the Pit River.

The camera used is a Canon A610, manual override was used to slow the shutter speed.

The caterpillar was left undisturbed. It looked to dang comfortable to move. My finger tip was simply added for size perspective.

I caught fish in every river/creek except the two I know best, the Trinity and American, where I failed miserably… go figure?

Bear, indeed!

A bit more on the fishing:

I started at the Trinity but left to the Pit when I didn’t hook a fish in areas I feel I should have after 7-8 hours of solid fishing. None hooked, none seen, talked to others fishless as well. The fish just weren’t there for me and I wasn’t willing to fish another day for one lucky, look-what-I-found run in. I’ve got October-March to fish it. So I headed to the Pit since I packed my trout stuff just in case. The Pit fished well enough. I had a dozen fish in 4 hours, I was happy with that. Although the isonychia were present, they wouldn’t hit an imitation. Nor a copper john. I found success with small FB PT’s. I left to fish upper Burney Creek for an hour and I landed a small native before dark. Woke up to fish lower Burney and landed a small but feisty native there. So I headed to Hat Creek and hooked a couple of real nice size fish but didn’t land them. The one's I did are in the first two photos. I left to fish upper Pit, landed one, so I left to fish the Lower Sac. I hooked a big rainbow 20ft from shore at the posse grounds but didn’t land it. Tried until 4pm to hook another, but had to leave to hit the American at 6:30 which gave me about 30 minutes to try and hook a fish there… but it didn’t happen. So I went home.

[jhaquett]

What a wild fishing trip! I do similar things, most times just spending the whole time in places like Burney. There's so much to fish there that you are all over the place all day long. Not as drastic as your trip though!

What stretch of river were you fishing when you caught the dozen fish on the Pit? I'm guessing Pit 3 and upper Pit is above Lake Britton to you? Most people think of it this way but I've heard people call Pit 3 upper Pit....

[PatrickM]

Ron,
I thought you just fished for winter steelies? First it's half-pounders, now trout. Should we be looking for a carp report next? :twisted:
Sick trip, bud, and great pics. :D

[WinterrunRon]

Ahhhhhh, pm... I said I prefer to fish for big, nasty-tempered winter steelhead. But if they're not here when I'm ready... I make due pursuing members of their extended family! :P

Carp, huh? I feel a fishing trip coming on... :evil:

Thanks, bud, glad you enjoyed them!

[Flycanoe]

Awesome trip. Thanks for sharing all those great pics.

Curious as to where you are sleeping and eating to cover that much ground?

[kokaneejr]

Great trip and photos Ron. I m totally jealous, but i will get my chance in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the info and I will be calling you next week to get some more tips. I still think that area is the most beautiful I have ever fished and you took the photos to prove it...Craig.

[bolden]

This post has given me a good reason to go up north, so i will post my exeriences Monday most likely.

[WinterrunRon]

Josh, Right the first time. Above Britton is upper, below is lower (to me). Pit 3 was the section that I fished.

Flycanoe, Thanks. As you can imagine, I eat simply/very little actually & camp/sleep close to the river I'm fishing in the morning. I'm not rushing, though. I just don't mickey-mouse around. Up at 6, on the water at twilight, leave the water at dark (7pm). That's 13 hours of fishing/travel time. You can cover a lot of ground in 13 hours!

Thanks, Craig. Agreed. B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! Call me. Take me with you. :P

Bolden, ditto. You shouldn’t go alone. :evil:

[Tracy Chimenti]

hey Ron... what size bear poop was that? Did you fish it on a sink tip, or floater? :)

Gorgeous pictures. Makes me want to get up there again.

[dtp916]

Sweet pics and an awesome trip!