The Best Places to Fish in Tehama County, CA
Northern California provides some of the most picturesque fishing spots in the country so grab your fishing rod and get ready to pack your cooler with fish! Whether you’re looking to hook a bluegill in a quiet pond, fly fish until you drop, or you prefer a kickback night of catfishing on the banks of the Sacramento River, Tehama County is a fantastic destination for anglers to enjoy. Take advantage of 22 lakes, 242 rivers and streams, and 2 reservoirs. Northern Pike, multiple species of trout, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and bullhead, are all easily found in this fisherman’s wonderland of waterways.
The Northern California climate makes it a breeze to fish all year round since the rivers and lakes are usually open all year round. Locals love to leave work at 5, get something to eat, and go for a 3-hours top-notch fishing spree before they head home. Visitors never miss the chance to appreciate the variety of waters, the accessibility, and the beautiful scenic view. Lesser time finding your way around means more time for fishing.
Here are a few of Tehama County’s great fishing spots.
Antelope Creek, North Fork
Antelope Creek is a stream located just 5.3 miles from Los Molinos, in Tehama County. Get up early and be on the water by 6am for the best fishing. You will find that it’s not hard to relax on the water here with only the sound of the water lapping on your boat. There are lots of other small creeks nearby as well with good populations of brown trout, so make sure to check out the whole area. Head to Antelope Creek and enjoy one of the best places to camp in Tehama County, California.
Battle Creek, South Fork
Battle Creek’s 16 miles are home to Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. It originates near Shingletown, east of Redding, and empties into the Sacramento River near Anderson just south of Redding. Battle Creek has plenty of spots to camp along the shores, and The Fly Shop offers private fishing areas along the creek from mid-May to mid-October. Because of the physical nature of hiking down into the canyon, very few adventurous anglers make the effort to fish these fabulous freestone waters, making Battle Creek quite possibly the least-fished section of stream in California. These fish are wild and untouched.
Sacramento River
The river with its swift and cold waters runs through Tehama County, forms one of the best fishing spots in the country and has greatly contributed to establishing the area as the only West Coast location to make Forbes.com’s list of ‘North America’s Top 10 Trout Fishing Towns.’ The many creeks, tributaries, and countless fishable streams feed the Sacramento River as it heads down to the sea. This spectacular body of water fishes well year round thanks to the temperature-regulated flows. Known as a wild rainbow trout fishery, this river also supports populations of both King and Chinook salmon, Steelhead, Smallmouth Bass, Sturgeon, Striped Bass, and multiple species of both rough and forage fish.
If you are coming to Tehama County to experience the loads of fishing available, you won’t be disappointed. You can fish every day for a year and not hit the same spot twice, so come often and enjoy your time on the water.
Keep in mind that you will need to check in at the local Fish and Wildlife department to ensure that you find a fishing spot that is open for public use. Respect all signs that restrict access or indicate private property. You can visit California Fish and Wildlife to purchase a license for fishing, fishing regulations, and rules.
