It feels like it has been a long time I’ve had a chance to go back to my favorite place to fly fish in California, Hamilton Branch. This is the Branch that feeds into Lake Almanor. Most people will fish down where the Branch meets the lake. There are some really big trout that just sit in there. Most people that fish their will use bait which I am really not into. Baits they use are orange Power Bait worms, crickets and row. There are some people that do really well with this. I personally like to move up the branch a little bit and fly fish.
I drove, with my wife, up HWY 147 to go to my normal turn out, but the road was closed. I was pretty disappointed when I saw this because I was not going to be able to get to my good spots. We turned around and went back down the road to the parking lot that everyone goes to fish for the big trout at the bottom of the branch. I was skeptical if I was going to catch any fish, but pressed on. I got my trusty TFO 5 wt out and put on a size 10 Stimulator.
I drove, with my wife, up HWY 147 to go to my normal turn out, but the road was closed. I was pretty disappointed when I saw this because I was not going to be able to get to my good spots. We turned around and went back down the road to the parking lot that everyone goes to fish for the big trout at the bottom of the branch. I was skeptical if I was going to catch any fish, but pressed on. I got my trusty TFO 5 wt out and put on a size 10 Stimulator.
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We got to the water and I moved up a little from where everyone else was and started fishing the brakes. I found a good hole and got a few strikes on my stimulator, but then the interest died down so I tied on about a 2 foot dropper, with 5x tippet. I started with an olive midge. I had some good success with this until a fish broke the midge off the tippet. I then changed to a black midge. I had good success with this as well. Once that hole died down I moved up the branch a little further. The water was moving faster, but it looked like a nice hole so I tied on a heavy Black Bead Head Wholly Bugger. I had some success with this as well, but they lost interest in this so I switch to a White Zonker. Talking about this makes me a little sad. I casted out the zonker and let it sink then started stripping it in. Two pulls in and I got a really nice heavy strike. I pulled up to set the hook and had it on for about a half a second. I saw him turn over at the bottom and it was a good sized flash. Sad I didn’t get that one, it would have been a good size.
All in all it was a great trip to Hamilton Branch and I got into some good fish. I was happy my wife came along. She got some great shots, take a look. I always love spending time with her. It doesn’t get much better than fishing and being with her. Someday I will get her to fly fish too! 
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