California Fishing Reports ยท Shasta Region
The Pit River drops through a series of power reaches east of Redding, a rugged, rocky river with lots of wild rainbows and tough wading.
Looking for the latest Pit River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Pit River.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Pit River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge below Pit 1 powerhouse reads around 850 cfs. Flows in the lower reaches depend on the power releases.
High-stick nymph the pockets with stonefly nymphs and caddis pupae. Wear studs.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Pit River Canyon, bring: Pat', s Rubber Legs #8-10, Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-16, Perdigon #16, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Pit River details
| Access | Roads along the Pit 3, 4 and 5 reaches off State Highway 299. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 1,500 to 3,000 ft |
| Nearest town | Burney, California |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Fish | Wild rainbow trout |
| Regulations | Statewide trout rules apply unless posted, and some waters have special seasons. Check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations for the current rules. A California sport fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X tippet |
| Camping | PG&E campgrounds along the river |
| Kids | No. Very slick, rocky wading. |
| Good to know | It is one of the hardest rivers in California to wade. Use a wading staff. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Steady flows.
Spring
Caddis and stoneflies.
Summer
Caddis.
Fall
October caddis.
How to get there
From Redding, take State Highway 299 east toward Burney and Big Bend.