Hat Lake near Chester: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Shasta County, California, is where Hat Lake sits. Height above sea level is 6,440 feet. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. Most waters listed here for Shasta County are larger. 19 miles away sits Chester, the nearest town. After that come Shingletown at 22 miles and Burney at 28 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Hat Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Shasta County records list Chinook salmon, green sturgeon, rainbow trout and brook trout among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Hat Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 59°F; the cold one sits at 29°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. The season on Hat Lake follows the weather closely. The first warm days of the year bring fish shallow quickly.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Parking is close: a car park sits 160 yards from the bank. Picnic facilities are recorded some half a mile out. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Shadow Lake, 2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Hat Lake before loading the car.