Nestled at the base of the Salmon Mountains and the Trinity Alps, fed by crystal clear snowmelt from the upper reaches of the Scott River and Sugar Creek, the ponds at Sugar Creek Ranch offer one of the finest private property trout fishing destinations on the West Coast.

The ponds are located in the tailings from gold dredging done in the 1940's. The four miles of rock piles, 50 feet high, line the banks of the Scott River just north of Callahan, California. Twenty years ago a gravel operation was started in the tailings. The depressions created by the gravel operation filled with water and soon after trout.

Kal and his son, Mike, Kalpin started Sugar Creek Ranch 9 years ago and have been enhancing the aquaculture of the ponds ever since. "It's the water," Mike told me. "It is so clean and nutrient rich, everything in the ponds does great." The aquatic plant life has done so well the Kalpins have to cut it back regularly to keep it from taking over.

The trout grow to enormous size; a 29" fish was caught there last week. The ponds have been populated by steelhead fry who found their way into the ponds through the rock piles when water levels drop on the river. The fish now breed and because this is a catch and release fishery, the quantity and quality of the fishery has improved over the years.

Access to the seven ponds, approximately 15 acres of water, is restricted to fewer than ten anglers per day to reduce pressure on the fish and to keep them fresh. Abundant natural forage and experience from having seen a few flys in their life, make these trout finicky. However, they aren't a bit shy about taking the fly if it is a good representation of what they're eating at the time.

Spring in far Northern California has been unusually long, cool, and wet. Trout have been sluggish and picky, often holding deeper than normal for this time of year. May 7, the day I fished, was the first warm sunny day in the area for over a week. When I arrived at the lodge, Mike told me most fish were being caught on a Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, but a few had been fooled recently by a Kiwi Beatle on the surface.

I set up a sink tip on a fast action 5 wt. with the Hare's Ear and the Beatle on a 5 wt. medium action with the floating line. While I was getting ready, Mike tossed a Beatle into one of the smaller ponds. The water immediately boiled! Mike set the hook, but the fish had only bumped his fly. The line snapped and the fly went whizzing by his head. This scene played out three times before he finally stuck one.

The 18" trout was landed and released after a dazzling aerobatic fight. I left the sink tip in the pickup and headed down to the pond with my Beatle. After a few casts, one of the Sugar Creek trout viciously took the fly as it leaped out of the water.

Another quality battle ensued with the fish making numerous runs toward a stand of cattails while I tried to turn the fish before it reached the structure. Eventually the fish tired. Mike nettled the 3-pound plus fish and gently returned the buck to the lake. The fish had a small kipe. "Pretty fish, nice kipe! It's the end of spawning season," Mike said.

Sugar Creek's gin clear water, and a good pair of polarized sunglasses, allow you to see the fish and their reaction to your presentation. Some fly patterns elicit no response and some the fish swim around or follow without taking. When you have the right fly, being able to see a very large rainbow circle around then smash your offering is truly something to behold! A couple of times the fish were bumping each other away from the fly, fighting for the opportunity to hammer the beatle.

We moved to Twin Deer Pond, the largest, home to Sugar Creek Ranch's biggest trophy bows. A steady gentle breeze would move the fly over the pond's surface. Casting into the wind required stripping line as the fly drifted toward you to limit slack, keeping the presentation natural. The fastidious fish were having none of it, even though numerous circular ripples from trout surface feeding could be seen!

I switched tactics and began casting with the wind. A fish rose, I cast and was able to place the fly a few feet in front of the fish. The water turned white as the fished inhaled the beatle. I set the hook as my rod doubled over and the fish went on a tear... It was my big fish of the day.

Fishing the ponds for a few hours provided me 6 fish. Two were over 4 pounds; none were smaller than 3 pounds. The only fly that caught fish was the Kiwi Beatle.

Enough lawn surrounds the ponds so you don't even have to think about your back cast. The larger ponds are suitable for float tube fishing although you really don't need one. Shaded picnic tables are provided for taking a break. You can drive right up to the ponds so you don't have to carry a bunch of gear around. There are even a couple of restrooms. The ponds at Sugar Creek Ranch are more reminiscent of a golf course than a fishing hot spot!

The lodge at Sugar Creek Ranch only has three rooms. Although they do not prepare meals, there is a full kitchen and barbeque for guests to prepare their own meals. Rooms start at $200.00 per day (double occupancy) or you can just fish for a $150.00 per day rod fee. Either way, it's a fantastic fishing bargain within a 5 to 6 hour drive from the Bay Area or Portland.

You can contact the Kaplins at 530.467.5213, via EMAIL mike@sugarcreekranch.com, or through their website www.sugarcreekranch.com

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