HC Ranch

[flocktothewall]

Anyone ever stayed at Hot Creek Ranch?

Whats the benefits? Is it "better" fishing?

My dad wants to go there, has always talked about it, I looked at the accommodations/price online, and "el-cheapo" (me) says, stay somewhere nicer and cheaper and drive...to a creek. He thinks the fishing must be better there, my only guess is because of the private lands, the # of people fishing is less.

Anyone stayed there have a recommendation to go or insight on their experience?

[RJH]

Dry fly only.

Way less pressure. I think it is also difficult to get a reservation.

Never fished it but would like to.

Check out their website.

RJH

[DrCreek]

Guess it all depends on what you're really wanting and what you're really looking for. They own the majority of prime land, so they can do what they want with it - and they certainly do. You wanna fish it, plan on taking out a 401K loan to do so. You should have plenty of time to work out the details though - seeing as room availability on the property is little to none - even in advance. You're definitely assured of having plenty of time to tie up a big batch of tiny dry flies for your future trip. Otherwise...

You can stay in town at a cheap motel, drive up daily and fish the common area with all the other sheep - you know, the 1/4 mile area with all the deep ruts along the bank that have been cut over the years by the throngs - no, droves - of flyfishermen.

Or...

You can study the area, gather some intel, and find yourself a sweet little wild stream that sees relatively little or no pressure, and catch some gorgeous little wild trout while fishing totally unmolested by others. Good luck !

[WanderingBlues]

I'd rather spend the $$ for a better experience elsewhere. But, by the same token, if it's his dream, let him satisfy it. PM BobK. He's good friends with the caretaker.

[briansII]

Have to agree with Wandering. If that's what your Dad wants, IMHO, honoring his wants/wishes would be the way to go. He's paying, right?

briansII

[planettrout]

This will give a description of the availability and rates:

https://secure.rezovation.com/Reservati ... TV9WMPobhs

Plan on using Dry Flies ONLY...

I enjoyed staying there - a long time ago and have no desire to return.

PT/TB

[lucfish]

From a pricing standpoint it's not too expensive if you put four to a cabin. Would be about the same as going to a motel in the Mammoth area. The cabins have full kitchens so you can cook your own food and that can save you some dough. It depends on what floats your boat. Most of the time you will need to wait for a hatch so if the hatch starts at 10 then that's when you start fishing you might get into a few. If it starts at one you probably won't get any until one. I've fished it about a dozen times and it's not a numbers game. It's all about matching the hatch, picking out a particular fish and hooking that fish. That has it's own charm but if I am not getting fish on a dry, I would like to have the option of going subsurface but that is not an option there. I know and have fished with the ranch manager and can tell you although it appears always filled there are always cancellations. You would have to call and get on there list of "next in line" and you could probably get on this year. Wandering is correct Bob K is a personal friend of Kevin and could help you get on if that's what you really want to do for your Dad.

[fshflys]

I've stayed at the Ranch twice a season the last 2 years & I love it. Had some tough days like 2 years ago in June when spring runoff was the highest it had been in at least 20 years, Kevin had the "OK to fish nymphs" sign out, but it was tough fishing. The other 3 visits were classic Ranch days. There's rarely 10 people fishing at any 1 given time, I tended to fish from 7 - 8 AM to around 5:30 PM, then my back would start giving me trouble. Some people go out for a couple hrs a day, even talked to some people that hired a guide & went to East Walker (I think they were not from CA). Last year I hit the PMD hatch, used an emerger pattern, rust colored biot body with elk hair pointing out over the eye of the hook, size 16 - 18, picked up probably 20 fish in the hour that the hatch was going on. Other times had success with tiny 22 - 24 trico spinners. Each trip would produce a few fish in the 18 - 21" class, last year, my last day, I sight fished to a brown that was at least 24" but couln't entice him.
Last year I invited a guy I met on the stream, at first he wasn't interested (he fishes nymphs 90% of the time). After the 1st trip, he jumped on the chance to join me for a 2nd. With taxes it comes out to around $500 for 2 nights (their minimum). We take food, fully stocked kitchen & BBQ grill for each cabin, once we check in, we don't leave till check out time. I think it's well worth it, & my kids live in Mammoth so I have a place to stay for free but it's so much more relaxing staying at the Ranch. You probably won't see any openings right now but keep checking availability, there's usually cancellations.

[anacrime]

Fished it once, it was ok. There are more and bigger fish to be had for free if you do your homework. Besides, the place felt too "gentlemanly" for me.

Matching the hatch is fun for a little while, but those fish are just begging to chase streamers.