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← Back to mapCalifornia Rivers › Sacramento Valley foothills, Butte County (CDFW North Central Region)
A Chico foothill creek where salmon-passage restoration meets small-stream trout water
CDFW has very little published fishing information for Big Chico Creek. The clearest CDFW record is its January 2024 approval of the City of Chico's Iron Canyon Fish Passage Project as a restoration project exempt from CEQA review. That approval shows the creek is managed as anadromous fish habitat. Big Chico Creek flows west out of the Butte County foothills through Chico and into the Sacramento River. The canyon above town has pools between boulders and runs that hold resident trout. The listed species are inferred from the passage project and from CDFW's general information on Central Valley Chinook salmon and rainbow trout/steelhead. No CDFW survey for this creek confirms them. Chinook salmon and steelhead here are protected stocks, so expect special closures and catch-and-release rules. Check the current Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations and the interactive map before fishing. Do not handle or target any salmon you see. Fish light tackle in the canyon pools, respect seasonal low-flow closures, and be gentle when releasing wild fish.
Best Season
Spring through early summer, when the regulations allow and flows are good. Check closures first.
River Type
Freestone foothill creek with canyon pools and riffles
Skill Level
Intermediate
Best Techniques
Light spinning or short fly rods, nymphs and small dry flies in pools and pocket water, catch-and-release
Access
Public trails from the Chico area into the canyon. Some stretches mean hiking over rough, rocky ground. Respect private property.
Reads Big Chico Creek at Manzanita Ave, which is not listed on this page.
Review seasonal insect hatches on the Big Chico Creek, including timing windows and fly pattern suggestions for your next trip.
Check current seasons, limits, and special rules for Big Chico Creek before you go. Regulations change, so always verify with IDFG.
The latest fishing conditions and hatch notes for Big Chico Creek. Older reports live in the Big Chico Creek report archive.
These YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Big Chico Creek fishery. Watch for river character, access context, and techniques that translate to your next trip.
No towns within 30 mi
Map data © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
These YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Big Chico Creek fishery. Watch for river character, access context, and techniques that translate to your next trip.
Fishing guides, outfitters, shuttles, and shops that operate on the Big Chico Creek.
Review seasonal insect hatches on the Big Chico Creek, including timing windows and fly pattern suggestions for your next trip.
No data for this season.
