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← Back to mapCalifornia Rivers › North Central California (CDFW Region 2), Butte County, near Chico
A wild salmon stream on the Sierra-Cascade foothills, with a brook trout meadow up at its headwaters
Butte Creek starts in a 5,800-ft meadow basin northeast of Chico and drops through a bedrock canyon to the Sacramento Valley floor. CDFW counts it among the most important wild salmon streams in the Central Valley. It holds the largest self-sustaining, naturally spawning run of Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, which is listed as threatened under both state and federal law. Adult salmon spend the summer in deep, cool canyon pools between Quartz Bowl and the Centerville Covered Bridge and spawn from about September on. Do not disturb holding or spawning fish. Before fishing the canyon or valley reaches, check the current CDFW freshwater regulations, special closures and any drought-related restrictions. Trout anglers are better off in the headwaters. Butte Creek House Ecological Reserve, reached from Butte Meadows by Skyway and Humbug Summit Road, protects a wet meadow and a brook trout fishery. It is a small-stream setting for short casts with light gear. Lower down, Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve off Honey Run Road has public access to riparian forest and some seasonal fishing. Cell service is limited and there are no facilities at either reserve.
Best Season
Late spring through early fall for the headwater brook trout meadows. Snow limits high-country access in winter.
River Type
Freestone foothill canyon creek with a high meadow headwater
Skill Level
Beginner to intermediate
Best Techniques
For headwater brook trout: light spinning gear, small dry flies and nymphs, and careful, stealthy casts along meadow banks
Access
Butte Creek House Ecological Reserve via Hwy 32, Skyway and Humbug Summit Road. Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve via Skyway and Honey Run Road. Both are open sunrise to sunset.
More stations on the river
Review seasonal insect hatches on the Butte Creek, including timing windows and fly pattern suggestions for your next trip.
Check current seasons, limits, and special rules for Butte Creek before you go. Regulations change, so always verify with IDFG.
The latest fishing conditions and hatch notes for Butte Creek. Older reports live in the Butte Creek report archive.
These YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Butte 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 Butte Creek fishery. Watch for river character, access context, and techniques that translate to your next trip.
Review seasonal insect hatches on the Butte Creek, including timing windows and fly pattern suggestions for your next trip.
No data for this season.
Fishing guides, outfitters, shuttles, and shops that operate on the Butte Creek.
