Accessing the River
The best way to access the river is by boat. The majority of anglers either fish with local guides, own property there, or know someone with property that has river access. But if you’re a DIY guy, you are in luck! As far as I know, CalTrout owns the only public access and boat launch on the Fall River proper. And it's free! Several years ago CalTrout bought a small piece of land and maintain it as a launch point that is open to the public. The only hitch is you cannot launch motorized boats. Only human or electric-powered craft can launch from the CalTrout property. Luckily there is great fishing within close proximity in both directions.
If you’re new to Fall River and have the means, I'd recommend going out with a guide. There's no shortage of great guides in the area. They will have a boat already parked somewhere on the river with private access. The last few times I fished Fall River was with the guides from Clearwater Lodge. They are all awesome and have been great sharing knowledge and expertise of the fishery. I'd also recommend staying a night or two if you can. Michelle, owner of Clearwater, runs a great operation. The Lodge is a beautiful historic building right on the Pit River and just ten minutes from Fall River. The entire property is more like a park, plus the cuisine they serve is the talk of the town. That’s almost worth the price of a stay right there! There's also a small restaurant in Fall River Mills called Crumbs that's worth a stop.
The Hex Hatch
If you're looking for a truly unique experience, come during the hottest parts of summer for the hex hatch. Hexagenia limbata is the largest species of mayfly found in North America. They hatch typically in late July and through August. The lodge offers special two hour hex trips after dinner. Typically, you will leave around 7:30 to reach the water for the last hour of light. As the afternoon winds calm down and the setting sun paints the clouds, you will buzz out across the still waters and find a nice place for the fireworks. As darkness starts to set in you will hear giant gulps. If you didn't know better you might think the sounds are from beavers slapping their tail. But in fact it's actually giant rainbows absolutely crushing two inch long bright yellow mayflies. (continued on page 58)