This scenic ranch, surrounded by more than 65,000 acres of National Forest, is the jewel in the necklace of The Fly Shop's Private Waters and welcomes a limited number of guests from mid-May through October.
Anglers staying at Antelope Creek Ranch enjoy wonderful accommodations, great food, and absolutely terrific trout fishing that begins right at the doorstep. The lodge and guest suites are within a stone's throw of the serpentine, fish-filled private meadow stream and within walking distance of the ranch's two trophy trout lakes. There are nearly two miles of the creek on the ranch and 9 more miles of roadless stream above the fenceline.
Mike and Bertha Michalak, owners of The Fly Shop, purchased the ranch in 2002 and, using of a team of environmental experts, began one of the most ambitious private stream, meadow, wetland restoration and enhancement projects in this part of California.
The magnificent, two-story Antelope Creek ranch house accommodates 8 fishing guests in style. Each one of the spacious four bedrooms has a private bath and wonderful view. The cozy fireplace sets the mood, and you can watch deer stroll, stars fall, and trout slurp from the beautiful, new back patio.
The two-story lodge living room has a massive stone fireplace, a sunken bar, wraparound decks and windows looking out over picturesque Antelope Creek to the meadow and mountains beyond. There is a quiet, park-like atmosphere and the historic ranch is surrounded by nearly 35,000 acres of national forest. The hundreds of acres surrounding the lodge are beautiful, with large grassy meadows and an open panoramic vista of the surrounding mountain bowl. Guests can see for miles from the streamside patios and there are no other buildings, homes, or lights within sight to mar the view.
The historic cattle ranch is an ideal vacation spot for both serious fishermen and their families or friends. At just over 5,000 feet elevation, Antelope Creek Ranch is an ideal mid-summer and fall angling retreat. The ranch enjoys cool, pleasant weather and great fly fishing conditions all season long. There are several golf courses less than an hour away, two adjacent National Forests with hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and several of the American west's largest waterfowl nesting and viewing areas only minutes away.
Stay in our Guest Suites:
• $395 per day/per angler (3 night minimum) *
• $175 per day (non-angler) *
(* plus $7 per night County Occupancy Tax)
Book the entire Lodge:
• $2,400 per night (3 night minimum) for up to 8 guests.
• Meals are not included (we are happy to help make arrangements for a chef if desired)
• The entire ranch is yours, there will be no other guests on the property.
Reservations can be made as far as two years in advance, and many summer holidays at Antelope Creek Ranch are arranged that far ahead. The fishing season is from mid-May through mid-October. To make a reservation, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours any day of the week. We will answer whatever questions you may have and let you know where the openings are for Antelope Creek Ranch, and confirm your reservations in just minutes.
If you prefer to correspond on-line simply email us using the contact form below and we will respond promptly. It is always a joy to talk to our clients about our own ranch. While we are proud of all our Private Waters, we feel that Antelope Creek is truly "the jewel in our necklace of regional destinations." It has attractions for the novice and expert alike and there is no destination in our portfolio better suited for non-fishing companions.
After a verbal confirmation of your reservation you'll receive a short confirmation letter showing the dates of your stay, terms of the booking and an invoice showing the cost of the trip. A 50% deposit is normally due 6 months before the trip is scheduled to begin. Final payments are due 2 months in advance. Deposits and final payments can be made with either a credit card or check.
In order to comfirm reservations made more than 6 months in advance of the trip, a good faith deposit of 25% is required within two weeks of the verbal confirmation.
Deposits are fully refundable, less a $100 service fee, if cancellations are received more than 90 days in advance of the scheduled visit. In the event that reservations are cancelled within 90 days of the scheduled visit, they are non-refundable. However, in the event that we are able to find replacements for those cancelled dates, the entire deposit, less the $100 service fee will be refunded.
The cold water of Antelope Creek pours out of alpine aquafirs and tumbles off the slopes of nearby Mount Shasta before settling into its tranquil, meandering nature as it courses across our ranch. Simple irrigation diversions control the flow in the main stem of the creek and the stream runs clear and fishable every day from the middle of May through the end of our season in late October.
Antelope Creek carves its path through the middle of the ranch and offers nearly two miles of meadow fishing for rainbows and resident brown trout. The creek is not broad, but typically cuts under banks, tails out in flats, and forms deep pools. Twisting and turning its way through the ranch, intermittently dividing the meadow and cutting through the surrounding willows and evergreen forest. The fish in the stream are not routinely large, but there are quite a few browns and rainbows that will top two pounds. Easily spotted in the placid creek waters, and sight-casting to specific trout is commonplace.
The two lakes on the property have healthy populations of trophy rainbows and browns that will make any angler's heart race. In fact, each year several of our guests take home photos of themselves smiling with 30+ inch trout ready to be released. The upper lake is small and can easily be fished entirely from the shore. It is surrounded by many varieties of trees and is a pleasure to experience. The lower ranch lake is larger and can accommodate several float tubers, though it can also be fished effectively from shore.
In May and June the high (5000') altitude translates to cool mornings and evenings and guests at the ranch house usually rise to a morning fire in the lodge's beautiful stone-lined fireplace. Hatches aren't heavy in the creek or either of the two trophy trout lakes until late in the morning, when the sun hits the water solidly, its warmth stimulating the insect activity - and the trouts'! Fish feed actively all day long and leeches, streamers, and nymphs are very effective throughout the day. The single most effective dry fly and nymph fishing in the stream are small mayfly imitations, while standard damselfly or water boatman patterns work well in either of the two lakes. Slowly retrieved streamers and small, bead-headed patterns are equally productive.
Midges are very active in the spring months, and imitations continue to work well every day of the season. Sometime early in June there is a migration of termites that moves through the high mountain forests. Trout begin rising with apparent abandon to beetles and ant patterns that resemble the termites.
Moreover, the water boatman that begin to hatch in early to mid June is one of the most excited stillwater hatches you will every come across. The water boatmen are very fast and have the unique ability to both fly and swim, which enables them to tantalize the trout into very aggressive takes. Once you've experienced the water boatman hatch at Antelope Creek's lower lake you'll want to come back year after year.
The ranch comes alive with wildlife during the this time of year, and it isn't unusual to have dozens of mule and blacktail deer foraging in the meadow adjacent to the lodge. Bald eagles, osprey, Great Blue Herons, and a non-stop migration of songbirds add color and sound to every spring day.
July and August at Antelope Creek Ranch contrast dramatically with the scorching summer weather of the Sacramento Valley. The high (5,000') ranch elevation generally supplies the most pleasant and consistent mid-summer weather in Northern California. At the same time, the terrestrials start to come out, and grasshoppers blown into the lakes and the stream become a prime item on the trout menu in mid-summer. Leeches, streamers, midges, callibaetis nymphs and dry flies, beetles and ant patterns remain a staple in every Antelope Creek fly box.
September and October are spectacular at our ranch from both a fishing and a visual perspective. The groves of aspen turn brilliant shades of yellow, contrasting vividly with the evergreen forest. Hunting is not allowed on the ranch and herds of deer, intuitively knowing that they are protected, congregate on the property. The fishing remains very consistent throughout the fall. Hatches are predictable, the selection of flies doesn't change much.
• Three, four, and five-weight fly rods are ideal for fishing Antlope Creek Ranch
• 9' or 10' leaders tapered to 4x - tippet spools of 4x, 5x, and 6x diameter.
• While many mid-summer fishermen wade wet in sneakers, sandals, or wading boots, hip waders are perfect for the stream or for fishing from shore on the lakes. Chest waders are needed if you plan on float tubing the lower lake. You'll be asked not to wade in the edges of the lakes as the drop-offs are steep. You may have to get your feet wet when landing one of the larger fish, otherwise please avoid wading. Also, keep your wading to a minimum when fishing the stream. You may cross when necessary, but please avoid wading up and down stream. Try to cross at shallow gravel runs to avoid stirring up silt, disturbing the insect life, and alerting fish downstream to your presence.
Bring both floating and sinking or sink-tip lines (up to type III). You'll need long leaders tapered to 5x or 6x for the dry activity, and a little shorter leader tapered to 3x to 4x for wet flies and streamers. Expect a lot of action using emerging insects just underneath the surface. Many of our regulars fish some type of dry or emerger with a dropper, short or long, and a nymph or midge pupa attached. Expect midge activity to start in early spring and continue all year. Mayflies start in late spring and early summer. Terrestrials are effective most of the season, especially after early spring. Leeches, damsels & dragonflies patterns seem to work best from late spring on. A crystal bugger or leech with a nymph trailer can be deadly. You must experiment with various retrieves at different depths until you strike gold! Many lake fishermen have great success fishing nymphs at various depths underneath an indicator. Just let them sit there for a bit, patience is a virtue at this point, and then pull it slowly back for another cast. Water boatmen, especially from early summer on, are a staple on the lakes, especially the lower lake.
Shorter leaders tapered to 4x or 5x are appropriate when fishing the stream. Deer hair flies with short droppers or no droppers will produce. Nymphs of various sizes and colors should be in your box. Yellow Humpies, Stimulators & Elk Hair Caddis are high on our list for dries, but there are a number of other popular patterns, such as Parachute Adams, that will work well. Hanging a nymph underneath these high floaters can sometimes turn the trick. Black AP's, PT's, Prince Nymphs & Golden Stones are some of the nymph patterns we usually tie on first. Small nymph patterns will begin to be the best choice in late summer & fall. Almost any bead head nymph can work in the creek at various times.
This is by no means an all exclusive list of flies. There are many other patterns that will work as well in many cases. However, this is a list of flies that represent patterns that any fisherman should have in their vest. Going to our private ranches or to public water with only three or four patterns will mean you stand a good chance of not having the right fly at the right time.
• Hoppers are a must have middle to late summer
• Zacks Zallibaetis,#14
• Poxyback Callibaetis,#16
• BH PT Nymphs, #14-20
• Mercer's CB Micro Mayflies
• BH Golden Stone, #10-14
• Frostbite Midge Pupa, #16-20
• Mercer's Zebra Midge, #18-20
• Callibaetis Cripple,#16
• Parachute Adams,#16-20
• CDC Biot Spinners (Callibaetis) #16
• Quigley's Sparkle Stacker (Callibaetis) #16
• Yellow Humpy #14-16
• Beaded Micro Buggers, (blk/olive/brn), # 12
• Parachute Ant, #16-20
• Para Foam Ant, #14
• Chernobyl Ant, #8-12
• Morrish Hopper, #8
• TFS Damsel, (olive), #14
• Zack Attack Damsel, #14
• Idylwilde Hopper, #8 & 12
• Barr's Dropper Hopper, #8 & 12
• Hopper Grande, (tan), #12
• Fox's Boatman, #12-14
• Rainy's Water Boatman, #12
Although Antelope Creek Ranch is private, we still operate under Fish & Game guidelines and regulations. Fishing licenses are required.
• Try to bring each fish to net or hand as quickly as possible. The larger ones will do their best to interfere with you doing this, but remember, the longer you play one the greater the chance they will die later. If you do find yourself in a long battle with one of the bigger ones, never take it out of the water. Use an airless release only.
• Use barbless hooks and avoid using the very large streamer hooks. Fish with size 8 flies or smaller.
• Please, no hard nylon nets! The new rubber mesh nets are ideal, as they do not remove the protective coating on the fish.
• Avoid dragging any fish up on the bank. Use the airless release at all times. You can either reach down with a hemostat or hook disengager and remove the fly while the fish is still underwater.
• When taking pictures of your fish please get everything ready before lifting the fish up for the shot. Support the fish with both hands- don't squeeze- and keep it over water the whole time. Lastly---your trophy should not be out of the water for over 5 seconds.
Antelope Creek Ranch is located on the northeast side of majestic Mt Shasta. Traveling north on I-5 and then east on Hwy 97 out of Weed, it is approximately an hour and fifty minutes from Redding, the home of The Fly Shop. Every mile of this drive is a pleasure to experience, as the scenic highways circle around the forested base of Mt Shasta, with panoramic views of the region.
Upon your confirmed booking we will provide directions to the ranch in your confirmation paperwork.
It takes a little less than two hours to drive to the Antelope Creek Ranch from Redding, or about an hour from Dunsmuir or Mount Shasta. If you'd like to fly private aircraft to Klamath Falls or Weed, arrangements can be made to pick you up and return you to either of those airports. Once you arrive, there is little need for anglers to have a vehicle on the ranch.
Guests are asked to time their arrival for the late afternoon (3:00 P.M. or later), allowing plenty of time to get settled, organize tackle, and get in some evening fishing.
The fishing at Antelope Creek Ranch has been tailored with the self-reliant angler in mind. It is particularly suited for the fisherman that prefer the sense of accomplishment associated with a well-earned bend in the rod rather than the hand-held, guided experience. Antelope Creek Ranch guests enjoy fine accommodations whether at the lodge or the guest suites.
The lodge is located roughly in the middle of the property, with lakes and stream both above and downstream from the accommodations. The creek and the lakes are yours whenever anglers wish, and all of the fishing is within walking distance of the lodge. Some anglers do choose to drive to the access point near the lower lake and take the short trail to the footbridge and across to the fishing, while many others simply prefer the exercise or to fish the stream down or up to one of the lakes.
Non-fishing companions have the run of the entire ranch and as much of the surrounding countryside as they'd like to cover for hiking and relaxing. There are three superb golf courses (Mount Shasta Resort, Shastina, and Running Y) less than an hour away in opposite directions, and it is less than an hour to two of the finest bird watching areas in the Pacific flyway (Meiss Lake Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges). Herds of antelope dot the nearby National Grasslands, and the wonders of both the Lava Beds National Monument and the surrounding Klamath National Forest are too numerous to list. Other non-angling guests may simply choose to relax at the lodge or the guest suites, or yield to the temptation of the always inviting streamside hammock.
Guests are asked to vacate their rooms after lunch (to allow them to be properly cleaned for any arrivals) and to depart no later than 3:00 on the afternoon of their last day at the lodge.
The elevation of this ranch is too high for poison oak and poisonous snakes. The lodge and guest suites are non-smoking facilities and guests are welcome to enjoy cigars or cigarettes on the patio. This is a fire-prone region, so please be extra careful with any ashes from cigarettes on the ranch proper.
Please contact our excellent staff if you would like more information on Antelope Creek Ranch. All of our staff have been to this wonderful destination and will be happy to answer your questions.
Click on the image below to get directions to The Fly Shop.
The Fly Shop, Inc.
4140 Churn Creek Road
Redding, CA 96002
800-669-3474
www.theflyshop.com
Monday - Friday: 7:30 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 7:30 am to 6:00 pm
