Redding Named One of the Best Fishing Towns in America by Field and Stream

There are plenty of spots to catch big fish throughout Northern California. From the streams of the North Coast to the fast-moving rivers of the Sierra Nevada, there’s no shortage of opportunities to land the catch of a lifetime in the northernmost sections of California.

But when it comes to dense fisheries all located in a small area, there’s no better place to catch fish in California than Redding. That’s why it’s no surprise that Field and Stream rated it as one of the Best Fishing Towns in America.

The popular outdoor magazine listed the 20 best towns for fishing in the country and it included Redding, which is wildly popular for anglers who enjoy many streams nearby. Here’s what the magazine had to say:

“Surrounded on three sides by millions of open wilderness acres, Redding, in the Shasta-Cascade region of northern California, is the fly fishing mecca of the Golden State. Serious fly anglers rate some of the waters in this area (like the trout-laden Lower Sacramento River, the technically challenging Hat Creek, and the steelhead magnet Trinity River) right up there with other western icons like the Colorado, the Yellowstone, or the Snake.”

“Some of the best fly fishing guides in the world call Redding home base. If fly fishing isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of deep water fishing action to be had on conventional tackle on nearby Shasta Lake for brown and rainbow trout. The beauty of this part of the country is that you can be up in the cool mountains, or down in the warm valley within minutes. The seasons are mild, and the overall town atmosphere, while maintaining some California-tourism flair, is ultimately quite genuine.”

Not a bad description of the fishing mecca of California, although the forgot to mention the McCloud River, which has some of the most famous trout on the planet, as well as the dense fishery of the Pit River. But you can’t argue with their description.

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Want to know more about fishing in Redding? Check out 9 Fishing Spots in Redding or see our recent trip fishing the Trinity River: