Hamilton Slough is a lake in California, near Butte County.
Hamilton Slough is a lake in Butte County, California.
Use the shape you can see at Hamilton Slough: check the best cover, the first drop, and one open-water line before moving.
Fish listed for Hamilton Slough include Hardhead, Hitch, Prickly Sculpin, Sacramento Blackfish, Sacramento Pikeminnow, Sacramento Sucker, Rainbow Trout, and Threespine Stickleback.
When rainbow trout are the target on Hamilton Slough, cast a small spoon, inline spinner, light jig, or fly through cool water.
Start where two things meet: weeds and open water, rock and mud, a point and a drop, or clear water and dirty water; fish that edge at more than one depth before leaving it; use a small lure when bites are scarce, then keep the presentation close to useful cover.
In spring, start with warming banks, creek mouths, and shallow cover; summer usually pushes the better bite toward the outside weed edge or a nearby drop; fall can bring bait back to windblown points, while winter calls for smaller moves and a slower pace; begin where shallow cover meets depth, then keep the bait above soft bottom.
A light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control; watch water color during the day; follow the outside weed line, then save the heaviest tackle for deep cover.
Record the wind, water color, depth that held fish, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; begin where shallow cover meets depth, then move only after checking the nearby drop.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.