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The Susan River is 67 mile long river that runs from Caribou Lake in the Lassen National Forest to McCoy Flat Reservoir and then down to Honey Lake. The Susan River divides the Sierra Nevada to the south from the Cascade Range to the north.
The Susan River drainage is part of the endorheic Honey Lake basin. Honey Lake is a remant of the ancient Lake Lahontan.
There are four fishable sections:
Upper trout section － from Caribou Lake to the Clover Valley,
Middle trout section－ from McCoy Flat Reservoir down to confluence of Willard Creek,
Lower trout section － confluence of Willard Creek down to and including Susanville,
Warm water section － downstream of Susanville to Honey Lake.
The river typically runs dry in the summer months from Clover Valley to McCoy Flat.
The trout sections generally support rainbow and brown trout. The upper trout section also holds brook trout. While wilds of all three trout species may be found in the river, stockings are generally limited to rainbow trout. The middle and lower trout sections are stocked near campgrounds and trailheads for the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail (brochure with map).
Catfish are abundant in the warm water section but one can also find bass and other sunfish.
The historic range of the Lahontan cutthroat trout includes the Susan River drainage. They are no longer present in the drainage.
Fall colors of the Susan River (BLM Photo)
Access
The upper section can be accessed using Silver Lake Road off of Mooney Road (A21) off of CA-36 from the south or CA 44 from the east.
The top of the middle trout section immediately downstream of McCoy Flat Reservoir can be accessed using Conrad Road off of CA 44. The bottom of the middle trout section above the confluence of Willard Creek can be accessed off of Korver Road off of CA 36.
The Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail (brochure with map) parallels the Susan River for 16 miles from Susanville up to McCoy Flat Reservoir. The trail can be used to access various portions of the river in the middle and lower sections. Additional access to the middle section can be found off of River Bend Road off of CA 36 near its junction with CA 44.
Camping
Dispersed camping is allowed along the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail , excepting for exclusion areas near trailheads. See trail brochure for details and restrictions. Goumaz Campground is a nice developed campground located near the Goumaz trailhead. See the Lassen National Forest's Camping & Cabins pages for current status and other options, including those at nearby Butte Lake, Crater Lake, and Eagle Lake. BLM also offers a few campgrounds in the area, mostly at Eagle Lake.
Fishable Tributaries
Willard Creek and its tributaries
Willard Creek and its tributaries run down from the northeastern portion of the Sierra Nevada range to the Susan River near Devil's Corral trailhead for the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail. Roxie Pecomon Campground is a nice developed campground located on the creek.
CA 36 and various side roads provide access to Willard Creek and its tributaries.
Nearby Fisheries
When in the Susan River area, you might check out these nearby fisheries as well.
Buckhorn Reservoir
Butte Lake and Butte Creek
Caribou, Silver, and nearly lakes
Caribou Wilderness lakes
Dodge Reservoir
Eagle Lake and Pine Creek
Lake Almanor
Long Valley Creek
Mountain Meadows Reservoir and its tributaries.
This article was authored by Kurt Zeilenga.
Suggestions on how to improve this article may be sent to info@TroutAdventures.org.
Additional Reading
Fish Species of the Eastern Sierra and Hat Creek Fly Fishing by Kurt Zeilenga
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