Clear Creek is a vital Sacramento River tributary in Shasta County that offers diverse angling opportunities as it transitions from a pristine mountain trout stream in its upper reaches to a critical anadromous fishery downstream. Originating in the snow-capped Trinity Divide, this narrow stream runs more than fifteen miles through a rugged canyon before reaching paved roads. Whiskeytown Dam, constructed in 1963, regulates flows and divides the creek into distinct fishing zones. The lower section below the dam has become the focus of extensive multi-agency restoration efforts over the past two decades, resulting in significant improvements to salmon and steelhead habitat through channel restoration, gravel augmentation, and riparian enhancement. Despite California's population of nearly 40 million, Clear Creek remains a relatively under-the-radar destination where anglers willing to work harder and hike farther can find pristine, trout-filled water in beautiful settings with minimal fishing pressure.