In Partnership With 

Jack Trout 

Trinity River Fly Fishing

The Trinity River is one of California's most scenic and rewarding fly fishing rivers, with several steelhead runs plus the occasional sea-run brown trout.

Home to resident Brown and Rainbow Trout, the Trinity River is perhaps best known for its phenomenal returns of half-pound and adult Steelhead. These turbo-powered game fish begin their arrival in late September, and continue to provide outstanding fishing through the month of March. This a great opportunity to experience one of the best Steelhead fishing adventures in the west.

The Upper Middle & Lower Trinity River

Up high in the Trinity Alps wilderness the Trinity River is born. It winds its way through miles of the Trinity National Forest from glacier peaked mountains where it eventually becomes Trinity Lake. It then dumps into Lewiston Lake before becoming the head waters of the famed Trinity River. From the Lewiston Dam the tailwater fishery flows some 170 miles to where it meets up with the Klamath River at Weitchpec thus being a tributary of the Klamath River before heading into the Pacific Ocean.

Upper Trinity River

Near the Lewiston Dam is the town of Lewiston, located in a mountain valley its waters are flat and very accessible. The fly fishing only section is located from Lewiston Dam downstream to the Old Lewiston Bridge. This section of the Upper Trinity River is only open to catch-and-release fly fishing with barbless hooks from April 1st to September 15th. There are so many trout in this area that it is not unusual to catch 20 to 30 trout in a day using both dry flies as well a nymphs! The dam provides for an excellent habitat and tons of aquatic insects are seen daily with the warmer weather in the springtime. Caddis, stoneflies, and mayflies are always present and this makes for a classic day on the river whether you're a novice or an fanatic fly fisher. There are amazing numbers of trout in this section, and it is not unusual to hook and land an adult steelhead 5 to 8 lbs. The Trinity River has an anadromous run of steelhead annually. Chinook and Coho Salmon make their run also in the late summer and fall. Fishermen even catch the occasional big brown trout or sea-run brown trout. The Trinity River is so appealing because the fish can be so enormous and you really never know how big or what specie you're going to catch.

Middle and Lower Trinity River

From Steel Bridge down to Del Loma, Willow Creek and Hoopa some of the most beautiful and hard fighting steelhead are caught each season easily pushing the 10lb range. Early in the season you can swing flies down in the lower stretches of the Trinity for those huge chromers, but as the season passes the fish get smarter and people mainly fish the middle sections, nymphing small flies with a floating line and an indicator. Long drag free drifts are a must for success but fishermen are fortunate on the Trinity River because they average about 3 to 5 steelhead per day.

When And How To Fish

The steelhead run behind the salmon from early October through November. Each passing rainstorm draws more steelhead in from the ocean through February and as late as March. The fish average 20-27 inches 3 to 7 pounds. We find earlier in the season you catch more wild steelhead and as the season goes on more hatchery steelhead are landed and released.

The steelhead run behind the salmon from early October through November. Each passing rainstorm draws more steelhead in from the ocean through February and as late as March. The fish average 20-27 inches 3 to 7 pounds. We find earlier in the season you catch more wild steelhead and as the season goes on more hatchery steelhead are landed and released.

Recommended gear is a 6-8 weight rod with WF floating Lines, waders and boots.  In the fall, winter and spring, bring rain gear, warm clothing, good socks (2 pair, flyfishing gloves and thermal underwear.

Recommended nymphs include Prince nymphs size 10 to 14, Golden Stones 8 to 16, Poxyback Hare's Ear 8 to 16.  Good wet flies to swing include: Assassins size 6 & 8, Moss Backs size 6 & 8, Silver Hilton size 6 & 8, Burlap 6 & 8 and Brindle Bug 6 & 8.

Accessibility

The primary access road to the Trinity River is highway 299, which runs from Redding to the California coast.  Secondary roads lead from 299 to various parts of the river and to Lewiston, the main fly fishing hub for the Trinity located on the upper section by taking Trinity Dam Road or Lewiston Road north from 299.  Get driving directions to Lewiston.

This article adapted from Jack Trout's web site.