Trinity River
Steelhead are
in the Trinity River from September through March most years.
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**
If you want to get really bonded with this river I would highly
recommend that you seek the services of the Trinity Fly Shop in
Lewiston and try to get a day with one of their veteran fly fishing
guides.
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**Come
into our shop on any Saturday and have 50 year plus Trinity River
veteran Joe Shirshac mark the hot spots on a StreamTime Trinity
River map for you.
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RIVER INFO
This is a very long, diverse
fishery spanning hundreds of miles through two reservoirs that where
created in the '60s. It starts way up in the high country of the
Salmon-Trinity Alps Wilderness area. Beside many miles of pristine
streams there are 53 high mountain lakes in this area. All this
flows down into Trinity Lake which is over 20 miles long being the
3rd largest reservoir in California. This large remote reservoir
is famous for the state record Smallmouth Bass plus lots of trout
and Kokanee. Immediately below is Lewiston Lake which is like a
large slow moving spring creek most famous for trophy trout with
great midge and mayfly hatches. A very large part of this river
(~90%) was diverted for years through tunnels south to the Whiskeytown
Reservoir and then into the Sacramento River flowing downstream
to the Sacramento Delta where it is pumped down canals to holding
reservoirs for use in the southern half of the state. As of 2001
The Friends of the Trinity River
with the help of others got legislation to have 48% of the
rivers water reclaimed for the restoration of this wonderful eco
system.
The part of the Trinity
River most fly fishers are interested in is from the Lewiston Dam
down stream 110 miles to it's confluence with the Klamath River
at Weitchpec. Right under the dam is the Trinity River Fish Hatchery
where they raise trout, steelhead and salmon. The first stretch
of river is the "Fly Fishing Only" water that runs from
250' below the dam downstream ~1.5 miles to the Old Lewiston Bridge.
This is open from the last Saturday in April till September 15.
The special regulations for this section are single barbless hook,
flies only and catch and release. June and July are usually top
months for this stretch depending on the run-off and weather. From
the Old Lewiston Bridge downstream to Cedar Flat the river is open
from the last Saturday in April to March 14.
**
We always recommend checking the regulations for where you a going
yearly to be sure and also we recommend to fishing barbless all
the time and you won't have to worry about getting a fine.
The
110 mile section of river from Lewiston Dam to the mouth has three
major tributaries; the North Fork, the South Fork and New River.
This stretch has every different kind of water you can imagine.
Wadeable riffles, deep runs, giant deep clear pools, open gravel
bars and inaccessible canyon. Some areas are easily accessible by
car on the road that parallels most of the river. Other sections
are better floated in a raft or pontoon boat.
The
Trinity River has resident Rainbow
and Brown trout, sea-run
Brown trout, Steelhead, King
Salmon and Silver Salmon.
The
salmon runs are in the summer with
July through September being the prime months to fish these hatchery
sustained fisheries. Most salmon are caught on bait or lures but
some are taken by lucky and/or skilled fly fishers. Very early
morning is prime time for these fish.
There
are Steelhead in the river almost year
round with wild summer runs, fall run and winter runs. For some
the season can start in September in the lower river in the deep
shady Weitchpec Canyon where the fish run in early out of the warmer
lower Klamath to stay cool. Most find that September/October can
be good in the Hoopa Valley if the weather cools a bit and the possibility
of early rain. November is a top month on the river for fly fishers
in the upper river and steelhead can run through to the end of February.
It does get cold but in between storms you can have winter hatches
of BWOs, larger mayflies and good size stoneflies too. This is timely
secluded winter fishing that is only enjoyed by the few who work
on this very seriously.
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TACKLE
For
trout we recommend a 9' # 4 - # 6 line rod with a floating line.
Also have a clear slow sinking line for lakes.
For
Steelhead most use 9 to 10 foot fly rods for # 6 - # 7 weight line
size. Have a floating line and a short (5'-15') sinktip. Some use
smaller, shorter Spey rods too.
For
Steelhead have some fresh 9' 2x knotless tapered leaders for swinging
flies on a floating line. 7 1/2' 2x leaders are popular for indicator
nymphing or use with sinktip lines. Also have some 0x to 4x matching
fresh tippet material. Fluorocarbon tippet is popular because it
sinks faster and the water can be very clear.
Many
use traditional size # 6/8 Steelhead flies like the Silver Hilton,
Brindle Bug, Bread Crust and Mossback. Muddlers and October Caddis
dries are nice for swinging in October before the water cools too
much. Soft hackles like the Brown Hackle Peacock and October Caddis
Pupa are good patterns. Many deep nymph with dark stones and Golden
Stones in combination with small nymphs or egg imitations.
In mid-winter they get insect hatches if it is not flooded out.
Mayflies and Stoneflies are active like on the lower Yuba River.
Have
a rain jacket, chest waders with belt, layering underwear, studded
felt sole boots and a wading staff.
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GETTING THERE
The most common way is
to head north up Interstate 5 to Redding where you go west on Hwy
299 about 30 miles to the town of Lewiston on the river.
Another entry point is
to take Hwy 299 off of Hwy 101 at Arcata heading over to Willow
Creek on the river at the start of the Hoopa Valley.
A third way is to go past
Redding on Interstate 5 heading north to Yreka where you can take
Hwy 96 southwest down the Klamath River and finally to Weitchpec
at the mouth of the Trinity. This is a way to make a very big loop
covering much of both rivers.
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CONSERVATION
**
If you don't have the time to get involved in the conservation issues
please send them a little money.
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LODGING
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Dinning
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BOOKS
- CA Blue Ribbon Trout Streams by Sunderland & Lackey
(excellent)
- Flyfisher's Guide To Nor Cal by Seth Norman
- Fly-fishing Nor Cal Waters by Lily Wong
- No Nonsense Guide to Fly Fishing in Nor Cal by Ken Hanley
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RIVER MAPS
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LOCAL FLY SHOP
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FISHING GUIDES |