Trinity River Fishing Report

Report Updated Jan. 24, 2012

BEST BET IS UP HIGH

The rain has kicked the lower end of the river into a ranging wall of mud but the top end is still in great shape. Winter steelhead have been arriving daily from Junction City to Lewiston and anglers have been catching some nice fresh fish on side-rifted roe, jigs under floats and small Hot Shots in silver or gold. The weather looks nice this week — cold at night but mild by day.

About the Trinity River

The upper river is a small, intimate affair that looks more like a trout stream than a steelhead and salmon factory. But appearances mean nothing…lurking in the Trinity’s small, clear flows is usually a big mass of salmon and steelies. The hatchery at Lewiston is the end of the line for the fish, so they start piling up from about Junction City on up to the top.

In recent years, the word definitely has gotten out about the Trinity and anglers have been showing up in droves to fish for fall steelies and kings. There’s plenty of activity all winter for steelhead and then things settle down a bit until the first waves of spring Chinook poke into the river in June. There’s also a population of sea-run browns here…

As you head downriver, the Trinity picks up stream and there’s a lot of water to explore. The Class 5 white water of the Burt Ranch Gorge, the tight switchbacks below Hawkins Bar and the smooth, gravel flats near Willow Creek and Hoopa — and everything in between.

To classify the Trinity is difficult, but we can say this…she’s one hell of a gorgeous salmon and steelhead river! Generally speaking, the kings and steelies (coho are off limits) don’t get huge here, but most years the sheer numbers of them make up for any size deficiencies.

Pulling plugs out of a driftboat or raft…fly fishing off the bank…drifting eggs from shore. You can do it all here — and chances are, you’re going to get bit!

How to tie an Egg Loop
How to wrap a Kwikfish