Now that I’ve spilled the beans on our entomology quiz, here’s a quick report on the Trinity River from this past Saturday. We did a walk-in to avoid the heavy boat traffic—and believe me, there was plenty of it. When we arrived, there were over a dozen trailers in the parking lot. It’s hard to enjoy fishing when every run has two or three boats parked in it. So, if I do fish the Trinity this time of year, I usually go for a walk-in and drive around…a lot.
Overall, the fishing was as good as it gets on the Trinity. We both landed well into the double digits between half-pounders and adults. The river is in great shape right now, with a growing population of fish that have chosen to stay in the river rather than head out to the salt, breaking from the typical steelhead migration pattern. These resident fish add a nice bonus to the catch and are generally eager to bite.
Here’s a tip if you’re planning to go: find the salmon, and you’ll find the steelhead. When you locate the salmon, don’t assume egg patterns and beads are the only way to go. As salmon dig and build their nests, they kick up a lot of golden stones and the larger Pteronarcys californica nymphs, which then tumble downstream—right into the waiting mouths of steelhead.
It’s a fun way to fish, but please be mindful of walking on salmon "redds". These are generally easy to spot as large patches of gravel that appear lighter and cleaner than the surrounding areas. Avoiding these areas helps protect the eggs and supports the recovery of salmon populations. These redds hold the next generation of salmon that will return to the river.
If you don’t mind the circus, the Trinity can be a good spot to catch some beautiful fish. Bring a buddy, stay safe, wear a floatation device, and watch your step.
Cheers,
Scott
