Trinity River
river in California
The Trinity is California's premier steelhead river, offering both high numbers of fish and beautiful mountain scenery.
River flow last 30 days
Trinity River flowing at 485 cfs under overcast skies
- 01Trinity River flowing at 485 cfs under overcast skies.
- 02Steelhead are migrating, and egg patterns are critical with salmon spawning.
- 03Active Baetis nymphs and larger stonefly nymphs are present subsurface.
- 04Focus on deeper runs, heads/tails of pools, and current seams near structure.
- 05Pay close attention to subtle takes when nymphing and use slow retrieves for streamers.
Past reports week by week
9 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Steelhead Nymph (Kaufmann's Stone)
Large stonefly nymphs are a consistent, high-calorie food source for steelhead in freestone rivers during the fall.
Buy at AmazonEgg Sucking Leech
A highly effective pattern mimicking both leeches and eggs, crucial for fall steelhead in systems with spawning salmon.
Buy at AmazonIntruder (Steelhead)
Designed specifically for steelhead, these larger attractor patterns are excellent year-round, including the fall season.
Buy at AmazonHot Pink Bunny Leech
Pink is a highly effective attractor color for salmonids, imitating leeches and baitfish in cooler fall water.
Glo Bug
Salmon and trout eggs are a primary food source for steelhead in the fall, making this a critical pattern.
Buy at AmazonComet
A classic attractor pattern for steelhead during their fall migration, effective in various colors.
Buy at AmazonOctober Caddis (Dry)
The October Caddis hatch is the largest caddis emergence of the year in many western rivers during the fall, offering dry fly opportunities.
Buy at AmazonBaetis Nymph
Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) nymphs are active subsurface in the fall, providing a consistent food source for steelhead.
Where to fish and who to ask
Douglas City Pipe-Bridge
A popular river access and campground that serves as a midpoint for many drift boat floats and offers great bank access.
Junction City Access
A lower river access point famous for its long, productive runs that hold steelhead as they migrate upriver.
Lewiston Dam Access
The primary release point below the dam, offering excellent wading and drift boat launches for classic tailwater fishing.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Trinity Fly Shop
The Fly Shop
Get Trinity River reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
California season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Quick answers
Common questions about Trinity River.
What flies work best on Trinity River?
Our top scored fly patterns for Trinity River right now are Steelhead Nymph (Kaufmann's Stone) (80% confidence), Soft Hackle Wet (Partridge & Orange) (80% confidence), Green Butt Skunk (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Trinity River?
Trinity River holds Steelhead, Steelhead (Winter-run). See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Trinity River?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Trinity River are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Trinity River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Trinity River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.