Trinity River

California·Northern California·40.70° N, 122.81° W

The upper Trinity below Lewiston Dam is a 25-mile tailwater that produces both steelhead and trout in the same river, and the quality of each fishery alone would justify the drive. Steelhead average 4-8 pounds with adults over 10 pounds caught regularly -- summer-run fish push upriver starting in September, and winter-run fish from November through March tend to be larger. The fly-fishing-only section immediately below the dam holds resident rainbows in the 8-16 inch range year-round, with controlled flows and clear water that make it approachable with a 5-weight and a box of nymphs.

The Trinity is a comeback story. The steelhead runs were nearly wiped out when Trinity and Lewiston Dams were completed in the 1960s and most of the river's water was diverted to the Sacramento Valley. Decades of restoration work, flow agreements, and habitat improvement have brought the runs back, and recent years have produced some of the strongest returns in decades. The river fishes well from a drift boat through the canyon sections, and wading is productive at flows between 300 and 1,500 CFS on the gravel bars and riffle-run sections. The October Caddis hatch brings dry fly action in fall, and the salmonfly hatch in late May-June is worth planning around.

Highway 299 follows the upper river from Lewiston to Junction City, providing good access. Lewiston and Weaverville are the nearest towns, about an hour from Redding. Dam releases dictate flow conditions, so check before you go. Guide services running drift boats for steelhead are popular and worth considering if you're new to the water -- the river has a lot of structure, and knowing where the fish hold at different flows saves time. Barbless hooks are required throughout, wild steelhead must be released, and salmon regulations change annually.

Species

Species	Abundance	Best Season	Size	Notes
Steelhead (summer-run)	Common	Sep-Nov	4-8 lbs	Big push upriver beginning in September.
Steelhead (winter run)	Common	Nov-Mar	6-12 lbs	Peak numbers November-January; larger fish.
Chinook Salmon (fall run)	Seasonal	Sep-Dec	10-30 lbs	Subject to annual regulation.
Rainbow Trout (resident)	Common	Year-round	8-16"	Upper river near Lewiston Dam; fly-only section.
Mountain Whitefish	Common	Year-round	10-14"	Common throughout; caught while nymphing.

Ideal wading flow300–1,500 CFS

Blow-out>3,000 CFS

Ideal water temp48–55°F

October-November for peak steelhead run and October Caddis. Late May-June for the salmonfly hatch. December-January for winter steelhead and bigger fish.

Sections

6 sections on this river

Burnt Ranch to Weitchpec

FloatSteelhead · Salmon

Remote lower river from Burnt Ranch through Willow Creek, the Hoopa Valley, and downstream to the Klamath confluence at Weitchpec. Big water with the South Fork Trinity and New River adding volume. Jet boats are common for accessing distant runs through the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation.

Best for: Winter steelhead (Nov-Mar). Fall salmon runs. First fish of the season often show here. Larger steelhead.

South Fork Trinity

WadeSteelhead

California's second-longest Wild and Scenic river. Flows from Forest Glen through Hyampom to the mainstem near Willow Creek. Smaller freestone water through remote Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Good access from Forest Glen Campground through Hyampom to Big Slide. Winter steelhead runs with ongoing restoration work.

Best for: Winter steelhead (Nov-Mar). Remote, uncrowded fishing. Small-water wading. Access from Forest Glen and Hyampom.

North Fork Trinity

WadeSteelhead · Rainbow Trout

Backcountry tributary flowing south from the Trinity Alps to the mainstem at Helena. Wild trout water with rugged canyon terrain — expect hiking and rock-hopping. Access via Hobo Gulch Road and trailhead off East Fork Road from Helena. Remote and uncrowded.

Best for: Wild trout. Backcountry fishing. Summer steelhead hold in deep pools. Rugged adventure fishing.

Junction City to Burnt Ranch

FloatSteelhead · Salmon

The river enters a deep canyon below Junction City, passing through Helena and Big Bar. Increasingly remote with rapids between good fishing runs. Highway 299 provides access but pulloffs are limited. The North Fork Trinity enters near Helena.

Best for: Fall steelhead and salmon. Adventure float fishing. Less crowded canyon water.

Douglas City to Junction City

Wade & FloatSteelhead · Salmon

Wider river with larger pools and runs. Some boulder garden sections. Good steelhead holding water with less crowding than the upper section. BLM access points along Highway 299.

Best for: Steelhead and salmon. Drift boat fishing. Swinging flies through long runs. Less pressured than the Lewiston stretch.

Lewiston Dam to Douglas City

Wade & FloatSteelhead · Salmon · Rainbow Trout

Classic tailwater below Lewiston Dam. Includes the fly-fishing-only section immediately below the dam with cold, clear water year-round. Riffle-run-pool structure with excellent gravel bars for wading. The core guided drift boat section with the best resident trout habitat on the river.

Best for: Salmonfly hatch (late May). Resident trout year-round. Steelhead (fall/winter). Drift boat trips through prime holding water.

Regulations

Current fishing rules and restrictions

Fly-only section below dam open April 1 through September 15. Steelhead open year-round below Old Lewiston Bridge with 2 hatchery fish per day. Salmon subject to annual regulation.

Fly-only section (below dam to Old Lewiston Bridge): Open April 1 through September 15, fly fishing only, barbless hooks
Below Old Lewiston Bridge: Open year-round, 2 hatchery steelhead per day, wild (adipose-intact) must be released
Barbless hooks required
Steelhead Report Card required
Salmon subject to annual emergency regulations

The Trinity is roughly an hour west of Redding and represents one of the most accessible quality steelhead rivers in California.

Source: California DFW Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations. Regulations change annually — verify before fishing.

Access & Logistics

Getting there, fly shops, and lodging

Getting There

Lewiston / Weaverville, CA

1 hr from Redding, 4 hrs from Sacramento, 5 hrs from San Francisco

Fly Shops

The Fly Shop (Redding)
Confluence Outfitters (Redding)
Trinity Fly Shop (Lewiston)

Camping & Lodging

Cooper Gulch (Lewiston). Junction City Campground (BLM). Old Lewiston Inn. Weaverville motels.

Dam releases dictate flow conditions. Highway 299 parallels much of the upper river. Guide services are popular for drift boat steelhead trips.

Fishing data compiled from state wildlife agency regulations, USGS water data, NOAA, and regional fly fishing resources. Regulations change annually — always verify current rules with your state fish & wildlife agency before fishing.