Trinity River

Guided Float Trips

$650 for 1-2 anglers including hotel pickup and shuttle

Year-round
Drift Boat Trips

The Trinity River is one of the most popular steelhead destinations in California. One reason for this status is that the Trinity rarely "blows out" due to high water. High flows from winter storms are absorbed by Trinity Lake, so even during large storms it's common for the uppermost floats to remain fishable. For the majority of the steelhead season, flows remain stable and conducive to wading and drift boat fishing. The Trinity River is also popular with anglers due to its proximity to highways and easy access. Highway 299 runs right along much of the river and side roads provide access to other areas. The river has excellent public access for wade fishing and plenty of put-ins for fishing from rafts and drift boats. The biggest reason that the Trinity River is held in high esteem by fly anglers is the numbers of fish. Every year thousands of steelhead return to the Trinity River. It is not at all uncommon for a single angler to hook multiple adult steelhead in a day of fishing on the Trinity. Most steelhead on the Trinity River are 4-10 pounds.

Fishing for adult steelhead can be very good as early as mid-September and as late as mid-April. The early fall is known for hot acrobatic fish. The fish typically aren't spread out in every hole, but when you find one it's common to find several more in the same spot. Prime-time on the Trinity River is November, December and January. November is the favorite month for anglers that want a great shot at good numbers of fish AND nicer weather. December and January are more likely to be cold and rainy (or even snowy!), but there are typically more fish in the river at this point. February, March and April are interesting months on the Trinity. We sometimes see greater numbers of fresh "winter-run" fish at this time. It's also common to hook some "down-streamers" that have already spawned and are headed back to the ocean. The river also sees hatches of march browns and green drakes that can get brown trout and the occasional adult steelhead to come to the surface.

Trinity River Guide Team

Our Trinity River guide team includes Andrew Harris, Gino Bernero, Brian Kohlman, Kevin Kay, Peter Santley, Luke Geraty, Mike Wright, Colin Coogan, Andreas Fuhrmann and Drew Griffith. Gino Bernero, Andreas Fuhrmann and Drew Griffith exclusively fish Spey Techniques on the Trinity.

Recent Trinity River Fishing Reports

December 20, 2025

Trinity River Report by Mat Squillante

We received an early holiday gift in the form of some long awaited rain. The cfs came up and the runoff added some much needed color to what's been a month or more of gin clear water. The fish responded in typical fashion and their cooperation was welcomed. The forecast predicts rain throughout the next week, which means the river should be in excellent shape come January. GUIDE TIP: When fishing an indicator rig, speed trumps power in your hook set. A fast hook set picks up the slack and draws the flies into the fish's mouth. An overpowered hook set pulls the flies out of the fish's mouth, sending the line, indicator and flies rocketing back at you, behind you or, if on the Trinity, 20' into the trees. If you end up on the other side of the boat, you take yourself out of the game for a short time but if the result is a tangle or a skyward launch into the trees, you lose significantly more fishing time. Who wants that! Speed over power.

December 19, 2025

Trinity River Report by Andrew Harris

I spent a fun and productive day on the water with fellow guide Mike Wright and our friend Ray today. It rained most of the day, but not too hard. There was just enough color coming in from the tributaries and the extra flow made boating and fishing much easier than usual. In the morning we had good luck with trout-sized fish, but the adult steelhead bite turned on after lunch! With the elevated flows we started connecting with adult steelhead in the tailouts. I lost a nice fish that I hooked in front of a rootwad when it abruptly swam into the rootwad. The highlight of the day for me was a big hatchery fish that put up a lengthy fight. We landed and lost numerous other fish, small and large, throughout the remainder of the day. Keep your eye on the flows and the forecast! The Trinity will probably blow out briefly once or twice during the next two weeks, but it's going to be really good when it's fishable!

November 21, 2025

Trinity River Report by Randy Hamann

Not Sure how it happens ? But every Client I've had in my boat this year on the Trinity has heard from their local Fly Shop or at their Local Fly Club gatherings, form Southern California to Central Oregon, that the Trinity River has been on FIRE this season, fishing has never been better, numbers are off the Richtar Scale, etc, etc. Hate to break the news to ya, but its a pretty average year on the Trinity, some days you get em, some days you don't. I'm always looking for fish when I'm moving from run to run and this year, from what I am seeing, is less then Exceptional ! Since I'm on the subject, Steelhead fishing reports are Absolutely Worthless, the number of Steelhead you run into today will NOT be an indicator have what you will see tomorrow. And that works both ways ! SteelHead MOVE, SteelHead get in a Funk and sometimes if you're lucky Steelhead get Grabby !The Only Steelhead report that has any value is the one you make yourself ! Put in your time, have realistic exspectations and enjoy your surroundings and hopefully the SteelHead Gods shine down upon you ! Get out there have some fun, finally I'll recomend to you, do not come up here or any SteelHead River on the Planet, because the SteelHead fishing is RED HOT !

Trinity River Hatch Chart

Mayflies
Green Drakes
March Browns
Callibaetis
PMD
Baetis
Isonychia
Caddisflies
Glossosoma
Rhyacophila
Hydropsyche
October Caddis
Stoneflies
Golden Stones
Giant Stoneflies
Little Yellow Stones
Terrestrials
Grasshoppers
Other
Salmon Eggs
Steelhead Eggs

Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec

Lodging Recommendations

Weaverville and Lewiston are the closest options for anglers fishing the Trinity River. Please visit our Weaverville/Lewiston Info Page for ideas on lodging, logistics, and other activities in the area. Many of our guests also base their Trinity River trip out of Redding.