Trinity River

The Trinity River flows straight from the Trinity Alps and goes through a series of 2 reservoirs, Trinity Dam and Lewiston Dam. From there starts our main stem of the Trinity River.  This water system is a place you can find yourself and the fish. Greg refers to this river as "The Serenity of the Trinity."  He works this system August through March.

August kicks off the King (Chinook) Salmon Run. Trinity River temperature averages about 5 to 10 degrees cooler. On the Trinity River these summer run fish come up very bright and are extremely aggressive.   The average fish runs 8-10 pounds, with a big fish in the 20 to 30 pound range.  King Salmon are present in the Trinity River into November.  At some point there is a rare run of Coho (Silver) Salmon that we find around November. These Silver salmon are a King Salmon and Steelhead Trout all in one beautiful fish (explosive, powerful, fast, changing direction, & acrobatic).  We're catching these fish swinging streamers and on dead drift nymphing. Greg believes these fish are inquisitive and desire to eat even though once they come into the fresh water system they don't have the ability to eat.  If presented correctly they will still pick up the streamer in an aggressive manor, for these fish are territorial. They will bite the fly or nymph in an inquisitive or desired manor.

Parr (juvenile salmon) diet is aquatics insects.  Greg believes that an adult salmon will recognize the nymph as something in its past that it had sustained itself or just wants to eat. There is no more Herring, Sardines, Krill, Squid, or anything else it could get down its mouth (wouldn't you be hungry too).

There is Steelhead present in the Trinity River year round. The primary months to catch Steelhead are October through March. This is done nymphing (subsurface) and swinging (leaches and nymphs) this covers the middle to top column of water.  Trinity River Steelhead average 4 to 8 pounds with 10 pounders caught regularly. Every year there are some 15 pounders (and greater) caught on the main stem Trinity River.

Where to Stay

• Weaverville Victorian Inn
• Gold Country Inn
• Motel Trinity
• Trinity Trip Advisor

For Additional Information about Trinity River Fly Fishing go to: www.trinityriverflyfishing.com

Also visit: www.shasta.com/trinityfly

Upper Sacramento River

The Sacramento River starts in Mount Shasta, California from a natural underground spring and flows into Lake Siskiyou Reservoir.  The Upper Sacramento River runs from Lake Siskiyou Dam, about 6 miles above Dunsmuir to Lake head, about twenty five miles of river to Shasta Lake.   Greg focuses on this system after the snow melt from June through September.  These trips are walk and wade. In June the hatches are Salmonfly, Golden Stonefly, Yellow Stonefly, and the Green Drakes.  We will use these fly’s in tandem (dry, dry) or dry dropper (dry, subsurface nymphing), and if necessary nymphing (subsurface).  After July the Stonefly hatches are dropping off so we change are focus to Caddis and PMD's. We will use these offerings September and then comes the legendary October Caddis (the grand daddy of Caddis).  The October Caddis can run through December.

Lower Sacramento River

The Lower Sacramento River starts below Shasta Dam, flows into Keswick Reservoir, and then technically starts our Sacramento River.  Since the Lower Sacramento River is a dammed river it is fishable most of the time (except in extreme flood conditions).  While most coastal and un-dammed rivers are blown out from rain very rarely does the Sacramento River between Redding and Anderson do so. "Salmon - Trout - Steelhead Magazine" rated the Sacramento River”Best Wild Trout Fishing in California". It is not uncommon to hook a 24" trout with the average fish being 14-18".

Lower Sacramento River in Redding to Anderson's Deschutes Bridge is the premier and final destination for spawning King (Chinook) Salmon. This area is designated, "protective spawning grounds." October through February is the main spawning season for salmon on the Lower Sacramento River.  Enjoy egg drifting with a nymph or tandem eggs for catching trout. Try to get your egg through the salmon redds if you can avoid the wild spawning King Salmon you are sure to hook up on a beautiful wild Rainbow Trout. The spring and summer is dry fly time.  Greg will do nymphing and dry flies.  March, April & May we'll see March Browns, Spring Caddis (black or olive colored) with PMD's and BWO's. June through September starts our legendary Summer Caddis (hydropsyche), Salmonfly, Golden Stonefly, Yellow Stonefly, PMD's and BWO's. This Sacramento River system is truly a diamond and your guide Greg Hector will make sure it is a trip you will never forget.

For More Information See Our Other Site

www.sacramentoriverfishingguide.com