Trinity before the flood...

[WinterrunRon]

of people.

I'd like to make an early request, and be as positive about it as I can. This post is not intended to single out anyone, just a broad suggestion from anticipating previous year's postings.

Here's my attempt:

Steelhead fishing is about solotude and the quality of the fishing experience, not the quantity of fish caught. I've never met another steelhead fisherman that enjoys a crowded river. Personally, I'll trade solotude and a one fish day for a lineup of guys catching one after the other. Most steelhead fishermen I know feel the same way.

I realize everyone has different motives for either "stirring the pot" with excitement or not, so there's not going to be a concensus on my point of view. All I'm asking, is that if you fish the Trinity, please don't focus on your steelhead "scorecard" by reporting how many and how big you caught, and that everyone needs to drop what their doing and get there! Fishing the Trinity isn't tournament bass fishing.

Here's my report: Spent a couple days. The people friendly and many, the fish are here and there, the Fall colors are beautiful this time of year as is the weather (I'd post photos, but it's a pain). Fish are to be caught if you're willing to put in the time and make the 1,000 casts. Landed/released my 4th DFG tagged fish in as many years, which seems like it should be a rare event, I would think. What are the odds the same angler would land one/year? I have Craig Breschi's fishing license that I found streamside. The lower Sac looked like creamed-coffee.

Please, no hateful, bashing, inflamitory, ripping, derogitory replies are being accepted at this time.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

My old friends like Walt Bennett, Joe Patterson, Joe Shirshac and Chuck Campana fished the Trinity River with flies starting just after the end of WWII, before there was a dam. According to them it was unreal with all wild fish too. The river flooded most years in mid-winter so it was all gravel bars with very few willows. I have seen Joe Shirshac old photos of the river with open gravel bars up near Douglas City.

I fished the Trinity River sense the 1970s with Joe Shirshac and after the big draught of the late 1970s all the ruins of Steelhead where down to almost nothing in California.

In the 1980 and 1990 there was nobody on the Trinity or Klamath Rivers because there were no fish.

No fish = no people.

Lots of fish = lots of people.


If you ban indicators or banned drift boats or banned guides on the Trinity River it would all slow down up there very fast.

Ouch...did I say that?

[Dabalone]

The Trinity is one of most well known steelhead rivers in California, reported on daily when the fish are in by many many sources. I doubt the few people here toning down their Trinity steelhead reports will buy you much solitude on that river during steelhead season. Not meant to be a flame but it is California and the information age.

[Rick J]

But Ron I just purchased an Orvis fish counting clicker!!! What am I going to do with it if I can't keep track of my fish?

I expect your request will not have alot of impact on the number of folks that show up but I have to agree with your thoughts. Hooking fish is always a nice extra but not a requirement for me to have great time steelhead fishing (or any fishing for that matter)

[mr. 3 wt.]

If you ban indicators or banned drift boats or banned guides on the Trinity River it would all slow down up there very fast.

Ouch...did I say that?


How about ban flyfishers, that seems to be the biggest crowd up there! And of course, all of the above.

[shawn kempkes]

I have to laugh at the people that complain about the crowding on the trinity. They are the same ones that wont go below pidgeon point to fish. There are many fishy spots that never get fished between there and cedar flat and greys falls to the klamath.

[Dustin Revel]

got a fish at the cedar flat access yesterday on the black and blue boss

[Fochetti]

I agree with you Bill, that would be amazing if they outlawed indicators like the Umpqua. Well at least weighted flies....

And with the other person who said there is plenty of water. I never fish below Junction City and usually not even close to that far down. While there are a few holes that get pounded, there is plenty of water that never even gets touched.

[Mike R]

Where's Pigeon Point??? ;)

[WinterrunRon]

I have to laugh at the people that complain about the crowding on the trinity. They are the same ones that wont go below pidgeon point to fish. There are many fishy spots that never get fished between there and cedar flat and greys falls to the klamath.

I have to laugh at the people that live in a guest quarters cabin by themselves, in a remote part of Washington State, on the Sol Duc River, that fishes by themself, practically daily, for huge, chrome, fresh from the ocean, native, winter steelhead, with his choice of no less than 5 steelhead rivers within a 30 mile drive, comment on the crowding of a popular, easliy accessible by a population of over 2 million river in NorCal he doesn't frequent. :-k Not starting anything, my comment is in jest, just jabbing at Kempkes with the keyboard… until I can get out of town again! :D

BTW, the river continues past Pidgeon Point? :confused: I'll have to check that out next time. ;)

[wjorg]

If the shops and guides hyped the Feather as much as the Trinity one could actually breath on the T. Its just too close to Sac to be "mystical." or should I just say Oroville. What a sh!t locker.


With the economy, what shop will be profitable trying to pimp out trips out of state? "Stay local, buy our suplies and use our guides." You see how many people read your "reports."

Why dont we do a mass Kienes board outing? With 30 people in each hole, this fish WILL be caught. Thankfully I was elsewhere last weekend and avoided the horrible crowds on the T I heard about. Oh yeah, its October! Bead time in JC!

Spend some time fighting the perepheral canal...

[Darrin.Deel]

the horrible crowds this weekend around JC were mostly local bait huckers for salmon and most of the boats were lower sac boats that had to move their trips to the trinity becuase of water conditions. the crowds on sunday were probably less than half of that on saturday

[shawn kempkes]

I have to laugh at the people that live in a guest quarters cabin by themselves, in a remote part of Washington State, on the Sol Duc River, that fishes by themself, practically daily, for huge, chrome, fresh from the ocean, native, winter steelhead, with his choice of no less than 5 steelhead rivers within a 30 mile drive, comment on the crowding of a popular, easliy accessible by a population of over 2 million river in NorCal he doesn't frequent. :-k Not starting anything, my comment is in jest, just jabbing at Kempkes with the keyboard… until I can get out of town again! :D

BTW, the river continues past Pidgeon Point? :confused: I'll have to check that out next time. ;)

I am just telling it like I see it. I use to fish the Trinity all the time when I lived down in the P.R.K ( people republic of Kalifoyrna). If you saw how good the Salmon fishing is right now you would get your but up here. If you cant hook a fish than you should just sell all of your rods because you suck.

[wjorg]

Prostate going south Shawn?