trinity steelhead

[Sammy]

So i'll be taking my first steelheading trip to the trinity river this fall. I've caught a few steelhead here in santa cruz and on the moke, but never landed them. I was using an indicator each time and I hear that's NOT the way to go on the trinity.

My question is, what would you guys recommend for the fly set up? yes or no on the indicator?

I'm just getting a lot of mixed information. I've used Herb from the trinity fly shop as a guide before, and I know he'd kill me if he saw me using an indicator. :) on the other hand, I hear it can be very helpful in finding where fish are holding and maybe getting into one or two.

GO GIANTS!!

[Frank Gonsalves]

Your odds are four times better using an indicator, however I enjoy using both methods.

[PMD]

I heard it was more like 10 to 1. If you wanna catch fish, use an indicator, if you wanna swing to get the big tug you always hear about, then swing. I've been to the Trinity once, and I should've went with an indicator cuz I got the big skunk!

[Mike R]

The thing about the Trin is there is good swing water and there is good bobber water. I like to carry a couple rods and swing the good swing runs and bobber the bobber runs. Or swing through first and then clean up with the 'cator.

It's fishing, not a shuttle launch. You'll drive yourself nuts if you overthink it. Spend more time paying attention to the water you're in and less time how you're fishing it. If you find some fish that want to eat, they'll hit a rusty spark plug if you put it in front of 'em.

See ya,
Mike

[joshfish]

mike said it best. there is water suited for swinging and water suited for indicator. last year was my first year fishing the trinity and i indicator fished all winter. this year i will have a rod for indicator and a rod for swinging.

[Sammy]

Thanks guys. I'm going to bring two rods, one rigged for indicator and one for swinging. I really appreciate the help. and don't worry Mike I promise not to overthink it once i'm there. You know how it is building up for a big trip. ;)

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

If you fish steelhead when the water is warmer like Sept/Oct you can swing flies with a floating line in the AM and PM or in the shade or overcast.

In mid to late November and December the water will drop to under 50 degrees and the fish will not be quit as active so dredging with a sinktip and weighted fly is better or going with the indicator system.

[flyfshrmn]

If you're going to use a bobber, you should put the worm on it as well.

IMO the worm and bobber system evolved so that guides can get their clients catching fish on a fly rod, but it ain't fly fishing.

[Terry Imai]

IMO, Herb and Kit are the best people to teach you how to swing a fly on the Trinity. The Trinity Fly Shop prefers the traditional method of steelheading rather than indicator fishing. No one way is better, it is just the way they prefer a steelhead gets taken. If you want to really want to get a steelhead indicator trip on the Trinity, perhaps the Redding Fly Shop will be a better fit. BTW, the lower Sac does hold a good population of steelhead and large rainbows and it can handle more boat traffic.

Just my $.02 for the day...

[Sammy]

If you're going to use a bobber, you should put the worm on it as well.

IMO the worm and bobber system evolved so that guides can get their clients catching fish on a fly rod, but it ain't fly fishing.

eaaaaaasy bro :) Still gonna consider it fly fishing if you don't mind.

[NCL]

I think Bill called it correctly, for the past month I have been using the swing method because the water has been warmer. As the water starts to cool I will switch over to an indicator with a dual fly rig. My best luck has been on the TDF nymph, Mercers Pyscho Prince and a red copper john. Good luck to you.

[thekid]

If you're going to use a bobber, you should put the worm on it as well.

IMO the worm and bobber system evolved so that guides can get their clients catching fish on a fly rod, but it ain't fly fishing.

This is so true.

the kid

[Niceguy]

I'm with you GOOOO Giants

[Dan Harrison]

Last time I was up at the trinity I fished with a very good fisherman we fished all the same runs together. He fished with a indicator and I did not. I caught more steelhead them him over the two days but keep in mind that I did not fish like most do. I have spey and switch rods that work quiet well with the 45 degree cast down stream and two step steam covering system. But I am not so much into systems so I would find a fishy looking spot in the river cast down, across, or up stream mend to get my fly to the desired depth and then hold for the swing. The fish would hammer it, they really like that up and away swing sometimes. I fished some deep 10ft holes with slow current that fish were holding in but many did not want the indictor presentation. That day a focused presentation on certain spots really payed off. Find out what will work based on river, conditions, depth, temp etc.. and adapt don't just be a one trick pony.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Story number 19B:

In 1982 it rained good in late October.

Veteran Steelheader Joe Shirshac called me up on the phone and said it was time to hit the Trinity River for Steelhead. He loaded up his old 23 foot Fireball travel trailer and hooked it up to his old blue Chevy Suburban and off we went for a week at Junction City on November 5th.

After we arrived and set up the trailer we noticed that there was almost nobody on the river. If you remember the Steelheading in Nor Cal was not too good in the 1980s because of the devastation of the big draught in the late 1970s.

The next morning early we first hit the Radio Riffle just below Junction City which was loaded with fresh run chromers rolling against the roots on the far side in the low light about half way down the run.

I had a 9' #6 weight 2 piece Cortland graphite (made by JK Fisher) rod with a Cortland 444 SL WF7F (cut down 20') with a Hardy Princess reel and a hand tied leader of Maxima Ultra Green to 6# with a #4 Governor fly on the end.

With all the willows we would just roll cast to the other side and hang on.

That day we landed over 12 large fresh Steelhead from 6 to 12 pounds and I can honestly say that there was very little skill involved in what we were doing. The fish were basically doing it all.....

First off I got a big hot one on that merely came to the surface thrashing around and broke off my 6# Ultragreen. Joe said "I think we need to go to 8# to land these fish."

For a week we fished from above Junction City to below the North Fork, mostly by our selves. There were Steelhead holding in almost every place they were supposed to be.

Joe always had a still or movie camera with him so he got the footage of me that is in the movie, "Rivers of a Lost Coast".

It was one of the best weeks of fly fishing that I had in my lifetime.

If you just keep going fishing you too will hit these unbelievable moments in time when everything goes right and you are there.

I am headed up next week with Terry Thomas to fish a few days with Trinity/Klamath
spey guide Jason Hartwick.

It has just rain (late October) and we are going November 7th???

Who knows what will happen next week.

If I hook one fish on my Spey rod it will be perfect. If Terry hooks something it will be good too. If we just see fish in the river it will be worth the trip for me. We are going to float some of the stretches in Jason big guide raft so it will be hard to have a bad time.

Will report when we return.....

[iceman]

If you're going to use a bobber, you should put the worm on it as well.

IMO the worm and bobber system evolved so that guides can get their clients catching fish on a fly rod, but it ain't fly fishing.

great attitude you have there....douche

[Darian]

Iceman,.... yours is worse than the person you're addressing as is your poor choice of names. [-X In differing in opinion with an established member of this BB community, you need to be a bit more respectful. :nod: That type of name calling doesn't cut it here. :\\ This isn't MTV. If you can't fit in, go to another BB where your act/style is more acceptable. :nod:

[Jay]

wow! elitism, name calling, and self righteous pontificating all in one thread.

fantastic.

[Fats]

wow! elitism, name calling, and self righteous pontificating all in one thread.

fantastic.

I've got to agree... As long as you stay the heck out of my drift and don't low-hole me, I don't really care how you fish. If you're upset by the way I'm fishing... stay the heck out of my drift and don't low hole me!

Life's too short!

[huntindog]

wow! elitism, name calling, and self righteous pontificating all in one thread.

fantastic.

you forgot obnoxious use of smiley faces

[iceman]

Iceman,.... yours is worse than the person you're addressing as is your poor choice of names. [-X In differing in opinion with an established member of this BB community, you need to be a bit more respectful. :nod: That type of name calling doesn't cut it here. :\\ This isn't MTV. If you can't fit in, go to another BB where your act/style is more acceptable. :nod:

you're entitled to your opinion.

seeing someone take time out of their day to come into a thread a make comments about bobbers and worms, when a guy is just trying to get some info on indicator fishing for steelhead is about as douchy as it gets. and considering it was ignored completely by others (besides sammy), i felt it was time for me to stop lurking and comment on it.

have a nice day:(:D:mad::p:confused::lol::cool::rolleyes::-s:-(:);)

[mikel]

It looks to me like it peaked just below 900 at DC and you'll find it on the fall. If it's greening up by Tues/Weds the fish should be all over your spey flies. Good luck...forget about the rest of the nonsense going on with these other posters and go have some fun...

[Jgoding]

I always find it funny when my old man has a little fun with the indicator fishing and people get all offended about it. It was mostly a joke and no reason to get all butt hurt about it. He'd even help you out if you needed some fishing up there too as he's there often and can tell you what's going on if you want to know.

[Sammy]

yeah it's probably gonna be a good weekend. I can't wait to get up there. having been on the trinity in several years. It was the first river I ever fly fished actually. (only 5 or 6 years ago)

Report to follow. and hopefully some fish porn