Lower Trinity River is slow..............

**Bill Kiene semi-retired** · 09-03-2008, 07:41 AM

Jason Hartwick is up in Weaverville this week scouting the Trinity River for Steelhead.

He said the fish are a little late this year.

**wjorg** · 09-03-2008, 04:59 PM

The Ocean dead zone is a little unappealing for the fish to cross.....kind of like holding your breath while swimming underwater across a 40 mile long swimming pool.

**Bill Kiene semi-retired** · 09-03-2008, 08:49 PM

Thanks 'wjorg',

I think that is what happened to the salmon too?

Big current shifts in the Pacific?

**speyfool** · 09-05-2008, 10:31 PM

Hi Guys.

My first post here.

I was up on the Trinity the past couple of days. I saw plenty of fish in the fly fishing only section and down river through Steiner Flat. Lots of big ones too (24" and above). Quite a lot of salmon too.

**Bill Kiene semi-retired** · 09-06-2008, 07:23 AM

Sounds good.........I guess it's time to start heading up there?

**Jasonh** · 09-06-2008, 09:49 AM

As Bill said, I was up on the lower Trinity and Klamath for 7 days and saw very few fish in the lower Trinity, i.e. Hawkins Bar to the mouth. Most of what we saw were half pounders and Salmon. There was an early push of hatchery fish in late July which have made their way into the higher reaches of the river.

The mid to lower reaches of the river should start to see some nice pushes of adult steelhead in the next few weeks. Late Septmeber into October is a great time to swing flies on Spey and switch rods in this part of the river.

I will keep reports updated on my blog each week as the season progresses.
http://www.steelheadonthespey.com/Site/Blog.html

Jason

**speyfool** · 09-06-2008, 12:13 PM

Hi Jason!

What flies do you recommend for steelhead on the trinity? I'll be going again in October in the upper section with either my spey or switch rod. I hate using indicators and would rather be swinging flies, but I'm not familiar enough with the water there to know what may be preferred.

Thanks,
Rick

**Jasonh** · 09-06-2008, 04:23 PM

Hi Rick,

Good patterns to swing on the Trinity are silver hiltons, green butt skunks, brindle bugs, mossbacks, and burlaps. Most of these patterns fish well in smaller sizes #6-10. I fish a mixture of these and some of my own patterns but it has more to do with presentation and where to find the fish, than the pattern itself. Good luck.

Jason