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Written by As the owner of a small Fly Fishing resort on the banks of the This ambition and enthusiasm is, of course, admirable. to catch steelies, however, ambition and enthusiasm must be tempered with perspective - that is, with an understanding of how the fish behave in relation to their environment. Perspective is derived only through experience, patience, and curiosity. To succeed as a steelheader you need to be able to find pleasure in learning. But, having said this, I'll also tell you the Trinity is a remarkably straight forward teacher. The Character of the The Trinity is the largest tributary of the But this idyllic situation no longer exists. Clair Engle Dam (also known
as Trinity Dam) constructed during the '60's has blocked fish passage and
consequently changed the basic nature of the Trinity. The river has become an
artificial and unnatural tributary to the The wild steelhead that now remain in the Trinity are descendants of races that utilized the main stem it's tributaries below Clair Engle Dam. Sharing the river with these natives are hatchery steelhead that are raised at a facility intended to mitigate the loss of thousands of miles of spawning habitat. It is of questionable value, at best..... To understand and successfully fish the Trinity, you have to realize that by changing the nature of the river, the Clair Engle Dam has also changed the behavior and seasonality of the salmon the steelhead runs. Instead of the freestone stream that it once was the river below the dam has taken on the attributes of a spring creek. No longer is the Trinity washed clean of sediments by seasonal runoff, no longer does it experience the wide variations in flow and temperature that are standard to viable steelhead streams. Water is now released in a relatively constant volume, with a relatively constant velocity and temperature. In essence, the Trinity is a tail water fishery, the very antithesis of the extreme conditions that led to the evolution of anadromous fisheries. Its no wonder that the Trinity's steelhead population as continued to decline - even with the supposedly beneficial influence of the hatchery. What all this means for the fly fisher is that, with fewer and fewer fish in the river, skill becomes increasingly important in finding and hooking fish. It also means that satisfaction will have to come from understanding and mastering the process of fly fishing. The quality of the angling experience can no longer be judged by the size or quantity of fish caught. Ironically, as fly fishers realize this truism they will have attained the skills, even the wisdom, that allows them to catch more and larger fish. A River of Easy Access I recommend that those of you new to steel heading, or to the Trinity, do
some homework before visiting this river. In his classic primer,
"California Steelhead" (Chronicle Press), Jim Freeman refers to the
Trinity as a 'gentleman's stream". He correctly points out that the
rigors normally associated with fly fishing for steelhead are avoidable on
the The Trinity is paralleled by California State Highway 299 West, for most of its entire length and is usually visible from the roadway. Literally every wide spot or turnout along the road has a trail leading to some sort of holding water, such as a gold-mining site, riffle, or a "hole" - all representing productive places to find steelies. (Try focusing, on the tops and tails of pools). Even novice steel headers with minimal experience at reading water can simply drive along the river to find satisfactory fishing and a whole lot of solitude. Gear and Technique To fly fish the Trinity you can leave you #8 and #9 weight rods at home. The adult steelhead here tend to be between six to ten pounds in size (especially above the rivers confluence with the South Fork of the Trinity). Medium trout tackle is all that is required - #5, #6, #7 weight rods. Load em' up with floating line, leaders 9-12 feet. Tippet diameter should be determined by the weight, size and function of the fly. Traditional Trinity patterns that still prove productive are Silver Hilton, Brindle bug, Burlap, Mossback, and rubber-legs in sizes in 4-16. Salmon egg imitations also work well. Any experienced trout fisher has a good chance of hooking a steelhead with this tackle and selections of flies. Most fly fishing techniques work on the Trinity. Short line nymphing is often productive when you need to bounce flies along the bottom and the greased line method of drifting flies at or near the surface can bring dramatic, heart stopping strikes. When in the area, I recommend that you patronize local business such as fly shops, restaurants, lodges and campgrounds. These enterprises see many anglers each year; they want you to succeed, and are often your best resource for up-to-date fishing information. Ask questions! The pursuit of steelhead often puts you in places you otherwise wouldn't frequent, in conditions that are, at best, indifferent to your health and well-being. This type of fishing is far from the reality of our workaday world. Such is the attraction. But despite the conditions involved, steel heading with flies is a contemplative activity, a continuing exploration that requires persistence, patience, and a sense of wonder. The I would like to leave you with the following thoughts about the basic elements of Ecology. Every thing has a place Hope to see you all on the river. Until then, wish you the best of fishing. |
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Reprinted from 
