HOT! Every summer I forget just how blazing it gets out here. Luckily we have two killer tailwaters to fish this time of year. The trout stay cold, the action stays hot, and the water is a perfect mid 50s.
The trip kicked off with a mellow evening in the fly fishing only section of the Trinity with Alex and Michael. Love these dudes, stoked on life and fly fishing. First time in this stretch for them, and by the time I rolled up they were already into fish. Mostly smaller ones, but plenty of dry fly action and a couple of good ones that got away. Fish it enough and eventually you will stick a big one smart enough to dodge most folks.
The next day we floated the Trinity. No trophies, but one bent out the hook while hiding under a tree after a perfect drift. I caught a flash and the shape, and it looked like one of those chunky half pounders that tear off when hooked. Michael stuck a brown and a solid half pounder, but again, the little guys kept us busy. No midday hatches, which was weird, but zero boats on the float made it a win.
After that it was three days on the Lower Sac in Redding for the opener. If you do not know, the river above the 44 bridge is closed April 1 to August 1 every year so the trout can spawn and chill out. Come opener weekend, they are fired up and ready to crush flies. It is something every fly angler should experience at least once.
This year the water was moving at 14,000 cfs out of the dam. Not prime hatch conditions, but fish were stacked in softer seams and deep in the slow runs. And they were LOADED. Easy to get clients into fish all day. Heat was not bad either, around 90, and I have had openers here over 100.
The bite was so good I stopped counting within a couple hours on day one. Honestly, trying to keep track is laughable.
Bobber nymphing was the play. I am sure if we had stayed late, we could have found a soft hackle swing bite, but day trips were on the schedule and bobber dogging kept rods bent all day.
Man, I always forget how rad these Lower Sac trout are when I have been away a few months. They RIP, and some look like tiny chrome steelhead.
I head back to the Lower Sac next week, a couple of days there and then off to ALASKA!! So excited. Plenty of dates available for the Trinity River fall steelhead fishing. Let’s go! Check my calendar here. I’d love to get you on a steelhead and spend some time on the water with you.
Well, hope you like the report and be sure to give your good homies a HUG. Life is precious and aren’t we lucky we can fish?
Love always,
Mario
DONT FORGET ABOUT THE JUICY REPORTS on PATREON WITH FLY INFORMATION AND ERR THING!
