- Flows: 1500 cfs out of the dam, 1800-1600 below the house
- Weather: Cold mornings, sun midday
- Boat Traffic: A LOT! Except on Sunday. Sunday was nice but Saturday was insane
- Water clarity: Clear above Grass Valley Creek and nice steelhead stain/green below Grass Valley Creek
I am back baby! Well, I was back for just 3 days and then headed home tomorrow. As I type this, the river is going up to 3000 cfs on 1/12. Yep, they are popping the flows again. This time, it’s because the lake is getting full. Do I believe it? Yes. Do I like it? No. Trinity Lake was built without a spillway so they need to make room for more water or else we will all die here in Lewiston. And we don’t want that. I am mostly disappointed that it was said that after the last synchronized storm flow, the river would come back down to 300 out of the dam. But they lied again and kept it at 1500. Whatever and honestly we can’t do anything about it. This is the Trinity River now.
I had Brandon and his Rad Dad Es-Steve for a few days and I am forever grateful for their support. We had a blast and fished hard.
Friday was the day. Slow to start but the first fish was a banger and Brandon’s first proper steelhead on the fly. With the water at 1500, I had to remind myself how I was fishing it last year when they were running it high and focus on seams near fast water and slower transitions near deeper water as well as fishing edges. Side channels are a good idea as well. I had some “bigger” presentations going as those winter fish sometimes seem to want a bigger meal. Although, as we got downriver, I pulled out the good old…wait I can’t tell you what we caught his big fish on! Not on this report. You can find out where we put in and what I was using each day on the Juicy Reports Page on my Patreon. Anyways, I presented something smaller and that’s what the fish ate.
See Brandon! The back of the boat ain’t so bad bro!!!
Awesome fish. She was down running and had already spawned but was that proper winter steelhead we are always looking for. Luckily, she came in fairly easily as landing these bigger fish in the fast water is gnarly! It’s always an epic battle during high flows and intense. So stoked for my dude.
After that fish, we continued to have a great day. Hooked into more adults, lost some adults, and I was quickly reminded that winter fish can get pretty grabby once the sun comes out. Awesome winter conditions. The water was coming out of Grass Valley creek a bit stained so as we got lower in the river, the water was tinted with Saturday setting up to be steelhead green. Looking back, last Friday will be the last “stained” river day we are going to have for a while and honestly, who knows when we will get more rain and when the river will be fishable again. So I am very stoked that for my first trip back in three weeks was that productive and conditions were that good.
Saturday and Sunday were sort of the same but with plenty more boats on the water on Saturday. It was crazy how many boats were at Old Lewi Bridge. I think I counted 12 trucks. So many people and a lot of people from the coast and boats I’ve never seen before.
Pops found an adult and we were able to get Brandon on his first swung fish on his Berkheimer. It wasn’t the biggest fish but remember, on the Taco boat, all fish are good fish. Great to hear him stoked on swinging up a fish on his fancy set up. That set up casts lasers bro!
I thought Sunday was going to get us the mega but it was a lot slower than both days before. I think the fish we were hooking Friday had pushed up. Then again, that’s fishing and that’s guiding. Everyday is different and I am so grateful I got to enjoy a few days on the water with some rad dudes. We laughed, we talked shit, we smiled, and I have to say, Brandon you are lucky you have the Dad you have. Great vibes from that dude. Can’t wait to fish with both of you again.
Now what’s next? Well, I don’t know until we find out when the flows come down. I am confident I will get more fishing time in before they blow the river on February 15th. After that, I hope to get people on fish on Lake Almanor, the Lower Sac, and start to set up my spring Feather River fishing. The raft will go back to Plumas County and I will be floating the Feather anytime the water is clear. So if that interests you, let me know. Last April was epic on the Feather and I would love to float you down it.
Also, I have added Bucks Lake to my portfolio. A lake in Plumas County above Quincy. During ice out, which is usually in April, it can be bananas for bows and browns. Bows near creeks and browns on the strip. With the new boat that I got last year, I’ll be hitting the lakes hard.
As always, thanks for reading and I hope we can fish sometime in 2026.
Love,
Mario
