Fall Steelhead Season…
It has been a VERY GOOD steelhead season for the Trinity River so far this year. The 2023 run is solid with a good number of returning hatchery stlhd and a lot of wild fish, too.
The steelhead were in good numbers in September and by October it was pretty incredible. We had a very good salmon run (both springers & fall-run) and lot’s of these fish were spawning in the river!! The steelhead were very happy about this.
By November the crowds showed up and despite plenty of fish around… there were A LOT more anglers (both boat & bankies) so it sorta changed the experience a bit. And this is why many of us were a little hesitant to blow things up with fish reports and social media posts. Word travels fast and crowds… while it’s nice to see people enjoying themselves… crowds are not as fun after you have had a quiet river for a few weeks. lol.
Even better news has been the quality and size of fish this year. We have seen many 30” and a few bigger stlhd hit the net this season. Trinity adult steelhead average around 3-8lbs and we have seen quite a few pushing 10lbs+ … Not too shabby for an upper river tributary fishery that’s 100 miles from the coast and 3k in elevation at the doorstep of the Trinity Alps and Klamath Mountains! These are not CA Coastal fresh dimers by any stretch… but for many, many reasons… the upper Trinity River is a very special stlhd river - and I would not trade or change her for anything.
Fall Season is definitely segueing into Winter Season currently… despite officially being a few weeks away. It has gotten COLD at night and daytime morning temps have been below freezing in the 20’s for the past week or more. When that sun is not shining early morning and late in the afternoon it is downright frigid on the river. Be prepared and wear the best clothing you own… Merino wool, down or synthetic puffy jkt, and Polartec are worth every penny. Invest in some good outdoor clothing for your fishing pursuits.
Here’s to winter stlhd season… I’m feeling like it’s gonna be a great year!
