Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Trinity River
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Trinity River: what the data says
Lewiston Dam to Junction City: California's premier fly-water steelhead river. The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Steelhead fishing at Trinity River
In spring, steelhead run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 16.2): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Trinity River
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 1 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Lowhead weir tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for spring chinook salmon. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Brown Trout fishing at Trinity River
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 10 ft. Current seam (mile 16.2) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Best bite is after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 10 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Notable structure
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Lewiston Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.0): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 22.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 24.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.4): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 6 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 16.2): current seam, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Trinity River?
Trinity River is about 10 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Trinity River?
Anglers target chinook salmon, steelhead, brown trout on Trinity River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Trinity River?
Current seam (mile 16.2) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Trinity River?
For steelhead, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Whiskeytown Lake · Sacramento River (Redding) · Clear Lake · American River (Lower) · Folsom Lake · San Pablo Bay
Browse all California fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.