Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeRiver depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for chinook salmon.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
Lewiston Dam to Junction City: California's premier fly-water steelhead river, now mapped from the TRRP 2022 integrated topobathymetric survey. The river tops out around 22 ft. The depth chart comes from Yurok Tribe / U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Trinity River Restoration Program bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
On the chart, Trinity River draws 683 acres inside 59.8 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 16.3, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Figure 13.1 mi of water from one end to the other, 6.3 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Trinity County. For a second option, Whiskeytown Lake lies 19 mi east.
Spring steelhead on Trinity River hold shallow, usually 3 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 2 to 22 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 15 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with an orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 2 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 4 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | open water | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: chinook salmon in 3 to 22 ft. The depth story barely changes: 7 to 22 ft through summer, 7 to 22 ft in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 4 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 90 ft | midday | open water | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Early season brown trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 22 ft. Even in summer they hold at 7 to 22 ft; winter keeps them in 3 to 22 ft. Put Riffle & run (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — a rock pile near 1 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (1 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | open water | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 4 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (1 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Riffle & run (mile 0.6) at roughly 1 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Trinity River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Trinity River is about 22 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Yurok Tribe / U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Trinity River Restoration Program bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target steelhead, chinook salmon, brown trout on Trinity River.
Riffle & run (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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.
Fishing on Trinity River is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Whiskeytown Lake 19 mi · Sacramento River (Redding) 36 mi · Shasta Lake 37 mi · Kangaroo Lake 47 mi · Campbell Lake 59 mi · Klamath River 73 mi · Silver Lake 94 mi · Squaw Lakes 94 mi, OR · Lake Almanor 98 mi · Butt Valley Reservoir 100 mi · Grizzly Forebay 102 mi · Three Lakes 103 mi
See how Trinity River stacks up: best chinook salmon lakes in California · best steelhead lakes in California · best brown trout lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.