I have a job opportunity down in Redding, CA area. I have been reading up on these 3 rivers. The reading I have done all seem to say these are pretty stellar steelhead rivers. I am wondering how they compare to our rivers like say the Snake, Grand Ronde, Deschutes, ect. AND did they use to be awesome and now are just mediocre like many of our rivers have become. Anybody spent many hours on these rivers that can make a comparison? First hand experiences? Side note also - Reviews on the lower sacramento tailwater fishery? Thanks
They are totally different rivers than the snake and deschutes and ronde. When the trinity has fish in it it can be very crowded in a certain stretches. Most people fish indicators.The Klamath between happy camp and weitchepec is where you go if you want some solitude. Both the rivers are right along the highway so access is very good. Just be careful if you decide to wonder into the woods. Theres dope growers everywhere. The lower Sac thru redding is one of the best tailwater rainbow fisheries that s open year round. Redding is one of the best places to live as an angler if you already have a job. Meth is rampant and it is hottter than hell in the summertime. There's a company called stream-time that sells access maps that will tell you pretty much all you need to know. http://www.streamtime.com/
None of the rivers mentioned are what they were, historically. That said, I fish the Trinity Fall to flow ramp-up in April and fishing can be fair to excellent, as with all anadromous fisheries. Also a good resident trout fishery for browns and some sea-run or river-run fish, debate goes on about that. Magnificent insect producer in the upper tailwater stretches with opportunities for a hatch year-round. Lots of rivers and stillwaters within an hour drive any direction of Redding. The Lower Sac is prolific as well: http://www.theflyshop.com/streamreport.html I believe Redding has the best trout fishing on the west coast, overall. Year around fishing is the area's attraction to me. Downside is summer heat. http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/redding-ca/96001/august-weather/327134 Fisheries hold up despite that.
While not the NU, the T offers the attraction of fishing a dryline all year, tips rarely needed in the upper portions.
Not to mention you would only be an hour away from the "Fall River Valley" and have the Pit River, Fall River (incredible spring creek) and many more. Look up Confluence Outfitters to get some great info.
You guys are making me homesick. I could go on for hours about the waters mentioned here. Redding is my home town. Lots of good information above. For good info, stop by The Fly Shop.
Thought it was common knowledge that we have no fish in California. Just wacko's and nutters. Maybe some itty bitty steelhead. Maybe
Just got back from the Pit, Hat Creek, and the Trinity. So far for me, the Trinity has been difficult to learn, however, it has resulted in my first steelhead and my first chinook on a fly rod. The Lower Sac is awesome. Incredible fishery. Huge, extremely frisky rainbows. Hat Creek was disappointing. The pit river canyon is gorgeous. Wading is hell, but the fish are very lively. I would love to move from Eureka to Redding, but I make good money here
Not much word here on the Rogue (my home waters) so I'll toss in some thoughts. First as to access there's quite a bit of easy public assess on the upper river, The further you go up stream (from Medford) the more you'll find. As mentioned above the Streamtime map is a must have. It is DEAD ON right down to the 1/10th mile. As there's very little in the way of flooding you'll find the description are still very accurate. Not as hot here as in Redding, but day time temps (summer) are still in the mid-high 90's. Not much in the way of public access from Medford down to Grants Pass save for the use of a boat. In the GP area you get back into major areas for the beach guy and once you get well below Merlin LOTS of great places to fish off the bank (all the way to Graves Creek (beginning of the Wild and Scenic bit). You can access more water below GC by hiking the Rogue River trail. Anyway, two distict runs of summer runs as well a good winter steelhead fishing. Add to that both a spring and fall run of King Salmon/Coho there's always something going on.
We're up to our ears in both Spring Kings (end of the Season) and Summer Runs. When they pulled out Gold Rae dam it changed the whole complex of what the fish do when/where. Only fish counter on the entire Rogue system (and all tribs) was at Gold Rae so that's gone now save for the Hatchery Pond counts. And those are 4 times what they'd normally be for this time of the year. End game is we're having one hell of a run. Only down side (and with the heat we're getting I understand the 'why') is the Corp of Eng's is dumping large volumes of water out of Wm Jess Dam. Makes for tough fly fishing unless you're using one hell of a sink tip or a 250 - 350 grain sinker off a one hander.
