Trinity River Report 03-20-2007

Trinity River - Douglas City, CA


by The Fly Shop
3-20-2007
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Water Conditions: High and roilly with snowmelt. Dredging the deep, slow pockets might produce a fish or two, but the upper Sac is definitely not your best bet right now.

Fishing Conditions & Hatches: Nymphing with Black Midges, P.T's, Red Copper Johns, and especially Baetis Nymphs patterns, such as Micro Mayfly Olive and Eric's Lightnin' Biot Baetis! Nymphing the slower-moving pools is going to produce more fish this time of year, but there have been some good baetis hatches with possible dry fly action in the afternoons.

Flies:Best flies lately: GB Pheasant Tail Nymphs #16-18; Micro Mayfly Olice #16-18; Red Copper John #16; Black Zebra Midge #18; Parachute Adams #14-16. Gidget #18, brown or olive* Prince #14-16* Dark Lord #14-16 * Mercer's Micro-Mayfly nymph #16* Copper Johns #14-18* Flashback PT #16 * Z-Wing grn. #16 * , Fox's Poopah! #16 Para Adams * #18, Zebra Midges #18, Tilt wing dun #20, Hare's Ears #12 to #16, Spotlight Caddis, small Stimulators

Water Conditions: There are still some wild steelhead and sea-run browns being caught below Douglas City. It's real steelhead fishing now, with maybe a grab or two one day, maybe nothing the next, not the high numbers we've been so spoiled with on the Trinity all year. The fish we have been finding over there, however, are big, bright, and worth the effort.

Fishing Conditions & Hatches: #8 Golden Stones, #8 Golden Stones, and more #8 Golden Stones; other good bets: #10 and #16 Poxyback Hare's Ear, #14 Red Copper John, #14 Psycho Prince. Once the rain starts, be ready to throw some egg patterns again, shrimp pink and steelhead orange!

Flies: A few of the "norms": Nymphs: #8-12 Golden Stone Nymphs * #8-16 Poxy Hare's Ear* #12-16 PT nymphs * #12-14 Egg patterns* #12-14 Copper John or Copper Bob* #8 3-D nymph* Iron Sallies* Micro Spawn* Micro Mayfly black #14's* Skunks * Conehead Silver Hiltons * GB Rubberleg Redfox Squirrel Nymph* Fox's TB October Pewpah* Mercer's TB October Pupa* A good presentation is preferred, but sometimes they'll hit a swinging fly just as well. Dries: Little Yellow Stone imitations, Yellow Humpies #12-16; Elk Hair Caddis (Olive or tan) #14-16; Parachute Adams #12-16.

The Fly Shop's Tips: Crowds are less of an issue this time of year, but a few etiquette rules should be observed...as the steelhead in the Lewiston area are starting to move into the shallow tailouts and spawn, anglers need to be aware that spawning fish are easily-stressed, and should be left alone.