Trinity River Fly Fishing Report

Lost Coast Outfitters reports on February 13th, 2026

The pulse flows are over for now and the fish are around! The river has returned to its low and clear state, running around 300 CFS out of Lewiston. This upcoming storm will definitely blow the river ou,t but it will come back fast, and hopefully it'll be crawling with fresh, bright fish. Since the flows are so low, the river may be extremely clear once it's back in shape, so light tippet, and be sneaky when approaching a run.

If you're swinging, just like all year, keep your patterns smallish and natural. Smaller than what you would swing on the coast. As the days get warmer, more and more fish will be poking their heads upwards looking for the daily BWO, and semi daily caddis hatches. Bringing along dry flies and Muddlers to skate can make for a fun evening. If you're nymphing, small golden stones, BWO imitations and Glo Bugs are good go to options. These steelhead can be extremely trouty and can be super picky, don't be afraid to throw the kitchen sink at them.

February can be a beautiful month on the river, but the weather can change on a dime.  Check weather forecast, as it doesn't take too much to muddy the river up, though it comes back in quickly. On March 15th, the Bureau of Reclamation plans to ramp flows up as a part of their spring releases, so now is a fantastic time to head down 299, and get on a Trinity river slab!

-August Kennedy III