Hiking the Trinity Alps.

Before you know it major holidays will be upon us, schools out for summer and many families will be hitting the road for annual vacations. Now is the time to plan. Don’t let the economy or current gas prices get you down. Need an exciting and affordable one shot destination fix that is great for all family members and within relatively close striking distance from the Bay Area? Welcome to Trinity County! (HWY 299West, 45 minutes from Redding, 41/2 hrs. from the Bay Area). Base yourself in or around the beautiful mountain community of historic Lewiston. Why Lewiston? Within walking distance or half-hour, outdoor enthusiasts have options to enjoy Fishing (world class conventional & fly fishing for salmon-steelhead-trout-bass)Hunting, Hiking, Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Camping, House boating, Swimming, Wakeboarding/skiing, Golfing, Horseback riding, Rafting/kayaking, Wildlife viewing, Touring Historic Towns, Art Museums, or simply come for fresh air and relaxation.

Flourishing Trinity River beauty.

Sounding too much like a used car sales pitch? Based upon my personal experiences with this wilderness paradise I can pass on, straight up, Trinity County is true to its beauty, user friendly for all family members and delivers quality unlimited outdoor opportunities. Our kids often reflect back on the past and comment, Trinity experiences are some of our family’s best of times. Few other areas can deliver such a diverse line up of exciting outdoor opportunities that are easily accessible and sure to pacify; especially devoted fishing junkies. Anglers can choose from fifty-three high mountain wilderness lakes, sixteen hundred miles of fishable streams, three major impoundments (Trinity –Lewiston-Ruth lakes), and one hundred twenty miles of the famed Trinity River for world class salmon-trout-steelhead-bass. North-South-East-West, any direction, Trinity anglers are faced with an overwhelming lineup of promising fisheries throughout the entire year. Plan accordingly; keep in mind time of year, family age/ interests and time available. With a little strategy savvy vacationing anglers can easily step into a line up for a daily session and return with plenty of time for other activities and outdoor opportunities, keeping peace in the family.

Chad & Mason Sayre show how it’s done.

Need further inspiration and sound advice? Beautiful Trinity County is surrounded by vast forest lands and wilderness areas offering many breath taking views. Guaranteed to inspire and stoke. Visiting Trinity’s small mountain communities is like stepping back in time. No high rise buildings or Wal-Marts. Clean air and country settings filled with small businesses committed to free spirit and country living. Unique Mom and Pop businesses are scattered throughout the county—finding them is like a great catch! These businesses are essential to Trinity’s identity. By patronizing them you not only reward yourself by making your travel experience far richer, you’ll be supporting them to ensure they pass on to the next generation. For complete and exciting details contact Trinity Co. Chamber (530) 623-6101, trinitycounty.com. Or, you can always stay in touch with Trinity Fly Shop (530) 623-6757, trinflyguy@shasta.com for current conditions, fish reports and local advice. 2012 vacation destination—it’s a no brainer! See ya sooner than later!

Old Lewiston Bridge Annual celebration

The Newly Weds.

It has been awhile since we have posted a new blog. All I can say is bear with us as it has been way too busy, business and domestically, around here lately. We would like to say thank you for all for the positive and inspiring comments regarding our last blog (Future of Fly Shops), reconfirms our reason for being. Here is a minor taste of what has been and will be happening in our neck of the woods.

Trinity Fly Shop Wedding – March 10, our son Chris & Loreli Burton were married. A beautiful springtime sunny day blessed the ceremony that was attended by close family members on the TFS casting lawn. (No, there was no casting event afterwards)! A small reception was held at our house, catered by Allan Guggia — Oak Pit Bar-B-Q and the newlyweds were quickly off to Kauai for some fun in the sun. A larger reception is slated for the near future. Congratulations Chris and Loreli and we all wish you the very best!

Landon & favorite quarry.

New Kid on the Block – By now most of you have met our new floor retail sales employee, Landon Fredrickson. Landon started with us last fall and helped many of you throughout the 2012 winter steelhead season. His personality, eagerness to help and hype is infectious. Landon is 27 years young, a local Trinity County resident, resides in Poker Bar along the banks of his favorite fishery, the Trinity River. (He has fish named and numbered in the famed “Society Pool,”) He started fly fishing only three (3) years ago. Within that short time period he has excelled and become an accomplished angler; gifted with great natural angling talents and consistently delivers a dead on tight loop. He is on the water almost daily. Believe me you don’t want to fish behind him. His favorite quarry is the brown trout, favorite fly-“the Rock”. Landon will be taking over Chris B’s retail sales position, (no worry, CB is still TFS computer tech and very much in tune with operations, directions and future on-line sales) and following in his footsteps. And you know what they say about guys with big feet—they’ve got a lot of shoe to fill!

April 1-“Fly Only” Waters Re-Open – No big secret and eagerly awaited by many. As of this post early season prospects appear very promising. Recent river fluctuations, from heavy spring rains, has inspired good numbers of late run winter steelhead (both hatchery/native stocks) into the upper reach TR. Along with thousands of newly planted out-migrants, rebounding kelts and some resident rainbow and brown trout anglers will have a full line up to target. Despite recent harsh weather, these waters are notorious for remaining clear even during some of the most adverse conditions. Highlighting the opener Trinity Fly Shop will offer a Blowout Sale (Rods-Reels-Waders-Boots and much more—look for the smok’n hot Red tags). Stop by and check us out! So why wait for the General Trout Opener? Come and get you’re Ya-Ya’s.

2011-2012 Trinity River Hatchery Summaries – Across the board, impressive returns and for those questioning the runs— better off not to know. So whether you like it or not here they are, the final 2011-2012 DFG TR Hatchery Trapping Summary: Steelhead-5,784 (2010 –2,037)***Remember steelhead summaries represent a percentage of “hatchery” adults only, Chinook-22,302 (2010 –11,908), Coho-4,784 (2010 –4,215). More great news!!! A recent publication, from TWO RIVERS TRIBUNE, has indicated the 2012 fall Chinook salmon run is to be one of the largest returns on modern day record; the projected run, a staggering 1.5 mil. Chinook salmon. (The run size is based on a multitude of data gathered every year by tribal, state and federal agencies). Generally what is good for salmon is good for other anadromous fish. Brace yourself and plan accordingly.

Busman’s Holiday – Good things happen to those who wait. Throughout the entire 2011-2012 steelhead season both Kit and I took a lot of B.S. for not catching many steelhead ourselves.

Why? A full work load got in the way (we thank you)! However a recent trip cancellation, at an absolute perfect time, but for the wrong reason, permitted us to jump into the line ups and engage in one of the most epic outings Kit, my brother Glenn and I have experience in many years. Long overdue rains stirred a new shuffle of fresh run fish and activated a three hour dry fly crunch. A projected major storm backed off formulating “Classic” conditions; falling barometer, moist heavy air, no wind, and warming afternoon temps activated a major aquatic Pop! Extended durations of intense Callibaetis, BWO, PMD’s, Calineuria, Caddis and Crainflies hatches got the attention of steelhead, bows and browns and permitted all three of us to socially fish dries, in less than a 50 yd. stretch, experiencing a mind boggling explosion of multiple hatches and off the wall success. (Two doubles, five steelhead, four browns, three bows, lost count of those missed/farmed and an empty 30 pack of blues at the tailgate). No pipe dream and not a flashback folks! Simply, right place at the right time. Chalk one up for our home waters and the generous fishing Gods. Now get out there and make your own reports—See ya on the opener!!!

GB-steelie on dry	Arm full of Loch leven	Kit late season dry fly steel

Herb & Pat 30 yrs. of fly shop sales

You know you are getter old when it takes longer to shake off the early morning aches and pains. Generally not a big deal, buck up take a few Advil and move with it. As fly shop owners, you know you are getting old when half of your business venders, manufacturers and wholesalers no longer exist; Ug, bummer no cure no fix. We recently got the word Western Sport Shop, in San Rafael est. 1947, is closing its doors. Ouch! Another quality, well established, sporting goods store added to the list of fly fishing shops that have already closed their doors. (Reno Fly Shop, Leland’s S.F. Fly Shop, Ernie’s Casting Pond, Kauffmans Streamborn Flys, Pacific Coast Anglers, Midge Fly Shop— all done, gone and hauntingly disappeared from the fishing retail industry.) No remedy or medicated goo to ease this pain but rather a rude awakening as Pat and I realize we are old and unfortunately may be part of a vanishing era. Make room for the internet and Big Boxes. Or should we?

TFS off the wall, mouth watering fly selections

It wasn’t that long ago the fly fishing industry was a booming business and fly shops were thriving and retail strong, surviving even some of the most challenging economic times of the past. That’s right for decades fly fishing specialty shops were numerous, popular hang outs and provided a unique niche for anglers of all ages and skill levels. It was cool and happening to own a fly shop. The 1990’s movie, A River Runs through It heightened fly fishing to unexpected levels and jump started the entire fly fishing industry. Shops were popping up all over the country and strategically located within striking distance most anywhere fishing opportunities existed, potentially existed and or areas able to support a solid fishing customer base. Urban shops catered to urban anglers, promoting fly fishing selling the latest products, teaching how- to- classes/fly casting/tying/rod building and fueling the stoke unveiling exotic fishing destinations. When urban anglers could not fish they pacified their desires and got their fix buying. Destination shops catered to on-the-spot anglers as they were generally located in route to fishing destinations or along the banks or close proximity of quality fishing. They provided the latest word on what’s happening and were relied upon for inventorying easy replaceable or forgotten necessity items, local knowledge/expertise, advice, fishing-river reports/ conditions, hatch information, local flies and guide services. Both fly shops were unique, complimented each other, developed their own reputations and following and filled a void bolstering the fly fishing industry.

You never know what you had until they’re gone. Why are many fly shops closing the doors? Simple, the same as with many other retail stores calling it quits the piece of the pie just got too small and competition too challenging. The major crunch is the increasing popularity of the internet and mega outlets. They currently represent the leading edge of fly fishing retail sales. Convenience, volume/blowout discounts, free shipping incentives and as in the case of internet sources, minimal inventories and low overhead all add up to a sign of the times that are not going away anytime soon. So what about personalized service, product instruction/demonstration/advice how and where to go, fly casting classes, fly tying classes, knot tying classes, rod building classes, entomology classes, field outings, fly fishing crash courses and destination feedback and good old fishing stories? Most fly shops still offer all the above and much more. Tune and check’m out. It’s your choice.

2012 marks our 30th. year in the fly fishing retail sales and guiding business. If that sounds like a long time, well it is. It is a long time to be doing anything. Hell or high water, bean with bacon/grilled cheese, steak’n Heineken, you name it and we’ve probably experienced it. To say the least it has been a challenging ride. No doubt, Internet, E-Bay, and Big Boxes have put the ax to many smaller retail shops and impacted the entire fly fishing industry. But at what sacrifice? To what extent will they impact remaining fly shops and the fly fishing industry? Will they ultimately become the only source for fly fisherman? Only time will tell as times they are a changing. However one thing that hasn’t changed, and will not change and that is our commitment to you and your friends. Quality specialty goods, personalized service, always someone to talk to and answer your questions, a “dingy” filled with cold ones, and sound “local” advice/recommendations. Because of you and years of loyal support we have been able to keep our heads above water and door open. We thank you all! What is the future of the Trinity Fly Shop? After 30 years what do you expect? Our door remains open, we’ll roll with the good times, counter the punches and continue to preach the Trinity fly fishing stoke. So preserve the magic. Support Your Local Fly Shop!!!

Free TFS-vinyl sticker with purchase

Mary-Anita and Trinity Steel.

We all wanted it. We desperately needed it. And Whoa-Yeah—we got it. Just what the Doc ordered and needed to get the river’s juices flowing and fish moving. A recent series of long overdue powerful frontal systems belted our neck of the woods with heavy snowfall and rains that brought relief from a dominating bitterly cold and dry weather pattern. The perfect storm, solid snow pack in the mountains and heavy rains raised water temps. and flushed the entire system, lower river flows jacked over 11,000cfs.; finally a rotation of what appears to be the lead edge of our native winter runs are filtering up out of the canyons.

Up until the big chill anglers were catching an abnormal number of dark, late summer- fall hatchery fish (for number crunchers, two weeks ago the hatchery has already processed more steelhead than all of last year—feel better or worse?). To many a fish is a fish. However this year traditional winter runs are late, very late with many questioning what’s up. As I have always preached fish don’t go by the calendar. It’s all about current conditions. Keep in mind this has been one of the driest winters on record. In other words no water no fish. Secondary rivers (North-South-New Rivers) have been at all-time lows and tributaries have been all but nonexistent. Compounding the low flow formula, the lower Klamath, at Requa, denied access to all fish, for two(2), 8-12 day time periods (1/2 month), as Klamath-Trinity flows were backed up and simply too low to purge sandbars and flow into the Pacific. Factor the length of the Trinity system at 100 plus miles, Lewiston down to Weitchpec, and migration travel time and you might begin to understand why winter runs in the upper system are 3-4 weeks late. Good things happen to those who wait. If winter returns are even remotely close to an average run, with the blessing of some favorable conditions, Trinity anglers should experience a solid late season.

Kit chalking up another.

All sounds too good to be true, well it is. Many others have kept their eye on the Trinity and weather patterns, ready to make their move. In other words the past few day’s anglers have faced some challenging crowded conditions. But hey, up until a few days ago the Trinity was the only fishable waters available, an annual scenario that seems to haunt anglers when winter storms bash north coastal rivers, fortunately are short lived. Despite social line ups and some raw feedback of a few anglers/boaters breaching stream ethics, most everyone is having fun and scoring. Try to remember we are all out there for the same stoke and passion; truth be known most steelheaders are probably more alike than not alike. Keep the peace, respect fellow anglers. As of this post fishing pressure has already thinned out as most all coastal rivers (Smith-Redwood-Mad-Eel— receiving top billing) are ripening for the picking. Want some steel? Its prime winter conditions in Ca. and options are open. Now get on your horse and ride!!!

Recent winter storms have also inspired other impressive migrations.