Trinity Lake Fishing Report

Water levels are very high at Trinity Lake and conditions are excellent. Water is clear, and temps are sitting in the high 60s. In far north lakes, the bass spawn is typically delayed, and that's exactly the case for Trinity. Fish are actively on beds, with a few transitioning into post-spawn. The coves on the south end are holding some quality largemouth, with jigs, swimbaits, and T-rigged worms doing the work. Some bigger females have been reported in the double-digit range... look for them holding a few feet deeper from their male counterparts on beds.

Smallmouth action has been very good as well, but more so on the upper end... off points, downed logs, or any hard structure. Small trout-colored swimbaits are getting crushed in these spots, with some nice 2-3+ pound fish being caught.

Not a lot of reports on the salmon or trout front. A few trout guys are running Rapalas near the dam and off points, hooking some quality rainbows with the occasional big brown. Most of the attention is on bass right now though.

Trinity is waking up big time. Both largemouth and smallmouth are starting to really chew. The lake’s sitting much higher than recent years... about 100 feet up from previous low marks... and it’s completely reshaped where and how fish are holding. Water temps are still a touch cool, but fish are active and staging, and the pre-spawn push is in full swing.

On the south end near the dam and tucked into coves, largemouth are hitting jigs, deep cranks, and more reaction stuff. Meanwhile, smallmouth are piled up in the upper northern reaches near downed logs and floating debris brought in by the high water. Swimbaits are also getting crushed. Trout-colored patterns are working best for higher-quality fish up to 4 pounds.

No solid kokanee reports yet, but the season’s technically underway. For now, all eyes are on the bass. With the high water and ideal conditions, it’s shaping up to be a monster June on Trinity.

Trinity Lake has been hit-or-miss lately. The CDFW hasn’t stocked trout here yet this winter, and cooler water temperatures have slowed bass activity. Still, patient anglers putting in the time are landing quality fish. Bass action has been best on primary and secondary points, worked very slowly with drop-shot worms, grubs, or slow-rolled swimbaits. Most fish are well worth the wait, in the 3-6 pound range.

For trout, a few holdovers are being nailed near the surface by anglers casting spoons. Trout stockings should be coming at any time.