NOTE: AS OF 1PM ON 10/30/19, THERE ARE ONLY 2-HANDED SPEY SWINGING SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE: ONE ON SATURDAY AND 3 ON SUNDAY (OR ONE SPOT FOR BOTH DAYS).
This Learn to Fly Fish (LTFF) Trinity River Steelhead Fish-out is offered initially to only those students enrolled in the club's 2018 LTFF Intermediate Class. To begin with each student can sign up for only one group for one day's fishing on this weekend (i.e., for Grp. 1 on Sat., 11/9 or for Grp. 2 on Sun., 11/10). However, with the 4 boats we have, it is very likely that some students will be able to enjoy guided fishing on both days and may sign up for a second day 48 hours after registration opens. We have the privilege of fishing with Confluence Anglers' best steelhead guides, so you do want to take advantage of this.
Due to the travel distance to this river, everyone will need to find their own lodging in the Weaverville / Douglas City area for at least the night before and, ideally, for the night after fishing also. Redding is another possibility for lodging, but is still about an hour away. Campgrounds may be closed at this time of year, so check ahead if that is your plan.
Registration Fee: $275.00 each day, includes the guide fee and the shuttle service cost but DOES NOT INCLUDE guide gratuity, lodging, meals (other than lunch), or travel costs. Suggested guide gratuity is $40-60 from each person.
Meeting place: We will meet our Confluence Outfitters' guides each morning in the parking lot in front of Holiday Market (formerly Tops Supermarket) right in Weaverville (located behind the Burger King, on your right as you drive into town). Unless advised otherwise, the meet time will be 7:30AM sharp each morning, dressed in your waders and ready to go. Please be prompt.
Check the weather before leaving home and pack accordingly, including rain gear (always) and proper layering to adjust for temp changes during the day. In addition to a lunch and non-alcoholic beverages, our guides will provide single hand fly rods rigged for at the very least indicator nymph fishing or possibly single hand Spey, and for one boat at least, one or more 2-handed Spey rods (if requested ahead). But you may bring your own rod if you prefer (or bring it cased up as a back-up, should you not be comfortable with the guide's rod). The guides will provide all flies needed, but it never hurts to have some of your own if you care to try them out.
Fishing Gear: If you choose to or need to bring your own rod, your rods should be 6wt-8wt (7wt is ideal for a sgl. hand rod, but 6wt is best on this smaller river for 2-handed rods) and at least 9' or longer. We will be trying to accommodate all capable Spey casters (2-handed or single hand) -- or those choosing to swing with single hand rods and shooting head set-ups -- as much as we can, but both students in a boat (or raft) will need to be doing that at any given time since swinging with any rod requires wading through the runs (rather than drifting through them in the boat while indicator nymphing).
If you are a Spey caster (sgl. or 2-handed) and wish to swing rather than indicator nymph, it is suggested that you bring your own rod, reel, and various heads or tips for this purpose (floating, intermediate, slow to fast sink polyleaders, or Type 2-4 shooting heads, or T-7 to T-10 sink tips) in case the guides don't have something to offer you for swinging. (If need be, let your fish-out leader know your needs in advance so that he can try to communicate this to the guides).
Gear list (other than fishing gear): Waders and boots (recommend felt or studded felt soles, at a minimum studded neoprene); wading belts (2 preferably); rain jacket; one or more hats depending on weather; gloves (both warm & sun); a fleece layer (top & bottom), wading staff; spare set of clothes in a dry bag or pack; water-protected phone or camera; polarized sunglasses; headlamp; sunscreen and/or buff; your 2019 CA Fishing License & a Steelhead Card; and (optional) area map or Delorme California atlas.
Participants will be assigned to guides based on whether they indicate that they wish to mostly nymph (indicator) or swing (one or two-handed). Boat partners will be paired up prior to arrival to expedite departure.
Dinners: The best and about only suggestion for possible large group dining in the area is the Cafe at Indian Creek Lodge (on CA299 approx. 8 mi EAST of Weaverville). Let John know your wishes ASAP since we may need to get a reservation beforehand. The next other best option for dinner, other than fast food, is probably the Golf Course restaurant in Weaverville. (Sadly, the Grange Restaurant in the historic center of town, which finally reopened in 2017 under new mgt. after the death of its former owner/chef, closed again in 2018.)
Lodging recommendations and more info: Since this Weaverville destination is nearly an hour's drive over a pass from Redding (and nearly 5 hours or more total drive time from the Bay Area), it is important that you arrive in the Redding or Weaverville area the night before and it is strongly suggested that you spend another night in the area before driving home.
Go to www.confluenceoutfitters.com and under the "Lodging" tab, click on Weaverville, CA and scroll down to find a list of suggested lodging and motels in the area. The nicest and most expensive place to stay is Indian Creek Lodge is about 8 miles east of Weaverville on the righthand side of CA-299 as you come down from the pass (beyond Steel Bridge Road, but a mile or two east of Douglas City). The farthest away and maybe cheapest option is Lewiston Valley Motel in Lewiston (on the near side of the pass and 4 miles north of the highway), but there are several good motel options right in Weaverville too.
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Additional Information for your Trinity River Trip:
Trinity River Fishing License Requirements: You must have a regular freshwater fishing license (either a daily license or a season license) AND a Steelhead Catch Report Card. If ordering your license online, please do so at least two weeks prior to your trip because you must have the original copy of the Steelhead Card on your person while fishing. Go to www.ca.wildlifelicense.com to buy licenses online. You can also pick these up at the Sportsman's Warehouse or The Fly Shop (both in Redding) or at Big Five and Dick's Sporting Goods stores in the Bay Area.
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Fish-out leader: John Murphy
Email:
jmurphy7599@gmail.com
Mobile Phone:
650-799-1695