Trinity/Sacramento River Fishing 🎣 Report December 12th 2025 season
Starting with the Trinity RIVER!!
Trinity River Steelhead Fishing Report – Gear Fishing
River: Trinity River
Target Species: Steelhead
Report Date: Current Conditions
Gear fishing on the Trinity River has been steady and productive for anglers willing to slow down and fish methodically. River conditions are setting up well for winter steelhead, with good walking-speed runs, defined seams, and deeper holding water throughout the system.
Steelhead are being found in classic gear water—inside bends, deeper slots, tailouts, and soft edges adjacent to faster current. Most hookups are coming from fish holding tight to the bottom, so getting your presentation down and keeping it there has been key.
Productive Techniques & Baits:
Drift fishing with roe, beads, and pink or natural-colored worms has been most consistent.
Pencil lead and slinky rigs are helping maintain bottom contact without hanging up.
Bobber-dogging has also been effective in longer runs with even depth and moderate flow.
Conditions:
Water clarity: Clear to slightly green
Flows: Fishable and supportive of winter steelhead movement
Fishing pressure: Moderate, lighter during weekdays
What to Expect:
Bite windows can be short, but anglers covering water and maintaining clean drifts are connecting with quality steelhead. Numbers aren’t wide-open, but the fish being landed are strong, healthy winter fish.
Outlook:
The Trinity River should continue to fish well as winter progresses. Any bump in flows from rain events will likely push new fish upriver and improve catch rates for gear anglers.
The Trinity River is still going strong with the winter fish just starting to arrive, we got rain moving in early Monday morning with a wet pattern for many days. This is what you want when chasing steelhead!! I will be running trips daily for steelhead until late February.
Over on the Sacramento River! I’ve been also doing really well catching world class wild rainbow’s on ultra light gear using 6lb test. It’s a blast!!
Sacramento River Rainbow Trout / Steelhead Fishing Report
River: Sacramento River
Target Species: Rainbow Trout / Steelhead
Report Date: Current Conditions
Fishing on the Sacramento River has been consistent and productive for both wild rainbow trout and steelhead. Cooler water temperatures and stable flows have trout actively feeding throughout the day, with fish spread across riffles, runs, and deeper holding water.
Most of the action is coming from walking-speed runs, seams, and drop-offs, where trout and steelhead are set up along current edges. Fish are holding mid-column to near the bottom, and clean, natural presentations are producing the best results.
Techniques:
Drift fishing with small roe, beads, and nightcrawlers has been effective.
Soft beads and single eggs are producing steady bites from larger rainbows.
Bobber rigs with light leader setups are helping detect subtle takes in deeper runs.
Conditions:
Water clarity: Clear to lightly stained
Flows: Stable and fishable
Pressure: Moderate, lighter during weekdays
What to Expect:
Anglers are finding good numbers of wild rainbow trout, with the occasional steelhead mixed in. Fish are healthy, strong, and putting up solid fights, especially in longer runs and tailouts.
Outlook:
The Sacramento River should continue to fish well moving forward. Stable weather and consistent flows will keep trout feeding, while any increase in flows could bring fresh steelhead into the system and improve overall action.
If your looking to book a guided fishing trip in Northern California look no further, give Jaynie a call at the office at 530-510-2925 and go with the top rated guides!
Thank you,