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Fishing in Trinity County, California
Seat: Weaverville. CDFW Northern Region.
- 57lakes
- 20launches
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Trinity County, California
A look at fishing in Trinity County
Weaverville is the county seat of Trinity County, a Northern Region county for CDFW. Trinity County spans 3,179 square miles of land plus 28 square miles of water. CDFW puts the county in the North Coast District for inland rules.
The county holds 57 lakes with CDFW entries; Trinity Lake is the biggest. Boaters can use 20 launches, 20 of them inland and 0 on the coast. CDFW logged 93 planting weeks on 9 waters in the county. A 20.94 pound chinook, inland salmon from 2013 is the biggest state record set here.
57CDFW lakes
20mapped launches
7streams
7shops and agents
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Lakes, launches and piers in Trinity County
CDFW lakes and piers, DBW and USFS launches, checked October 2026.
Lakes
Trinity County lakes
- Trinity Lake16,400 acres, 2,300 ft, 12 launches
- Ruth Reservoir1,178 acres, 2,655 ft, 1 launch
- Lewiston Lake610 acres, 1,900 ft, 4 launches
- Sapphire Lake48.6 acres, 5,881 ft
- Grizzly Lake, Trinity County44.2 acres, 7,106 ft
- Ewing Gulch Reservoir40 acres, 2,435 ft
- Grass Valley Creek Reservoir36.9 acres, 2,823 ft
- Big Bear Lake, Trinity County31.6 acres, 5,851 ft
- Stoddard Lake31.4 acres, 5,843 ft
- Upper Canyon Creek Lakes31.1 acres, 5,662 ft
- Middle Deadfall Lakes27.3 acres, 7,273 ft
- Papoose Lake, Trinity County27.1 acres, 6,646 ft
- Granite Lake, Trinity County, 5,937 ft25 acres, 5,937 ft
- Emerald Lake, Trinity County24 acres, 5,521 ft
- Smith Lake, Trinity County20.1 acres, 6,924 ft
- Lower Canyon Creek Lakes16.6 acres, 5,603 ft
- Alpine Lake, Trinity County12.9 acres, 6,137 ft
- Tangle Blue Lake12.6 acres, 5,747 ft
- Mirror Lake, Trinity County12.4 acres, 6,612 ft
- Boulder Lake10.4 acres, 6,069 ft
- Summit Lake, Trinity County9 acres, 7,515 ft
- Grouse Lake, Trinity County8.3 acres, 5,906 ft
- Little Bear Lake7.9 acres, 6,224 ft
- Lower Deadfall Lakes7.9 acres, 7,142 ft
- Highland Lakes, Trinity County7.1 acres, 5,738 ft
- Big Marshy Lake6.9 acres, 6,298 ft
- McDonald Lake6.9 acres, 5,904 ft
- Carrville Pond6.2 acres, 2,371 ft
- Ward Lake, Trinity County5.9 acres, 7,128 ft
- Sugar Pine Lake5.8 acres, 6,580 ft
- Granite Lake, Trinity County, 6,449 ft5.6 acres, 6,449 ft
- L Lake, Trinity County5.6 acres, 6,512 ft
- Foster Lake5.4 acres, 7,246 ft
- Skycrest Lake5.3 acres, 2,332 ft
- Upper Boulder Creek Lakes5.3 acres, 5,746 ft
- Little Boulder Lake5.1 acres, 6,318 ft
- Horseshoe Lake, Trinity County5 acres, 6,843 ft
- Doe Lake4.1 acres, 6,994 ft
- Lake Anna3.9 acres, 7,404 ft
- Union Lake3.8 acres, 6,026 ft
- Deer Lake, Trinity County3.3 acres, 7,126 ft
- Lion Lake3.1 acres, 6,997 ft
- Morris Lake3.1 acres, 7,294 ft
- East Fork Lake2.6 acres, 5,878 ft
- Diamond Lake2.3 acres, 7,276 ft
- Luella Lake2.3 acres, 6,933 ft
- Lilypad Lake2.1 acres, 6,295 ft
- Lois Lake2.1 acres, 7,592 ft
- Lower Forbidden Lakes1.9 acres, 6,137 ft
- Upper Rush Creek Lakes1.9 acres, 6,924 ft
- Little Marshy Lake1.6 acres, 6,131 ft
- Upper Forbidden Lakes1.5 acres, 6,146 ft
- Middle Rush Creek Lakes1.1 acres, 6,470 ft
- Buck Lake, Trinity County0.8 acres, 6,799 ft
- Conway Lake0.7 acres, 68,230 ft
- Holland Lake0.6 acres, 6,807 ft
- Lower Rush Creek Lakes0.5 acres, 6,286 ft
Streams
Streams and rivers in Trinity County
- Eel Riverriver
- Trinity Riverriver
- Mad Riverriver
- Van Duzen Riverriver
- Stuart Forkriver
- Coffee Creekcreek
- East Fork Trinity Riverriver
Live flow across Trinity County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity R A Douglas City Ca | 390 cfs, 6.50 ft gage height | Nov 10 12:00 am |
| Trinity R A Junction City Ca | 370 cfs, 1.60 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:45 pm |
| Trinity R Ab Nf Trinity R Nr Helena Ca | 349 cfs, 8.73 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:45 pm |
| Trinity R Bl Limekiln Gulch Nr Douglas City Ca | 339 cfs, 4.67 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:30 pm |
| Trinity R A Lewiston Ca | 310 cfs, 13.80 ft gage height | Nov 10 12:15 am |
| Sf Trinity R Bl Hyampom Ca | 83 cfs, 2.69 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 10, 2026 12:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Launches
Launches in Trinity County
Inland put-ins, Trinity County (20)
- Big Flat River Access BTAFTrinity River, boat launch, restrooms
- Pigeon Point BTAFTrinity River, boat launch, restrooms
- Pine Cove Public Boat Ramp, TrinityLewiston Lake, boat launch, fee
- Ruth Lake MarinaRuth Lake, 2 lanes, 30 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Trinity Alps Marina – Fairview Boat RampTrinity Lake, marina launch, restrooms
- Trinity Alps ResortTrinity Lake, 1 lane, 300 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Trinity Center MarinaTrinity Lake, 1 lane, 50 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Trinity Lake NRA (Bowerman Boat Launch Facility)Trinity Lake, boat launch
- Trinity Lake NRA (Clark Springs Boat Launch Facility)Trinity Lake, 3 lanes, 60 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Trinity Lake NRA (Fairview Boat Launch Facility)Trinity Lake, boat launch
- Trinity Lake NRA (Minersville Campground)Trinity Lake, boat launch, restrooms
- Trinity Lake NRA (Pine Cove Boat Launch Facility)Lewiston Lake, 2 lanes, 36 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Trinity Lake NRA (Stuart's Fork Boat Launch Facility)Trinity Lake, boat launch
- Trinity Lake NRA (Trinity Center Boat Launch Facility)Trinity Lake, boat launch
- Trinity Lake Resort & MarinaTrinity Lake, 1 lane, 60 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Trinity River, boat launch
- Boat launch, Lewiston LakeLewiston Lake, boat launch
- Bucktail Hole BTAFTrinity River, boat launch
- Minersville Public Boat RampTrinity Lake, boat launch
- Pine Cove Public Boat Ramp, TrinityLewiston Lake, boat launch
DBW Boating Facilities, USFS recreation sites and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Stocking and records
Stocking and state records, Trinity County
Trinity County planting record
| Water | Plant weeks | Last |
|---|---|---|
| Carrville Pond | 17 | 2026-09-27 |
| Trinity River Stuart Fork | 16 | 2026-09-27 |
| Trinity River, above Clair Engle Lake | 16 | 2026-09-27 |
| Coffee Creek | 16 | 2026-09-27 |
| Trinity River East Fork | 16 | 2026-09-27 |
| Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake) | 5 | 2026-07-26 |
| Ruth Reservoir | 3 | 2026-08-02 |
| Ewing Gulch Reservoir | 2 | 2026-05-10 |
| Lewiston Lake | 2 | 2026-07-26 |
Record-book fish out of Trinity County
| Species | Pounds | Year |
|---|---|---|
| chinook, inland salmon | 20.94 | 2013 |
| bullhead, brown catfish | 4.5 | 1993 |
CDFW Fish Planting Schedule (52 weeks) and CDFW angling records.
Limits
Bag rules in Trinity County
| Species | Daily bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bass | 5 a day | 12 in minimum | All year |
| Trout | 5 a day | none | All year |
| Striped bass | 2 a day | 18 in minimum | All year except closures in special regulations |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 a day | none | All year, except closures under district or special regulations |
| Catfish | no limit | none | All year, except closures under special regulations |
| Kokanee and inland salmon | 5 a day | none | All year |
CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations.
Local help
Tackle counters and charters in Trinity County
Tackle shops in Trinity County
- Ruth Lake Marinamarina, Mad River
Other license agents in Trinity County
- Chevron Mini MartWeaverville
- Douglas City StoreDouglas City
- Ernie's True ValueHayfork
- Junction City StoreJunction City
- Smokehouse MarketLewiston
- Watering Hole Bar and MeatsMad River
Guides and charters in Trinity County
- Sweet Trinity Fishing Guide Servicefreshwater / river guide, Lewiston, (530) 623-4695
Nearby
Outside Trinity County
Places in Trinity County
- Weavervillepop. 3,667
- Lewistonpop. 1,222
- Trinity Centerpop. 198
Counties that border Trinity County
- Humboldt County43 miles west
- Shasta County57 miles east
- Tehama County59 miles southeast
- Siskiyou County72 miles northeast
Field guide
Species anglers find at Trinity County
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Answers
Trinity County questions, answered briefly
How many launches are in Trinity County?
20 launches, with 20 on lakes and rivers and 0 on salt water.
Which lake should a first trip in Trinity County aim for?
Trinity Lake, 16,400 acres.
Is there ocean fishing in Trinity County?
Not here; the county is inland.
Which agency oversees fishing in Trinity County?
The Northern Region; inland rules follow the North Coast District.
Which counters in Trinity County sell bait?
Try Ruth Lake Marina; there are 1 shops and 6 agents.
Do charter boats sail from Trinity County?
There are 1 guide or charter.
Does CDFW plant fish in Trinity County?
CDFW planted 9 waters (93 weeks), led by Carrville Pond.
Which town holds the Trinity County seat?
Weaverville, the seat.
Does fishing in Trinity County take a California license?
From age 16, $64.54 for residents.
Plan a trip in Trinity County
Spot pages list fees, launches and limits.