The Trinity River Is Open for Salmon Again — Here’s What You Need to Know
The Trinity River Is Open for Salmon Again — Here’s What You Need to Know
For the first time in three years, Chinook salmon fishing is back on the Trinity River — and it’s shaping up to be a season worth the wait.
After a three-year closure, the Trinity River reopens for spring-run Chinook salmon on July 1, 2026, with the season running through August 31, 2026. Anglers can expect a daily bag limit of one Chinook of any size and a possession limit of two. The reopening follows improved salmon returns to the river — an encouraging sign for the long-term health of the fishery and the region as a whole.
Why This Season Feels Different
There’s something special about a river coming back. The Trinity has long been considered one of Northern California’s premier fisheries, and after three years away, anglers are returning to a river that has had time to recover and rebuild. Whether you’ve been fishing the Trinity for decades or you’ve been waiting for the right moment to experience it for the first time, the 2026 spring-run season is a rare opportunity.
Book a Local Guide
The best way to make the most of your Trinity River experience is to go out with someone who knows it well. Local guides spend their seasons on this water — they know where the fish are running, how to read the river, and how to put you in the right place at the right time. We recommend reserving a trusted local experts soon, before they are booked out:
- Alex — The Trinity Guide: thetrinityguide.com
- Travis — Sweet Trinity: sweet-trinity.com
- Trinity Fly Shop: trinityflyshop.com — a great resource for a full list of local guides or advice if you’d prefer to plan your own trip
Plan Your Trip
The Trinity River corridor offers some of the most scenic river fishing in NorCal, with access to comfortable lodging, great food, and wide-open stretches of water. Pack your gear, secure your license, and get ready to experience a fishery at its best.
The Trinity is open. Come fish it.
Plan your trip now: visittrinity.com
