Trinity Steelhead. Rec's?

[GiBo]

We're going to check out the Trinity next week. Anyone have favorite lodging/camping (haven't decided which we're doing yet). Food/watering holes?

[2FUNKY]

I grew up in Weaverville, love the Trinity River.
Lodging: 49er motel.
Food: a few ok places but La Grange was the best but it closed, unfortunately. There is a bbq joint when you come into town that is pretty good, can't remember the name even though we just visited this summer. Sawmill isn't bad.

NY Saloon or The Diggins for drinks. Owners of the NY are family friends, great people.

[GiBo]

Thanks 2FUNKY. My buddy just texted me that he got a cottage thingy at Redhills Motel and Cabins. Cheap as hell, so we'll see...

We'll check out the the other recs.

I'll do my best to get some pics and do a TR, but I suck at remembering to pull out the camera.

[2FUNKY]

Oh man, that place is a shit hole. Time machine back to 1950.

[Dantheman]

Weaverville native here. Cancel the Redhill reservation if you can and stay at Indian Creek Lodge. It's about 10 minutes east of Weavervile near Douglas City, but is recently renovated and they recently opened a restaurant there that is the best in the county hands down. My mom waitresses there and says it's so much better than anything else in Weaverville right now it's not even funny. For lunch, go to Trinideli, killer deli/sandwich shop.

http://iclodge.net/

[2FUNKY]

Good call Dan, forgot about that place.

[snapt]

The Steelhead cottages or Strawhouse down river are about the nicest places you'll find. Don does killer wood fired pizzas at Strawhouse for guests and their coffee is top notch. Puts you lower down in better water and away from the crowds as well. Hopefully that rain has a push of fish moving in. Caught my first, and many steelhead there, miss it.

Moss Manor is kinda cool too for a VRBO style place with a great run behind it.

Too bad La Grange and Johnson's are both no longer in town, Will and Tom and their family did a nice job at the steakhouse and golf course. Fun to fish with as well.

The 49er isn't terrible, just avoid the Chinese place across the way...

Trinity is a long river and a lot of fish head up tribs before Weaverville, I much prefer lower water.

[GiBo]

My buddy doesn't want to spend the extra coin for the nicer places, so we're going back in time at Redhills. I'm sure we'll be beat to hell and half hammered by the time we stumble in anyway. Will check out the grub spots though.

Thanks again for the recs. My first time in the area and first time steelhead fishing. Really looking forward to it. Feel free to post XY's of your favorite riffles!

[Dantheman]

Will check out the grub spots though.

If you are heading up river, ICL does breakfast starting at 6 too. While I cannot personally vouch for it, my mom knows good food and says it's legit. Chef is real deal career high end chef.

[Dantheman]

Too bad La Grange and Johnson's are both no longer in town, Will and Tom and their family did a nice job at the steakhouse and golf course. Fun to fish with as well.

It's really a shame that La Grange is just sitting there closed. That's such a cool building and prime location. La Grange had mediocre food and was poorly managed and they still did well. I can't believe Johnson's couldn't survive even though they had zero competition. Not having at least one place like La Grange or Johnson's seems to be a bit of a drag on the town.

Even though it's been closed a long time now, I still really miss Alan's Oak Pit.

[snapt]

I just heard there's new folks running the Johnson's location, not sure if they have the golf up and running as well?

I seem to remember something funky happening to them with taxes or permits or something where it didn't make sense anymore, but can't remember specifically what it was.

And agreed 110% on La Grange

[GiBo]

Well that was interesting. 3 days of slinging flies and all we had to show for it was one break off and one small bow. I guess that's steelhead fishing... or we just sucked at it!

I ran into our former local fly shop proprietor yesterday and he suggested next time to fork out for a guide the first day and float it- get the low down on patterns to use and where the fish are- then the following days go down river before the boats get there and fish the lower water, then head back up and fish the upper holes after they've gone through. Sounds like a solid plan.

Redhills was a hole, but not horrible. There was some benefit to being in town, but I think next time I'd try and stay at Strawhouse or Steelhead.

2Funky: The lady at Trinideli said the folks that opened the restaurant next to the New York, Stagecoach Pizzeria, forced the bar owners out. She also told us not to use a card or check at Stagecoach. Something about the owner being an ex-con or some shit. The New York reopened a couple of doors down. All brand new and really nice in there. Small town politics, got to love it!

We never made it to IC. By the time we'd get back and cleaned up, my buddy who was driving didn't want to drive out there. Next time.

Thanks again for the input. I'll post up some pics when I get around to it.

[GBB]

A buddy and I were up that way this weekend as well with similar results. We landed a sucker and a half pounder and then had a steelhead break off yesterday. There were a fair amount of boats out who appeared to have middling luck as well.

What were you guys throwing?

[GiBo]

Ya, all the boats we talked to weren't killing it. 1 to 2 fish per boat,

We were using egg patterns, assorted nymphs my friend picked out. Pulled some streamers on sinking line. We even threw some san juans at 'em.