Welcome to Emerald Waters Guide Service!
Come and experience the beauty of Northern California.
Meet The Guide
Kaz Wisniewski is the proud owner and operator of Emerald Waters Guide Service. As a California native Kaz has spent his adult life living on the North Coast and Trinity County. A lifelong fisherman and outdoorsman, his excitement for fishing is contagious and he prides himself on sharing that with his clients. With over 20 years of fishing experience, even working for a time as a deckhand on a commercial crab boat, Kaz’s passion for fishing shows through his strong work ethic on the water.
“ his excitement for fishing is contagious"
With fly rod in hand, his quest for chasing tail has taken him from Alaska to Panama and from Florida to the Hawaiian Islands. Always searching for a bend in the rod and something special and untouched. That something special happened to be in his own back yard, Trinity Lake, known for its giant smallmouth and largemouth bass. Kaz is a float n fly specialist and is the only fly fishing guide on Trinity Lake where he offers something truly unique.
With experience in still water nymphing for bass and trout, topwater fishing for bass, streamer fishing, floating dry flies, and nymphing for steelhead Kaz can put on the fish of your dreams. Not only will Kaz provide the instruction necessary for success on your guided trip, he will work with you, teach you new techniques, and make sure that you have the skills for continued success.
Emerald Waters Guide Service is thrilled to share our love for fishing by providing guided fly fishing trips for anglers of all skill levels, on the Trinity River, Trinity Lake, and Lake Shasta. Ensuring that everyone will experience the most beautiful and secluded settings and have great opportunities to catch some hard-fighting fish! Get in touch with Kaz at Emerald Waters Guide Service, he brings passion and expertise together to create unforgettable fishing experiences!
Fishing On Trinity Lake
"Trinity Lake is northern California's best-kept secret"
Trinity Lake is California's third largest reservoir, encompassing 145 miles of shoreline. With countless coves and fingers, the possibilities on the lake are endless. Being so large and so far away from any major population centers most days at the lake feel like you have the place all to yourself. I target the bass with the float n fly, an amazing technique that can be extremely productive in our clear mountain reservoirs. A technique that is great for beginning fly anglers, and seasoned fisherman alike. I also toss topwater flies and subsurface streamers throughout the year when the conditions allow for different fly presentations. The topwater eats can be spectacular!
"Come chase some of the biggest smallmouth bass in the Golden State"
The smallmouth bass in Trinity Lake are something that you have to see to believe. The size of the fish and the size of the population of smallies is staggering. We regularly catch smallies in the 3-4 lb range and some even larger than that! Once you hit the 3lb mark with these smallmouth they become a different animal. They are like a pit bull on the end of your line. Pulling your rod tip into the water making deep run after deep run. They never seem ready to come to the boat and are truly one of the hardest fighting bass around!
The lake also holds a robust population of (Northern strain) Largemouth bass. Some real monsters call Trinity Lake home and in the late spring and summer when the water temps increase they get real aggressive. With the warm water comes the topwater bite. These fish will crush your popper, sometimes coming all the way out of the water to smash your fly! Catching one of these trophy smallmouths or largemouth on a top water fly is something all fly anglers need to experience.
Then there's the trout... targeting creek inflows in the spring can produce some stunning rainbow trout, as well as having summertime opportunities to catch them when they are looking up. At times we catch trout while targeting the bass, and that's when the bycatch can become jackpot!
Trinity River Fishing
The Trinity River flows out of the Trinity Dam in Lewiston, for approximately 120 miles through the mountains of both Trinity and Humboldt counties before its confluence with the Klamath River in Weitchepec. As the largest tributary of the Klamath River, the Trinity is home to both Chinook Salmon and native Pacific Steelhead. There is also a fish hatchery in Lewiston that provides a healthy and consistent run of hatchery steelhead. With dependable runs of both hatchery and wild steelhead the Trinity River can be extremely productive. With four reliable runs of fish, it is easy to see why the Trinity River is the premiere venue for steelhead fishing in Northern California.
"The Trinity River is the premier venue for steelhead fishing in Northern California."
The thrill of catching one of these hard-fighting, anadromous fish is tough to beat! The rod-bending drag-screaming runs that these fish produce along with their acrobatics make them one of my favorite fish to target. As the season progresses and their colors turn from chrome to their more red and rosy hues they are by far one of the most beautiful fish that swims. A trip down the Trinity River is truly a steelhead fishing experience of a lifetime, where we will fish some of the finest fly water in the west. I have found dead drifting nymphs to be the most productive way to catch these fish with regularity. Feisty steelhead coupled with stunning natural surroundings in an intimate river setting is what you can expect on a float down the Trinity.
Guided Fly Fishing Trips
Trinity Lake
On Trinity Lake, we will fish out of my beautiful Ranger bass boat. We will fish multiple different spots each day sometimes moving around quite a bit giving you a chance to admire the scenery and wildlife along the way. We fish Trinity Lake year- round with the most productive months being February - October where we target Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, and Rainbow Trout.
Full Day - $600
1-2 anglers, all fishing gear provided, lunch included, 8-10 hours on the water
Half Day - $400
1-2 anglers, all fishing gear provided, drinks included, 4-5 hours on the water
Trinity River
On the Trinity River, we will fish out of my 14' NRS Outlaw raft set up with two 360 degree swivel seats, casting platforms, leg locks , and stripping bin. Floats down the Trinity provide a quiet solitude that soothes the soul. Walk and wade trips are also available for those who want to put boots on the ground. Our season on the Trinity starts in September and runs through February where we fish for both fall and winter run Steelhead.
Full Day - $600
1-2 anglers, all fishing gear provided, lunch included, 8-10 hours on the water
Half Day - $400
1-2 anglers, all fishing gear provided, drinks included, 4-5 hours on the water
Lake Shasta
We will fish Lake Shasta out of my Ranger bass boat, targeting the lake's abundant spotted bass population along with smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fed by the Sacramento, McCloud, and Pit rivers, Lake Shasta’s size and beauty is unrivaled. We fish Lake Shasta year-round with the most productive months being February - October.
Full Day - $600
1-2 anglers, all fishing gear provided, lunch included, 8-10 hours on the water
Half Day - $400
1-2 anglers, all fishing gear provided, drinks included, 4-5 hours on the water
Gratuities are greatly appreciated.
ALL TRIPS ARE CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY!
Surprise your fishy friends with a Gift Certificate from Emerald Waters Guide Service!
Contact Kaz at 707-497-9967
Preparing for your Trip
List of items to bring on your Trinity Lake or Shasta Lake fishing trip:
Current California sport fishing license
Polarized sunglasses
Hat, wide-brimmed or ball cap
Sunscreen
Personal water bottle
Long sleeve sun shirt or hoody for sun protection
Buff headwear or sun mask
Rain jacket and warm layers in your pack for the early mornings and cold wet spring days
Fishing on the lakes, the weather can be cold and or wet in the springtime, especially in the morning. Being properly dressed with warm layers and a warm jacket will help keep the chill off during our morning run. The weather generally warms up by the afternoon. In the summertime, the sun can be intense. Being properly protected from the sun is a must. Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, buffs, and sunshirts will keep you protected and comfortable during a hot day on the lake.
List of items to bring on your Trinity River fishing trip:
Current California sport fishing license and steelhead report card
Sandals or river shoes ( early fall when wet wading is still an option)
Waders and wading boots ( late fall and winter )
Polarized sunglasses
Hat and or Beanie
Warm socks
Personal water bottle
Gore-Tex or other high-quality waterproof jacket
Insulated jacket
Warm long underwear, thermals, or base layers
Extra warm layers in your pack
It can be cold and wet during the late fall and winter so being prepared is essential. Be sure to be dressed/layered appropriately, bring extra warm layers, and make sure to bring a high-quality waterproof jacket.
Recommended rods and fly lines:
Trinity Lake and Shasta Lake - 6 wt 9'6" - 10' rods, with a 7 wt floating indicator line. Scientific Anglers Anadro or Rio Indicator lines will work great. 5-7 wt rods will also work in 9'-10' lengths.
Trinity River - 7 wt 10' rods, with an 8 wt floating Indicator line. Scientific Anglers Anadro or Rio indicator lines will work. 6-8 wt rods in 9' - 10' lengths will also work.
All rods, flies, and leaders will be provided but if you have a rod that you want to fish, bring it along and I will get it rigged up for our trip.
Our Reviews
Kaz Wisniewski
Emerald Waters Guide Service
PO Box 387
Junction City, CA 94046
Cell
(707) 497-9967
This business operates under special use permit with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Lassen National Forest and Bureau of Land Management.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)