From Willow Creek, CA. By E. B. Duggan “D” Fishing, 707-599-2357 at yen2fish@yahoo.com
ESTIMATED PFMC FISH RETURNS FOR KLAMATH RIVER BASIN
I hope everyone had a Happy Easter, I had the flu and that is why there was not Fish Report. Sorry!
The Klamath River Basin Fall Chinook Salmon returns were a little better that estimated but were far from restoring the Salmon runs and the fishery. There needs to be a total review of the restoration program to try and improve the Klamath River Basin fishery! An increase of Hatchery fish releases would help but a restoration of the upper water sheds of the upper Trinity River is accentual if there is any increase of natural escapement and spawning. I also believe that would work for the Klamath River. The 2023 updated Klamath River Basin Fall Chinook has been released. Total In-River natural and hatchery returns in 2023 were just over 68,000.
Estimated total Trinity River Hatchery adults were 11,819 and the Iron Gate Hatchery was 10,145 for a total of 21,964 adults. (That could be an estimated 65.8 million eggs.) The estimated Klamath River natural spawning was 19,476 and the estimated Trinity River natural spawning was 32,833 for an estimated total in-river spawning escapement of 54,797. Total estimated in-river Tribal Harvest was 3,227. The estimated In-River Natural Run was 68,707. Not really enough towards rebuilding the Klamath River Basin Chinook Salmon fishery for Ocean Commercial, Ocean Sport and In-River Sport as well as Tribal Subsistence Harvest. The final quotas and harvest amounts will be decided and released April 7,2024.
The California Department of Water Resources has declared this as a wet year by the estimated Snowpack and Rain designation of April B120 the water year expected April 10, 2024 thereby TRRP will release by volume of 701,000AF into the Trinity River. The hydrograph for the releases is to be determined by the TMC at a designated time.
Fishing: The Lower Trinity is still somewhat high and hard to fish. At the present time it is mostly juvenile and half-pounders with a few down runners. The problem with hooking Down runners is that they are very hungry and will bite almost anything but they wear out very fast and become so weak they could die. I have always tried not to fish at this time of year just because of that. In another week or so the fish released from the hatchery should be fishable and could give you some action if you ae into catch-and-release type of fishing. For fishing conditions of the upper river, you might want to call Indian Creek Lodge, Cory, (530)623-6294, Junction City Store, Butch, (530)623-2803, for Lewiston Lake, Pine Cove Marina, Matt or Louise (530)778-3878.
Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 19,049cfs. This is a decrease of 18,333cfs. Iron Gate Dam is releasing 1,384cfs a decrease of 204cfs. I have not seen nor read of any changes in the Upper Klamath River about any health conditions to date. The river water conditions at Weitchpec look good from what I could find out. Decreased water releases at Iron Gate Dam has helped decrease water flows for the time being but increased water from the Scott River and the Shasta River have been keeping the water flows on the Klamath fairly steady. For river conditions for the Upper Klamath, you can call Doug Cole, Marble Mountain Guest Ranch, (800)552-6284, or Scott Caldwell, SC Guide Service (530)905-0758
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 93% of capacity (an increase of 3%) with inflows of 980cfs with releases of 385cfs into Spring Creek. Shasta Lake is 94% of capacity (an increase of 6% plus 10ft) with inflows of 10,394cfs and releasing 4,094cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 91% of capacity (a decrease of 6%) with inflows of 4,256cfs and releases of 4,149cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 89% of capacity (an increase of 3% plus 6ft) with inflows of 11,428cfs with releases of 9,652cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 76% of capacity (an increase of 9% plus 9ft) with inflows of 6,416cfs with releases of 4,277cfs into the American river. Trinity Lake storage is 1,998,707AF an increase of 89,548AF of storage. The Trinity Alps is the water source for Trinity Lake and the snowpack has been increasing lately.
Trinity Lake: The lake is 29ft below the overflow (a decrease of 6ft) and 82% of capacity (an increase of 4%) with inflows of 2,898cfs and releasing 265cfs into Lewiston Lake with -40cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to the Keswick Power Plant while releasing 4,149cfs into the Sacramento River.
Trinity River flows and conditions: Trinity Lake is 82% of capacity (an increase of 4%) and 29ft below the overflow a decrease of 4ft. Lewiston Dam is 96% of capacity (a decrease of 2%) and water releases of 305cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 51.5 degrees, as of 12:00pm today Sunday April 7, 2024. Limekiln Gulch is 4.99ft at 523cfs. Douglas City is 7.12ft with flows of 746cfs with water temperatures of 48.9 degrees. Junction City is 2.92ft at 1,010cfs. Helena is 10.39ft at 1,274cfs with water temps of 48.8 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is N/Aft at 0.00cfs (Gauge is out of order). South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 6.68 at 2,715cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 3,989 and air is 61 degrees and water at 48.2 degrees, Hoopa is 17.38ft at 8,279cfs with water at 48.0 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 19,049cfs a decrease of 18,333cfs.
Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 1,384cfs, an increase of 204cfs. Seiad Valley is 4.51ft at 3,408cfs. Indian Creek is 5.74ft at 786cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 4,194cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 7,736fs, and the Salmon River is 4.77ft at 3,034cfs. Orleans is 8.17ft at 10,770cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 14.73t at 24,149cfs and water temps are 48.3 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jediah Smith are 8.21ft with flows of 3,475cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 14.65ft at N/A.
Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 85 and a low of 35 degrees. Rain for the week was 1.29in with a water year total to date of 49.29 inches and 0.40in of snow in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 77 and a low of 41. The weather predicted for next week is partly cloudy for the first part of the week and then scattered clouds and sun for the rest of week.
Good Fishin and Good Luck but remember; “keep your tip up with a tight line lands fish”
Websites: www.norcalfishreports.com/spots/1896/trinity-river—willow-creek-weir.php, info@willowcreekchamber.com
