From Willow Creek, CA. By E. B. Duggan “D” Fishing, 707-599-2357 at yen2fish@yahoo.com
TRINITY RIVER VALLEY-HOOPA FEELING LIKE FALL WEATHER
Getting back on track now and hope to stay there. I thank all you readers out there for being patient with me and not bombarding me with a lot emails.The Valley has been cooling down after the rain, we received 1.65 inches from the storm. It is expected to start warming back up for the weekend. This is good because it is a bit early for Fall weather. The rain was good in that it helped the firefighters with the fires. The storm did bring some thunder and lightning, but I have not heard of any new fires stared by the lightening yet. The rain did help cool down the Boise Fire south east of Orleans, which was really good. I did worry about the possibility of fire debris washing into the creeks and rivers but so far, I have not heard about any yet! Let’s hope that doesn’t happen as it could hurt the spawning grounds. The Hill fire just south east of Willow creek has been fully contained and is of no danger at the present.
With the hot summer weather fishing slowed down but river recreation really picked up. That really helped the local economy as did the fire camps. I was really surprised at how many personnel that were on the fire. We really don’t want the fires as we want to see our forests stay green not black and charred.
Junction City Weir summary: The 2024-25 fish counting season has started, Junction City Weir commenced counting July 9th , Julian Week 28; Julian Week 33, 2024, ending Aug. 19, 2025: Chinook Salmon; 1- jacks, 0-adults, total 1, season total 117; Coho Salmon; 0-jacks, 0-adults, total 0, season total 0; Steelhead; 0-1/2lbs, 5-adults, total 5, season total 36; Brown Trout, season total 16.
It looks like we are starting off the season well. Numbers could be a bit more if we are to see a good return this year and possible fishing season for next year. I just wish CDFW could increase the release numbers for all species after the remodel of Trinity Hatchery.
Fishing: Now that the Hill Fire has been contained and with the rain, we had the fires are getting under control the fire camps have moved to better and closer locations. The only problem is that Big Rock Boat Ramp is still blocked off from launching or take outs. This kind of puts a crimp into fishing or rafting in the Willow Creek area. With the river cooling we should see some more movement of Salmon with a few Steelhead moving trough. We can still fish Kimtu, Campora, Mouth of South Fork/Heil Din and Salyer Bridge areas. Which is good in that we have some fishing available. Right now, the river is cool and clear so fishing is going to be early morning and late afternoon. Hard ware or bait are the best choices right now with fly fishing coming. I haven’t heard much from upriver yet other than the weir counts but expect to hear something soon.
Lewiston Lake: Pine Cove Marina, Louise; I’m sorry I didn’t hear from upriver so we will have to wait and see what has been transpiring up there later. For fishing the upper river; Lewiston Lake and Trinity Lake information you can call, Pine Cove Marina, Matt or Louise (530)778-3878, for the river you can call Indian Creek Lodge, Cory, (530)623-6294 or Junction City Store, Butch, (530)623-2803.
Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 3,154cfs. This is an increase of 815cfs. Iron Gate- Bogus Creek area is releasing 895cfs a decrease of 11cfs from last time. The Upper Klamath is flowing fair for this time of year and is fair to good fishing above I-5 if you fish early morning or late evenings but has been scarce fishing due to the fires. Seiad Valley is flowing 1,065cfs so the river is up some from last time. The summer Steelhead are on the go to reach their spawning streams but there are some trout in the river. If you are interested in fishing the Klamath you might call the Marble Mountain Guest Ranch (800) 522-6284, or Scott Caldwell, SC Guide Service (530)905-0758
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 99% of capacity (a decrease of 0%) with inflows of 1,534cfs with releases of 1,381cfs into Spring Creek. Shasta Lake is 68% of capacity (a decrease of 4% and minus 10ft) with inflows of 3,524cfs and releasing 9,754cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 94% of capacity (an increase of 1%) with inflows of 11,170cfs and releases of 11,037cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 70% of capacity (a decrease of 6% and minus 17ft) with inflows of 3,323cfs with releases of 11,677cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 53% of capacity (a decrease of 3% and minus 5ft) with inflows of 1,528cfs with releases of 3,014cfs into the American river. Trinity Lake storage is 1,846,252AF a decrease of 52,285AF of storage.
Trinity Lake: The lake is 40ft below the overflow (an increase of 4ft) and 75% of capacity (a decrease of 3%) with inflows of 555cfs and releasing 1,769cfs into Lewiston Lake with 1,342cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to the Keswick Power Plant while releasing 11,037cfs into the Sacramento River.
Trinity River flows and conditions: Trinity Lake is 75% of capacity (a decrease of 3%) and 40ft below the overflow an increase of 4ft. Lewiston Dam is 92% of capacity (an increase of 2%) and water releases of 463cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 49.7 degrees, as of 12:00pm today Sunday August 25, 2024. Limekiln Gulch is 4.92ft at 472cfs. Douglas City is 6.75ft with flows of 523cfs with water temperatures of 54.4 degrees. Junction City is 2.03ft at 551cfs. Helena is 9.03ft at 655cfs with water temps of 58.8 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is N/Aft at 0.00cfs (Gauge is still out of order). South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 2.54cfs and flowing 166cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 821 and air is 74 degrees and water at 45 degrees, Hoopa is 12.18ft at 1,256cfs with water at 35.3 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 3,154cfs a decrease of 815cfs.
Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate/Bogus Creek flows are 895cfs, a decrease of 11cfs. Seiad Valley is 1.91ft flowing at 1,068cfs. Indian Creek is 3.64ft at 79cfs. Happy Camp is estimated to be 1,174cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 2,706cfs, and the Salmon River is 1.86ft at 339cfs. Orleans is 2.58ft at 1,898cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 8.75ft at 4,270cfs and water temps are 65.6degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jediah Smith are 5.37ft with flows of 579cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 12.10ft at N/A.
Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 91 and a low of 51 degrees. Rain for the week was 1.65in with a water year total to date of 54.47 inches and 0.40in of snow in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 98 and a low of 5. The weather predicted for the next week is some sunshine and warming back up a bit, more like end of summer time.
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
