SpringChinook salmon are in the Upper Trinity as well as in the Lower Klamath. Guides have been fishing the Klamath estuary since the first of the month but not a lot of reports. In talking with Allen Borges of Allen Borges Guide service, he was just setting up his fish camp. The report I received even though the Yurok Tribe has not opened the reservation to the general public yet some services are open with limitations while others are closed. The river is open to launching at Requa and Klamath Glen (public launching areas) but unknown about other areas at this time. The guides that are fishing are trying to be respectful of Tribal Lands and have reported lots of moss in the lower river.
At this time the Hoopa and Yurok Reservations are still closed to the general public because of the Covid-19 and are only open to local residence. The Hoopa reservation is not open to fishing yet as they are still under self-quarantine and there is no word about when the Tribal Council may consider opening. The good news is that there is no fishing for Spring Chinook salmon below the South Fork of the Trinity River. From what I have been able to find out is that most springers are already up past Cedar Flat. For this week Highway 299 at Cedar Flat is controlled traffic because of the fire mop-up going on, so please be cautious when driving in this area.
We are now in the summer water releases on the Trinity River. So, you are going to see some low clear water with lots of moss. You are going to have to use stealth when fishing from the bank.
Junction City Weir: Julian week 26 ending July 1, 2020; Chinook salmon, 4-jacks, 95 adults, total 99, season total 120; Coho 0; steelhead, ½ lbers 0, adults 12, total 12, season total 18; Brown trout 0, season total 0.
Fishing: I am not getting very many reports about fishing the Upper Trinity but I do know that there are spring salmon up there. In talking with Patrick of the Del Loma RV and campground, that there are people starting come up to the area to camp. This last weekend Patrick said that he was full and had reservations for the next week. Some novices were out fishing but not having much luck fishing. The main group of seasoned fishers have not arrived yet so most of the fishing is going on up at the lakes.
Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing @ 2,798cfs. This is a decrease of 595cfs from the last week. Iron Gate Dam is releasing 944cfs as of this afternoon.
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 98% of capacity (a decrease of 0%) with inflows of 1,767cfs and releasing 1,525cfs on to Keswick. Shasta Lake is 68% of capacity (a decrease of 2% minus 5ft) with inflows of 2,667cfs and releasing 10,719cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 90% (a decrease of 8%) with inflows of 12,379cfs and releasing 12,462cfs into the Sacramento river. Oroville Lake is 60% of capacity (a decrease of 2% minus 6ft) with inflows of 1,940cfs with releases of 7,469cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 71% of capacity (a decrease of 4% minus 4ft) with inflows of 1,566cfs with releases of 4,014cfs into the American river.
Trinity Lake: The lake is 48ft below the overflow (an increase of 2ft) and 7\1% of capacity (a decrease of 1%) with inflows of -39cfs and releasing 1,984cfs into Lewiston Lake with 1,546cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown Lake and on to Keswick Power Plant, which is releasing 12,462cfs into the Sacramento River.
Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam is 96% of capacity (an increase of 4%) and water releases are 438cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 54 degrees, as of 12:00pm today Sunday July 58, 2020. Limekiln Gulch is 4.90ft at 432cfs. Douglas City is 6.53ft with flows of 467cfs. with air temps of 83 and water temperatures of 58.2 degrees. Junction City is 1.96ft at 565cfs. Helena is 8.57ft at 543cfs with water temps of 62.2 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is 2.87ft at 583cfs. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 2.30ft at 139cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 722cfs and air is 83 degrees and water at 67 degrees. Hoopa is 11.75ft at 958cfs and water is 69.6 degrees.
Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 2,798cfs a decrease 595cfs.
Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 944cfs. Seiad Valley is 1.95ft at 1,093cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 1,173cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 1,485cfs, and the Salmon River is 2.00ft at 355cfs. Orleans is 2.79ft at 1,840cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 9.79ft at 3,243cfs and water temps are 68.1 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jedia Smith are 5.50ft with flows of 624cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 12.24ft at N/A cfs.
Temperatures in the Valley last week had a high of 93 and a low of 50 degrees. Rain for the week was 0.00in with a water year to date of 42.47 inches, with snow in Willow Creek of 1.45in. Forecasts for next week are for highs of 94 and lows of 56. The temperatures for next week are expected to be at some decent fishing conditions which is good because we need a chance to go out and fish after being cooped up because of the Covid-19.
