TRINITY RIVER FISHING REPORT – June 25, 2023
From Willow Creek, CA. By E. B. Duggan “D” Fishing, 707-599-2357 at yen2fish@yahoo.com
As the summer starts to heat up the snow melt has started to slow down and the reservoirs are starting to reach their peak, Trinity Lake is still only 58% of capacity. This is still an increase in capacity but not filling at the same rate as many of the other reservoirs in the system are. Had the BOR and TRRP not used up the ROD flows for a “wet year” and used some of the accrued flows from below Lewiston Dam they could have reserved more water for the lake thereby having more water for the summer releases. I think they call that “Adaptive Management” as the Record of Decision requires. The TMC and TRRP do not have to adhere to the ROD now that TAMWG, the public watch dog by recommendation, has been defunded and is accentually gone. What a shame! Where are our legislators? They say they want to cut spending but to me it is more like cutting a dime to save a dollar. Let’s cut some spending on the Trinity River Restoration Project and then maybe TRRP will listen to the public when they request a different type of project be done or maybe modify the one, they are working on to fit the river flows. I remember when TAMWG requested some large boulders be placed in the river when they did the Steiner Flat project and it is still working where as some of the other projects have failed because of the river flows. TRRP will say, “the science is what drives the project, not the public”. Let’s see what some of the legislators have to say!
I am happy to say that many of the “Fish Derbies” for the kids are coming back after the Covid episode. From what I found out the Fish Lake Kids Fish Derby went off great and they had a good return of kids up there. Having been involved in that Derby for 15 years I am very happy to hear that. Maybe next year I can be more involved next year. I would like to hear the final results though.
The “Fishing Disaster Relief” legislation is kind of stalled right now that the legislators are on summer break but hopefully, they will get back on it after their break and the businesses that are affected will be able to get some relief for their losses from canceling salmon fishing for this year. I have hopes but I haven’t seen much movement of the legislation lately. I know many fish guides have suffered and many small businesses have suffered because of it. Please contact your local state and federal legislators and ask them to do something soon.
Fishing: The river is dropping to summer flows now and clearing in the Willow Creek area. This helps for fishing but there is no fish right now. We should be seeing some summer steelhead moving up river soon but I haven’t found anyone fishing for them yet. The river conditions are great for tubing and swimming but the water is still a little cold for that for us older folks but the youngsters don’t let that bother them. Kimtu Beach and Big Rock are open for sun bathing and swimming if you are interested in the Willow Creek area. If you might want to try rafting you can contact Bigfoot Rafting, Brianna Carreira (530-629-2263).
With salmon season closed we still have trout fishing and steelhead fish on most of the rivers as well as the Sierra Streams open to fishing. Some of us just might have to change tactics for this year but there is some fishing out there to be had. Go Get It!
Mid-Klamath and Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 7,110cfs, this is a decrease of 616cfs from last week. Iron Gate Dam is releasing 1,070cfs. With these water releases from Iron Gate the Klamath should be good fishing for trout above I-5. If you are interested you might want to give Scott Caldwell a call (530-905-0758) or if you might want to fish the Happy Camp Area you might call Marble Mountain Resort Doug Cole (530-469-3322). For now, those are your best options. The Klamath is clearing and dropping for summer time flows and there are some fish still in the river. I hope to have some better fishing information later. Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 98% of capacity (an increase of 1%) with inflows of 429cfs and releasing 217cfs into Spring Creek. Shasta Lake is 95% of capacity (a decrease of 1% plus 9ft) with inflows of 3,789cfs and releasing 9,079cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 84% (an increase of 1%) with inflows of 9,487cfs and releasing 9,496cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 100% of capacity (an increase of 0% plus 1ft) with inflows of 4,661cfs with releases of 5,978cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 95% of capacity (an increase of 1% plus 1ft) with inflows of 4,866cfs with releases of 1,505cfs into the American river. Trinity Lake is 1,417,723AF an increase of 331,936AF.
Trinity Lake: The lake is 74ft below the overflow (a decrease of 1ft) and 58% of capacity (an increase of 1%) with inflows of 1,838cfs and releasing 645cfs into Lewiston Lake with 243cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to Keswick Power Plant, and releasing 9,496cfs into the Sacramento River.
Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam is 95% of capacity (a decrease of 4%) and water releases of 450cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 54.6 degrees, as of 11:30am today Sunday June 12, 2023. Limekiln Gulch is 4.94ft at 486cfs. Douglas City is 6.95ft with flows of 599cfs with water temperatures of 59.0 degrees. Junction City is 2.29ft at 648cfs. Helena is 9.50ft at 851cfs with water temps of 59.7 degrees. Burnt Ranch at Cedar Flat is 4.31ft at 1,229cfs. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 3.83ft at 522cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 1,751cfs and air is 82 degrees and water at 61.5 degrees, Hoopa is 13.29ft at 2,160cfs with water at 64.5 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 7,110cfs a decrease of 616cfs.
Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 1,070cfs. Seiad Valley is 3.05ft at 1,912cfs. Indian Creek is 4.34ft at 253cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 2,165cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 3,699fs, and the Salmon River is 3.19ft at 1,251cfs. Orleans is 4.73ft at 4,950cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 10.21ft at 7,272cfs and water temps are 64.8 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jedia Smith are 5.28ft with flows of 592cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 12.20ft at N/A.
Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 91 and a low of 44 degrees. Rain for the week was 0.00in with a water year total to date of 76.00 inches and 0.00in of snow for a total of 7.50in. in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 98 and a low of 53. The weather next week is for cloudy the first of the week and then sunshine the rest of the week with the weekend getting hotter. The high of 98 being on Sunday. Be sure to stay hydrated and use plenty of sunscreen.
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 4
