River is still dirty!

The River Restoration project above Junction City is still providing lots of turbidity for that area of the river and makes for bad fishing. Will it do to or for any in-river spawning? Years ago, before the Dam the mining turned the river into a “river of mud” but the salmon had plenty of clean up-stream area to spawn in. If the river restoration is supposed to provide more spawning area for the Chinook salmon where are the reports of increased production of the salmon? I have not seen any nor is there any listed report of an increase of Chinook salmon for the upper Trinity River. The Trinity Hatchery produces 3 million Chinook, 280,000 steelhead (reduced from 500,000) and 300,000 (reduced from 500,000) Coho salmon but no reports from the TRRP of in-river spawning production. There is a report of in-river salmon Redds but no follow up of how they do. So, what does the TRRP do other than spend $15 million per year on “river restoration” that does not improve the fishing opportunities.

I will have more on the Hoopa weir next week as I am waiting for a response from the Hoopa Tribe as to how they plan to manage the weir.

Junction City Weir counts: Julian week 31 the week endingAug. 5; Chinook salmon, 5-jack, 48-adult, total 53, season total 124; Coho 0; steelhead ½-lbs 0, adults 16, season total 16; Brown Trout 3, season total 13.

Fishing: Fishing above the Round house is still very good. Both Todd LeBoeuf, Tiger T guide service, has reported great fishing above the Round House. Last week Todd took out Dana and Chris Dase of Oregon and was able to get them limits of salmon with the largest being 18lbs. They were also able to hook up and release a couple of nice adult summer run steelhead to finish off their trip.
Summer releases have arrived and Lewiston is now releasing 444cfs into the river. The extra water releases for the Hoopa Boat Dance should be released sometime around Sept. 3^rdfor the ceremonies. (This is the odd year, even years is Yurok’s)
Just 20 more days before the Fall Chinook salmon season opens! Labor Day weekend starts Aug. 31^st but Sept. 1^st is Sunday of that weekend. You salmon fishermen had better get in your reservations now if you want to hopefully get a guide and a place to stay.

Mid-Klamath: The Klamath at Weitchpec is flowing about 2,622cfs and the river is a nice green now. John Harlan from E Ne Nuck, reported that the moss has dissipated and the river is green again. The problem being that the salmon have not shown up yet at Bluff Creek. Usually they start to show up around the first week of August. He did state that he saw plenty of nice steelhead at the mouth of Hopkin’s Creek. That would be natural because Hopkin’s Creek is nothing but cold water coming down off of the mountain. The fish love to take a break there and cool off some before the head on up the Klamath or turn around and go up the Trinity.

Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 98% of capacity (an increase of 0%) with inflows 1,574cfs and releasing 1,628cfs on to Keswick and the Sacramento River. Shasta is 8% of capacity (a decrease of % minus 4ft) with inflows of 2,829cfs and releasing 9,799cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 93% (a decrease of 0%) with inflows of 11,668cfs and releasing 11,107cfs into the Sacramento river. Oroville Lake is 84% of capacity (a decrease of 3% minus 7ft) with inflows of 3,062cfs with releases of 11,288cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 8% of capacity (a decrease of 2% minus 2ft) with inflows of 1,917cfs with releases of 1,917cfs into the American river.

Trinity Lake: the lake is 17ft below the overflow (an increase of 2ft) and 89% of capacity (a decrease of 1%) and inflows are 5cfs and releases are 1,674cfs into Lewiston Lake with 1,372cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown Lake and on to Keswick Power Plant, which is releasing 10,903cfs into the Sacramento River.

Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam releases are 444cfs and water temperatures of 54.8 degrees and air at N/A as of 12:00pm today Saturday August 10, 2019. Limekiln Gulch is 4.89ft at 366cfs. Douglas City is 6.54ft and flows of 464cfs. with air temps of 69 water temperatures of N/A degrees. Junction City is N/Aft at N/A cfs due to turbidity. Helena is 8.75ft at 445cfs with water temps of 59.7 degrees and water turbidity of 1.40 (Hi was 4.30 @ 10am). Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is 2.97ft at 623cfs. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 2.40ft at 145cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 768cfs and air is 67 degrees and water at 66 degrees. Hoopa is 11.71ft at 929cfs and water is 69 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath are estimated to be 2,622cfs.

Klamath: Iron Gate is releasing 1,093cfs. Seiad Valley is 2.29ft at 1,319cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 1,408cfs, the Salmon River is 2.25ft at 357cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 1,336cfs. Orleans is 2.84ft at 1,693cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 8.64ft at 2,938cfs and water temps of 71.7 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jedia Smith is 5.07ft and flows of 368cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 11.42ft at N/A cfs.

Temperatures in the Valley last week were 100 hi with a low of 53. Rain for the week was 0.23in with thunder and lightning storms and total rain for the water year to date of 67.93 inches, with snow of 4.5in. in the valley to date. Forecasts for next week are for temperatures in the mid to hi 90s and sunshine for the coming weekend. We had rain and thunder and lightning storms come through last week which cooled things down a bit.

River is dropping and Fishing is better.

As the Trinity drops the salmon are starting to move into the river. The upper river is seeing more bright fish and Greys Falls is seeing more salmon holding. I have heard that the Falls is starting to get loaded with fishermen and sometimes one has to wait for a spot to fish. Water flows are getting to a state for very good fishing on both the Klamath and Trinity.

There was no fishing report last week because I was up in Oregon checking on the Umpqua, McKenzie and Willamette Rivers on a short vacation to the Oregon Gardens. I am sorry for those of you that read my report each week and there was none. I wish you Good Fish’en and thank you for following my column.

Fishing: Fishing has started to really pick up now that the water flows are getting back towards summer flows. We are going to see the releases reach 450cfs Aug. 6^th. All the reports I have been getting people are coming back into camp with their one salmon. Seeing the upper Trinity this past week the water was beautiful, clear and very fishable. The days have been hot but are cooling down some this weekend but the following week it is supposed the turn hot again. With the sun coming out so bright the fish will start to go deep by mid-mornings and one will have to change tactics. It will be early mornings and late afternoons into the evenings as the salmon move up river seeking cooler water.

Mid-Klamath: The Klamath at Weitchpec is flowing about 1,616cfs and the river is a nice green. As the river drops a little more, we will see the river start to turn a little brown but right now the river is in great shape for fishing. There are very few fishermen out on the Klamath now, mostly locals. Sometime around the 1^st or 2^nd week of August we should start to see more larger fish move into the river. River temperatures are starting to climb a little bit right now but not so much that it is hampering good fishing.

Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 97% of capacity (a decrease of 1%) with inflows 2,523cfs and releasing 2,447cfs on to Keswick and the Sacramento River. Shasta is 93% of capacity (a decrease of 3% minus 5ft) with inflows of 4,535cfs and releasing 9,361cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 94% (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 11,110cfs and releasing 10,923cfs into the Sacramento river. Oroville Lake is 94% of capacity (a decrease of 4% minus 7ft) with inflows of 2,991cfs with releases of 8,021cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 90% of capacity (a decrease of 2% plus 2ft) with inflows of 4,265cfs with releases of 5,469cfs into the American river.

Trinity Lake: the lake is 11ft below the overflow (an increase of 3ft) and 95% of capacity (a decrease of 2 %) and inflows are 654cfs and releases are 2,205cfs into Lewiston Lake with 1,264cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown Lake and on to Keswick Power Plant, which is releasing 10,923cfs into the Sacramento River.

Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam releases are 941cfs and water temperatures of 50.3 degrees and air at N/A as of 11:00am today Saturday July 14, 2019. Limekiln Gulch is 5.67ft at 1,030cfs and water temps of N/A. Douglas City is 7.38ft and flows of 1,061cfs. with air temps of 83 and water at 51.9 degrees. Junction City is 3.12ft at 1,150cfs. Helena is 10,48ft at 1,129cfs with water temps of 58.6 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is 4.69ft at 1,405cfs. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 2.72ft at 211cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 1,616cfs and air is 85 degrees and water at 61 degrees. Hoopa is 13.20ft at 2,007cfs and water is 63.9 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath are estimated to be 4,505cfs.

Klamath: Iron Gate is releasing 896cfs. Seiad Valley is 2.24ft at 1,284cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 1,390cfs, the Salmon River is 2.56ft at 557cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 1,941cfs. Orleans is 3.39ft at 2,498cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 9.68ft at 5,182cfs and water temps of 69.6 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jedia Smith is 5.22ft and flows of 479cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 12.06ft at N/A cfs.

Temperatures in the Valley last week were 95 hi with a low of 55. Rain for the week was 0.00in with total rain for the water year to date of 67.7 inches, with snow of 4.5in. in the valley to date. Forecasts for next week are for temperatures in the low to mid 90s and lots of sunshine after the weekend. I know I would like some cooler weather and cooler water so the summer steelhead would make a run for their holding waters.

It’s Official

The New Emergency Spring Salmon Fishing Regulations for the Klamath River Basin have been released to the public! It is official, I got the word Thursday from CDFW about noon, the new salmon regulations have finally been released and are posted on the Fish and Game website with a public announcement release. The Spring Chinook Salmon season will open July 1st and run thru Aug. 31^st.With quotas almost double that of last year for the Klamath River Basin there should be some very good fishing in the Klamath estuary for the opening. I know many guides have been anxious to get the good news and plan to be ready to go fishing on opening day. The basin wide quota for the Klamath River Basin this year is 7,636 adult Chinook salmon. (The spring salmon bag limit is 1 salmon per day with 2 in possession.) The Fall Chinook salmon season opens September 1^st and runs thru Dec 31^st or until the quotas have been reached in each section of the rivers, or whichever comes first.

Kids Fishing Derby: Winners of the “Kids Fish Lake Fish Derby” were; FISHING – Preschool to 2^nd Grade, 1^st Hallena Moschetti, 2^nd Mason Goff, 3rd Jonnae Johnson, ; 3^rd Grade to 5^th Grade, 1^st Leslie McLaughlin, 2^nd Jack Joe Marshall, 3^rdJonathan Haynes; 6^th Grade to 8^th Grade; 1^st Elijah Estrada, 2^nd Ashlyn Alameda, 3^rd Lisa Koehler: CASTING – Preschool to 2^nd Grade, 1^st Anaya Polly, 2^nd Hanelle Polly, 3^rd River Christie; 3^rd Grade to 5^th Grade, 1^st Alice McLaughlin, 2^nd Boaz Bruckner, 3^rdLucas Olsen, 6^th to 8^th Grade, 1^st Akane Polly, 2^nd Riley Leydecker, 3^rd Caleb Bensen.
The Grand Prize for the largest fish of the tournament, Seth Polly a 3lb Large Mouth Bass, the “Jake Wittner Sportsmanship Trophy” went to Alison Osceola for overall tournament sportsmanship. This was one of our best programs for the summer celebrating the 45^th Annul Fish Lake “Kids Fish Lake Fish Derby”. (My 20^th) I would like to thank all of our sponsors and helpers that helped provide and put on this event for the kids.

Fishing: Fishing has been a little bit slow on the Lower Trinity due to the higher water flows but steelhead are being caught if one will take the time and work at it. We are not expected to reach full summer water releases until Aug. 6^th, which is late for summer flows, and then there will be extra water releases in August for tribal ceremonies. (White Deer Skin Dance – the Boat Dance) The ceremonies usually come with the Harvest Moon (Full Moon) in Aug. this usually helps bring the fall run a little early. As for the Upper Trinity fishing has been a bit slow because not many people are fishing the river. I expect because of the confusion over the fishing regulations and the closure of salmon fishing. This has not been the best year for fishing on the Trinity even though there are fish in the river. With the increase of salmon returns and quotas I am looking to having a very good fall fishing season.

Mid-Klamath: The Klamath at Weitchpec is flowing about 6,668cfs but the river is a beautiful green with many areas to fish from the bank. The river is still pretty high for drift boats but a motorized boat should do ok. The Upper Klamath is a little higher than usual for this time of year but with Iron Gate releasing 1,116cfs there should be good fishing for trout above I-5. As you move down the Klamath the river starts to pickup more snow melt that increases water flow. Orleans is flowing at 3,255cfs.

Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 98% of capacity (a decrease of 1%) with inflows 1,228cfs and releasing 1,147cfs on to Keswick and the Sacramento River. Shasta is 96% of capacity (a decrease of 2% minus 3ft) with inflows of 4,997cfs and releasing 8,986cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 94% (an increase of 3%) with inflows of 10,319cfs and releasing 9,998cfs into the Sacramento river. Oroville Lake is 98% of capacity (an increase of 1% plus 2ft) with inflows of 4,6335cfs with releases of 5,373cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 95% of capacity (a decrease of 2% plus 2ft) with inflows of 4,265cfs with releases of 5,469cfs into the American river.

Trinity Lake: the lake is 8ft below the overflow (a decrease of 3ft) and 95% of capacity (a decrease of 2%) and inflows are 895cfs and releases are 2,886cfs into Lewiston Lake with 711cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown Lake and on to Keswick Power Plant, which is releasing 9,998cfs into the Sacramento River.

Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam releases are 2,175cfs and water temperatures of 49.6 degrees and air at N/A as of 2:00pm today Saturday June 29, 2019. Limekiln Gulch is 6.75ft at 2,165cfs and water temps of N/A. Douglas City is 8.59ft and flows of 2,424cfs. with air temps of 84 and water at 51.6 degrees. Junction City is 4.55ft at 2,260cfs. Helena is 12.53ft at 2,439cfs with water temps of 52.8 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is 6.67ft at 2,733cfs. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 3.06ft at 366cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 3,099cfs and air is 86 degrees and water at 56 degrees. Hoopa is 14.52ft at 3,413cfs and water is 58.8 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath are estimated to be 6,668cfs.

Klamath: Iron Gate is releasing 1,116cfs. Seiad Valley is 2.74ft at 1,665cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 1,801cfs, the Salmon River is 2.86ft at 744cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 2,511cfs. Orleans is 3.88ft at 3.255cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 10.62ft at 7,680cfs and water temps of 63.7 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jedia Smith is 5.52ft and flows of 635cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 12.29ft at N/A cfs.

Temperatures in the Valley last week were 98 hi with a low of 47. Rain for the week was 0.01in with total rain for the water year to date of 67.7 inches, with snow of 4.5in. in the valley to date.
Forecast for temperatures next week are expected to reach 100 with a low of 53, the prediction is for sunshine for the next week and a half and then a scattering of clouds. The expected high is for Sunday and then maybe a cool down.

Emergency Spring Salmon Regulations

At the April Fish & Game Commission meeting in Sacramento, the commissioners accepted a petition for listing the Spring Chinook salmon as a threatened species, thus causing an Emergency Regulation for Spring Chinook Salmon.
(1) NO fishing for Spring Chinook Salmon in the Klamath River Basin. This was printed in the Supplemental Regulation book for fishing for Spring Chinook Salmon. Because of the listing California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) had to make an Emergency Regulation (2) for Spring Chinook Salmon fishing for the Klamath River Basin. (2) Spring Chinook Salmon fishing regulation; 1 salmon per day, no more than 2 in possession. (This means adults and jacks) At the present time this emergency Regulation is in the process of being reviewed by the office of California Administrative Law and should be published by THIS weekend. Please call the Regulation HOT LINE 1-800-564-6479 for varication.

I am sorry about not having a full fishing report but I have been working on the 45^th “Kids Fish Lake Fishing Derby”. This was my 20^th year of helping to sponsor and put on this event for the “Kids of Eastern Humboldt”. It has been held up at Fish Lake every year and this year it was Saturday June 22, 2019. Even though we only had 75 participants the tournament was great. There were several large hold-over trout registered in the event and winning the first place of that division but most of the trout caught were this year’s planters. The grand prize was a large mouth bass that was 17-1/2 inches and weighed just over 3lb. Not bad, because I have never seen a bass caught at Fish Lake that large.

Fishing: Fishing for trout and steelhead in the lower river has started to improve. It should only get better as the river flows drop down to summer water flows. Summer Flows won’t be reached until 1200 pm August 6, 2019. I know this is much later in the summer than normal but there was so much snow pack up in the Trinity Alps that the water run-off will last that long. The summer run of steelhead is just about over but with the fish releases moving through the lower river and with more bugs and fly hatches coming about there should be some good action on the Lower Trinity.

Mid-Klamath: The Klamath at Weitchpec is still flowing at a very good rate but one can find some places to fish from the bank.

Some Light Rains with Cloud Days Ahead

For the next week or so it looks like we will be getting some light rains or scattered showers. It doesn’t look like enough rain to make the rivers rise much. In fact, the Klamath Trinity River Basin is on the down side. Yes, the Klamath Trinity rivers are dropping, the Trinity not as much as the Klamath. The good news is that most all of the reservoirs are 80% or better of capacity except for Lake Oroville (11%) and Millerton Lake (55%). With this information plus the Snow Pack (yet to be announced) it appears that the state is over the drought for sure and water quotas for all should be sufficient to allow farmers and rivers to have the very much needed waters.

The CDFW proposed “New” regulation changes for the Eastern Sierras Trout fishing on paper looks good but if you take into account the weather conditions and lack of personnel available for the proposed “Opening”, the safety of the general fishing public could be in dyer trouble what with deep snow and bad cell phone reception. I hope that CDFW will take another look at the proposals and consider the public’s safety before they make anything permanent.
I am sorry I have not received the results from the PFMC meeting yet but one should be able to get the results by going to their web site.

Fishing: Fishing this last week has been on the slow side for the Trinity and I have not received my usual information from the Klamath side but from the water flows it appears the both rivers were too high for much good fishing. If the rivers continue to drop, I am sure fishing will pick up during the next week.
I hope everyone has great Easter and those who do go fishing I wish them “Good Fish’en”.

Mid-Klamath: Iron Gate Dam is releasing 4,560cfs. at this time. I don’t think there would be much fishing above I-5 with this kind of releases from Iron Gate. The water flows in the Happy Camp area is 10,436cfs which is very high at this time but dropping fast. Orleans and the Weitchpec areas are way to high to even consider fishing at tis time but should be fair to good flows in about a week.

Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 98% of capacity (an increase of 2%) with inflows 1,270cfs and releasing 670cfs on to Keswick and the Sacramento River. Shasta is 90% of capacity (an increase of 2%) with inflows of 24,409cfs and releasing 38,964cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 8489% (an increase of 2%) with an inflow of 40,394cfs and releasing 39,749cfs into the Sacramento river. Oroville Lake is 11% of capacity (a decrease of N/A% plus N/Aft) with inflows of 19,717cfs with releases of 10,370cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 82% of capacity (an increase of 2% plus 2ft) with inflows of 9,109cfs with releases of 9,935cfs into the American river.

Trinity Lake: the lake is 20ft below the overflow (a decrease of 9ft) and 87% of capacity (an increase of 5%) inflows are 5,398cfs and releasing 238cfs into Lewiston Lake with 5,160cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown Lake and on to Keswick Power Plant, which is releasing 39,749cfs into the Sacramento River.

Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam releases are 307cfs and water temperatures of 50.39degrees and air at N/A as of 9:00am today Sunday Apr. 14, 2019. Limekiln Gulch is 5.18ft at 623cfs and water temps of 49.3. Douglas City is 7.33cft and flows of 1,104cfs. with air temps of 51 and water at 54 degrees. Junction City is 3.77ft at 1,420cfs. Helena is 12.15ft at 2,153cfs with water temps of 50 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is 7.98ft at 3,786cfs. South Fork of the Trinity is 7.52ft at 3,618cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 7,414cfs and air is 55 degrees and water at 50 degrees. Hoopa is 19.13ft at 12,292cfs with water temp of 50 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath are estimated to be 33,979cfs.

Klamath: Iron Gate is releasing 4,560cfs. Seiad Valley is 8.14ft at 9,345cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 10,436cfs, the Salmon River is 6.34ft at 5,633cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 16,054cfs. Orleans is 11.79ft at 21,687cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 18.41ft at 44,316cfs and water temps of 50.8 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jedia Smith is 9.91ft and flows of 5,995cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 16.16ft at N/A cfs.

Temperatures in the Valley last week were 77 hi with a low of 46. Rain for the week was 2.00in with total rain for the water year to date of 61.45 inches, with snow of 4.5in. in the valley to date. The north coast weather is predicted to have light rain and scattered showers with cloudy days in the mix. The Trinity Valley is predicted to be the same. Come on sunshine!

River is still dirty!

River is dropping and Fishing is better.

It’s Official

Emergency Spring Salmon Regulations

Some Light Rains with Cloud Days Ahead

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