TRINITY RIVER FISHING REPORT – August 13, 2023

From Willow Creek, CA. By E. B. Duggan “D” Fishing, 707-599-2357 at yen2fish@yahoo.com

SOME RESULTS THOUGHTS ABOUT COLUMNARIS

I am sorry about not having some results abut the fish disease on the Upper Trinity. PG&E outages messed up my internet and I was unable to do anything on the computer. It is strange as to how much we depend upon the internet and cell phones. Without electricity one is helpless. What will California do when it goes completely electrical and can’t produce enough power to run the state?
    Now back to what is important. Columnaris, some Federal Agencies are interested (concerned) in the infection that has happened in the Upper Trinity. Salmon gill infection (columnaris) to Spring Chinook Salmon in the Upper Trinity has received some federal agencies attention. (Really) Some agencies have been monitoring and taken seriously the salmon gill infection in the Upper Trinity. They believe the possibility of heavy sediment and ash loads from the June thunderstorms may have damaged the gills of Spring Chinook and stressed them. The agencies have assessed the problem and believe that “the fish can catch disease if they are stressed”. It may be that they became stressed by the June storms. Thus, the fish migrating making their way up to their spawning grounds were venerable to the disease and became infected. (Posted July 19,2023 by Kiana Able, Bureau of Reclamation) This is what I was able to find in some of the group of agencies investigations and conclusions, not much but it does make one thing about all the damage these forest fires are creating. Restoration of these areas should be of concern to the TRRP. It does affect the lose of fish.
Notice: August 18, 2023 BOR increase of releases to the Trinity River will start, rising from 450cfs to 2,000cfs by August 20^th before returning to base summer flows of 450cfs. This is for Tribal ceremonial purposes of the Hoopa “Boat Dance” and will NOT come from the normal designated river flows.
Junction City Weir summary: Julian Week 31 ending Aug. 5, 2023; Spring Chinook, 22 jacks, 15 adults, total of 37, seasonal total 1,267; Coho Salmon 0, summer steelhead; 0- ½-pounders, 3- adults, total 3, seasonal total 114; 0-Brown Trout, seasonal total 21.  
Fishing: The is going to see an increase of flows Aug. 18^th so one wants to take care and be safe while recreating on the river. As of today, from last reporting there has been very little action on the river except in the upper river as I explained above. I thought we would see a rush of sunbathers and swimmers from the coast as some schools and the collages started up but that didn’t happen this year. Maybe over the coming holidays. With my computer internet out, I was unable to receive a report form Louise or Matt for Lewiston Lake fishing Lewiston Lake. ((530-778-3878) 75.3If you are interested in rafting you can contact Bigfoot Rafting, Brianna Carreira (530-629-2263). 
Mid-Klamath and Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 2,548cfs, this is a decrease of 567cfs from last week. Iron Gate Dam is currently releasing 965cfs an increase of 74cfs from last week. The Klamath River has been cloudy for a while but is clearing around Orleans. Tout fishing has been fair to good in the early mornings but by 10:00am the water is warming up to the point the fish are only interested in finding some cool water. I was unable to find out about the upper river sections for this report. If you are interested in fishing the Upper Klamath you can call Scott Caldwell a call (530-905-0758) or if you want to fish the Happy Camp Area you can call Marble Mountain Resort, Doug Cole (530-469-3322).
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 99% of capacity (an increase of 4%) with inflows of 594cfs and releasing 857cfs into Whiskeytown Reservoir. Shasta Lake is 82% of capacity (a decrease of 4% minus 7ft) with inflows of 3,780cfs and releasing 9,200cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 96% (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 10,103cfs and releasing 10,243cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 87% of capacity (a decrease of 6% minus 15ft) with inflows of 2,787cfs with releases of 7,941cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 82% of capacity (a decrease of 6% minus 5ft) with inflows of 2,444cfs with releases of 4,198cfs into the American river. Trinity Lake is 1,383,306AF a decrease of 22,031AF. That would be a loss of storage instead of a gain. If this continues the lake will be right back to where it started from before the storms of last year. Something has to give if there is going to be a “Cold-Water Pool” for next year’s fish.
Trinity Lake: The lake is 77ft below the overflow (an increase of 2ft) and 57% of capacity (a decrease of 2%) with inflows of 407cfs and releasing 1,006cfs into Lewiston Lake with 555cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to Keswick Power Plant, and releasing 10,243cfs into the Sacramento River. (Our cold water going over to the Sacramento River now)
Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam is 98% of capacity (an increase of 3%) and water releases of 451cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 52.8 degrees, as of 12:00pm today Sunday August 13, 2023. Limekiln Gulch is 4.89ft at 450cfs. Douglas City is 6.71ft with flows of 451cfs with water temperatures of 60.3 degrees. Junction City is 2.01ft at 490cfs. Helena is 8.63ft at 529cfs with water temps of 66.7 degrees. Burnt Ranch at Cedar Flat is 2.86ft at 594cfs. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 3.03ft at 152cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 748cfs and air is 91 degrees and water at 62 degrees, to hot for salmon, Hoopa is 11.70ft at 844cfs with water at 75.3 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 2,548cfs a decrease of 567cfs.
Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 965cfs an increase of 74cfs. Seiad Valley is 1.94ft at 1,063cfs. Indian Creek is 3.69ft at 86cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 1,149cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 1,439fs, and the Salmon River is 1.86ft at 265cfs. Orleans is 2.61ft at 1,704cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 8.22ft at 2,892cfs and water temps are 74.3 degrees. Dangerous temperatures for salmon are 72 degrees or 17 Celsius. Flows for the Smith River at Jedia Smith are 4.59ft with flows of 275cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 11.61ft at N/A. Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 107 and a low of 54 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 104 and a low of 57. Next week is going to be sunny and hot all week, so be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and be sure to stay hydrated as it is going to be HOT!.

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