TRINITY RIVER FISHING REPORT – January 28, 2024

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

NEW YEAR, NEW RULES, NEW PROJECTS

Sorry that I have not been able to make a new report due to computer problems. I hope all had a good New Year and are aware that there are some new changes coming up the pipe line. As soon as I am able to get them, I will put in the report.
    Some thing that has come to my attention is that the road into Sandy Bar o f the Sout Fork, the top part of the forestry road has been repaired and the rest of the way into the launch area is ok. The problems are up on the paved portion of Amon Ridge Rd. did wash off a good chunk of pavement. It is passable but be very careful and go slow! There has been reports that it was unpassable but that is not so it is just very narrow.
    Late news; because of computer problems I just found this; the J.C. access is to be changed! This is due to the Proposed Upper Conner Creek Channel Rehabilitation Project. To view this, go to TRRP: Proposed Upper Conner Creek Channel Project (Junction City). I am sorry about being so late about the notification but if you want to see the location change you should notify the TRRP by Wednesday, January 31, 2024. The viewing will be February 2, 2024 1:00pm at the location. This is the access across from the Junction City Campground. The project is to start sometime this spring and will be on going into fishing season. I suggest that all guides or fishermen should attend as the comment time is over and this will be your last time to speak up before work starts!
Trinity River Hatchery summary: The is still receiving fish, Julian Week 3 ending on Jan. 14, 2024: Chinook salmon, 0-jacks, season total 1,324, 0-adults, season total 10,610, Ads clipped season total 23,171; Coho salmon, 0-jacks, season total 124, 0-aduts, season total 2,423, Ads clipped season total 2.382. Returns are looking good for 2023-24 season. 
Junction City Weir summary: The Junction City weir has been removed and this is the final preliminary results, Julian Week 3 ending on Jan. 14, 2024; Chinook salmon, 390-jacks, 2,728-adults; Coho salmon, 17-jacks, 302-adults; Steelhead, 15-1/2 pounders, 453-adults, Brown trout, 27-total.
Fishing: The winter rains are taking control of the streams and the river. Several of the gauges are out for the present but hopefully will come back on line soon. As for fishing it is pretty hard to reach much of the river as it is blown out and practically non fishable. The river in front of my house has gone over the river bar several times during this rain event. Hopefully the high water will bring in some Winter Steelhead for fishing when the river starts dropping. I have noticed that several trees have washed down the river so rafters and drift boats should keep a sharp eye out for hazards. For upper river conditions you might want to call Indian Creek Lodge, Cory, (530) 623-6294, Junction Cit, Bitch, (530)0623-2803, for Lewiston Lake, Pine Cove Marina, Matt or Louise (530)778-3878
Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 64,396cfs. This is an increase of 54,644cfs.  Iron Gate Dam is releasing 3,313cfs. The Klamath is also blown out!
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 90% of capacity (an increase of 1%) with inflows of 1,174cfs and releasing 1,924cfs into Spring Creek. Shasta Lake is 79% of capacity (an increase of 10% plus 15ft) with inflows of 13,379cfs and releasing 2,991cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 80% (a decrease of 8%) with inflows of 4,868cfs and releasing 5,092cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 76% of capacity (an increase of 7% plus 19ft) with inflows of 8,715cfs with releases of 1,247cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 54% of capacity (an increase of 12% plus 8ft) with inflows of 3,217cfs with releases of 1,729cfs into the American river. Trinity Lake is 1,456,284AF plus 147,718AF, we are really increasing the storage in the lake. The Trinity Alps is the water source for Trinity Lake and we could hopefully have a turnaround with a good snowpack.
Trinity Lake: The lake is 70ft below the overflow (an increase of 14ft) and 59% of capacity (an increase of 6%) with inflows of 1,665cfs and releasing 292cfs into Lewiston Lake with -13cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to Keswick Power Plant, leaving 1,308,566AF in lake storage (an increase of 54,644AF), and releasing 5,055cfs into the Sacramento River.
Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam is 95% of capacity (a decrease of 2%) and water releases of 305cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 45.4 degrees, as of 12:00pm today Sunday January 28, 2024. Limekiln Gulch is 4.81ft at 5.32cfs. Douglas City is 7.79ft with flows of 1,247cfs with water temperatures of 46.4 degrees. Junction City is 4.16ft at 1,760cfs. Helena is 13.69ft at 3,663cfs with water temps of 46.3 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is 5.N/Aft at 0.00cfs. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is N/At at 0.00cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at N/Acfs and air is 44 degrees and water at 0.00 degrees, Hoopa is 22.75ft at 22,111cfs with water at 43.9 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 64,396cfs a decrease of 54,644cfs.
Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 3,313cfs. Seiad Valley is N/Aft at 0.00cfs. Indian Creek is 8.56ft at 3,109cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 6,719cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 28,459fs, and the Salmon River is 10.07ft at 13,826cfs. Orleans is 16.85ft at 42,285cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 24.32ft at 81,335cfs and water temps are 49.2 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jed Smith are 14.60ft with flows of 19,669cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 20.89ft at N/A cfs.
    Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 60 and a low of 46 degrees. Rain for the week was 2.59in with a water year total to date of 28.59 inches and 0.00in of snow in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 75 and lows of 36. The weather predicted for next week is cloudy with showers for the first part of the week with scattered clouds the rest of the week then more rain.

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