TRINITY RIVER FISHING REPORT –July 29, 2023

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

COLUMNARIS AND WARM WATER

 I know I said I would have more information about the “Gil Rot” (Columnaris) this week but I was only able gather a little bit from a fishing friend (John Haran), not a scientist but and avid fisherman that has fished the Klamath and Trinity Rivers for over 40yrs. My normal sources (Scientist and fish biologist) didn’t get back to me in time for this report, so I will have to go with what I have.      “Columnairs” is a disease that affects the Gils of fish, more commonly know as “Gil Rot”. It is a pathogen that can infect the Gils when the water reaches temperatures above 66F degrees (19C). That is why Cold-Water releases from the Damn is so important. (John Harlan) and one of my fish biologists’ friends. The thing I found out is that as the fish reach water less than 66 degree the disease starts to dissipate and go away. This is why the fish seem to clean up as they get closer to the hatchery and the Cold-Water streams in the upper river.
    Well it appears that we have reached the “Dog Days of Summer” and the hot days are here for a while. This is great for sun bathing, swimming, tubing and other river recreation but not for fishing. There are still a few summer run steelhead around in the upper river but most are in the Cold-Water streams that they spawn in by now. The next good fishing in the rivers will be after Labor Day. For right now the best fishing is in the lakes and Sierra Streams where the cold water is. What with Salmon fishing closed it appears that trout and steelhead are our only bet for this year.
Junction City Weir summary: Julian Week 29 ending July 29, 2023; Spring Chinook, 56 jacks, seasonal total of 127, 109 adults, total of 165, seasonal total 1,189; Coho Salmon 0, summer steelhead; 0- ½-pounders, 20- adults, total 20, seasonal total 99; 1-Brown Trout, seasonal total 13.  
Fishing: The Trinity River has reached its summer releases of 451cfs. Like I said before “the summer temperatures are great for river recreation but not so good for fishing the rivers”. Trinity Lake and Whiskeytown Reservoirs are the best choices for fishing right now. At Whiskeytown the kokanee are running deep at the damn while the fish are still spread all over the Lake at Trinity. I haven’t heard from Louise or Matt for Lewiston Lake fishing so your best bet would be to call for a report. ((530-778-3878) If 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 3,115cfs, this is a decrease of 6595cfs from last week. Iron Gate Dam is currently releasing 891cfs a decrease of 16cfs from last week. The Klamath River has been cloudy for awhile but has cleared up at Weitchpec but is still cloudy up near the damn. I would suspect that this might be a problem as they work on the Damn Removal on the Klamath River. 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 95% of capacity (a decrease of 1%) with inflows of 996cfs and releasing 1,117cfs into Whiskeytown Reservoir. Shasta Lake is 86% of capacity (a decrease of 2% minus 3ft) with inflows of 3,989cfs and releasing 9,846cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 96% (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 10,796cfs and releasing 10,742cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 93% of capacity (a decrease of 2% minus 5ft) with inflows of 2,630cfs with releases of 9,567cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 88% of capacity (a decrease of 2% minus 2ft) with inflows of 2,566cfs with releases of 4,409cfs into the American river. Trinity Lake is 1,405,373AF a decrease of 4,568AF. 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 and the fish will need the cold water to prevent another infection of Columnaris. If you consider the possibility of disease and NO cold-water pool, we could lose the Spring Chinook Salmon run all together.
Trinity Lake: The lake is 75ft below the overflow (a decrease of 1ft) and 58% of capacity (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 305cfs and releasing 1,123cfs into Lewiston Lake with 672cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to Keswick Power Plant, and releasing 10,742cfs into the Sacramento River. (Our cold water going over to the Sacramento River)
Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam is 95% of capacity (a decrease of 2%) and water releases of 451cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 54.8 degrees, as of 12:00pm today Sunday July 29, 2023. Limekiln Gulch is 4.90ft at 457cfs. Douglas City is 6.74ft with flows of 467cfs with water temperatures of N/A degrees. (The river gauge for DC is not reading correct) Junction City is 2.06ft at 506cfs. Helena is 8.74ft at 567cfs with water temps of 65.4 degrees. Burnt Ranch at Cedar Flat is 3.04ft at 664cfs. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 3.15ft at 184cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 848cfs and air is 81 degrees and water at 68.4 degrees, Hoopa is 11.97ft at 1,023cfs with water at 71.3 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 3,115cfs a decrease of 595cfs.
Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 891cfs a decrease of 16cfs. Seiad Valley is 2.03ft at 1,121cfs. Indian Creek is 3.86ft at 152cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 1,273cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 1,743fs, and the Salmon River is 1.86ft at 349cfs. Orleans is 2.94ft at 2,092cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 8.50ft at 3,476cfs and water temps are 70.5 degrees. Dangerous temperatures for salmon are 72 degrees or 17 Celsius. Flows for the Smith River at Jedia Smith are 4.69ft with flows of 314cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 11.72ft at N/A. Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 99 and a low of 50 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 95 and a low of 55. 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.

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