Water Flow Changes
The month of May is going to see several water flow changes on the Trinity River. The releases are going to be fluctuating from 800cfs up to 1,700cfs with several drops and jumps in between. Memorial Day weekend releases will be 1,500cfs. These are releases from Lewiston Dam into the Trinity River but you must remember that the water flows will increase as you go down river from snow melt and from stream input. This is going to be a challenging period because many of the eastern sierra streams and lakes are having opening day fishing season as well as some of the northern streams and lakes. The Trinity River is open all year to the take of hatchery trout and hatchery steelhead but the trick is to be able to get to fishable waters during these water releases. It is great for rafting but you must be aware of the colder water and rapid flows, even when it doesn’t look like the river is flowing fast the current is swifter than one thinks.
The good news is that for the next couple of weeks we are going to see some sunshine in between the clouds. The Klamath is going to be much the same as the Trinity but the Upper Klamath will probably be fishable from I-5 to the dam.
Notice; The Fish Lake “Kids Fish Derby” is schedule for June 23, 2018, so you might want to mark your calendar.
Fishing: Right now fishing will be very difficult due to the fluctuating water releases. The best opportunities will be when the water releases are dropping sometime around June 12th – 14th. The upper Trinity will be the best area first and then as the river drops you will able to move down river to your favorite area. When fishing high water I usually have used larger hardware such as #4 or 5 spinners or 5/8th oz spoons. Best colors for me are Orange body w/silver blade or florescent green body w/silver blade or spoons to match the same colors. Also work the slower back eddies and the shallow waters.
Mid-Klamath: Iron Gate Dam is releasing 1,425cfs today. Fishing the Upper Klamath from I-5 to the dam could be your best bet for the Memorial Day weekend. Many of the lakes in northern Calif. are not full but with the coming sunshine they just might become fuller.
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 96% of capacity (an increase of 6%) with inflows of 272cfs and releasing 304cfs into Clear Creek and on to Keswick. Shasta is 92% (an increase of 0% and 0ft) with inflows of 4,359cfs and releasing 7,222cfs, Keswick is 85% of capacity (a decrease of 8%) with inflows of 7,446cfs and releasing 7,839cfs; Oroville Lake is 70% capacity (an increase of 4% & plus 11ft), inflow is 4,433cfs and releases are 2,020cfs; Folsom Lake is 91% of capacity plus 9% & plus 10ft.) inflows are 4,514cfs and releases are 2,345cfs.
Trinity Lake: The Lake is 35ft below the overflow (a decrease of 1ft) and 79% of capacity (0% increase) Inflow to Trinity Lake is 1,689cfs and Trinity Dam is releasing 1,618cfs to Lewiston Lake with 78cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and on to the Keswick Power Plant and it is releasing 7,839cfs to the Sacramento River.
Trinity River Flows and Conditions: Lewiston Dam releases are 1,766cfs with water temps of 51.4 degrees and air is 72 at 12:030pm today. Limekiln Gulch is 6.24.9t at 1,648cfs, with water temps of 51.6 degrees. Douglas City is 7.7ft at 1,526cfs, water temps of 52.8 degrees and air is 77. Junction City is 3.6ft at 1,420cfs. Helena is 11.5ft at 1,756cfs with water temps of 53.5. Cedar Flat is 6.2ft at 2,438cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 3.390cfs and air is 79 with water at 56. Hoopa is 15.5ft at 4,646cfs with water temps of 57.7. Flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at Klamath River are estimated to be 12.6Kcfs.
Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are 1,425cfs. Seiad Valley is 4ft at 2,852cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 3,292cfs, Salmon River is 4.4ft at 2,739cfs, Somes Bar is estimated at 5,258cfs and Orleans is 6.8ft. at 7,997cfs and the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 12.7ft at 16Kcfs, with water temperatures of 57.4 degrees. Flows at Smith River, Dr. Fine Bridge are 7.1ft at 2,170cfs.
The low temperatures for Valley last week were in the mid 40’s and the high was 6478 with 0.06in of rain with a season total of 67in of rain with a total of 4.15in of snow. Temperatures in the valley next week are expected get up to 90/46 degrees with some clouds and more sunshine later in the week. This would be good rafting but poor fishing conditions.