Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. In checking the river out this morning as we headed up-river to the Down River Fire Dept breakfast, as we passed the Hayden Flat campground we noticed there were many camp sites that were open. Even Del Loma RV Campground had some open sites. This was very unusual for the opening weekend of summer and fishing. I am afraid this may be the slowest Holiday Weekend I have seen for some time. We even stopped in at Burnt Ranch campground to check out the Falls and only found one fishermen there with a couple of other campers. I do have to say that the Spring Run of Chinook is slow to come up the Trinity this year. The river has been dropping on a slow but regular basis so this should have sent out the message for the Springer’s to head up the Klamath for the Trinity but I guess the fish didn’t get the message yet. Let’s hope that will change very soon!

In reading the new fishing regs I noticed that there is a new regulation about fileting your catch before you get home. This is very important for you to read as it could get you a citation if you don’t read it and understand what it means to you before you transport your fish home. I have talked to the game wardens and asked if we could maybe get some changes to this part of the regulations as many guides do filet the fish for their customers. I was told that there are some modifications being considered by the Commission. We want to keep an eye out for the new Supplemental Booklet to see if this came about. I will be investigating this to see what can be done and hopefully get some changes before the Fall Chinook season starts on the Trinity.

Fishing: I am really surprised that the Springer’s are so slow in coming up the Trinity. Usually they are well on their way into the trinity but in talking with some of the guides that work the Lower Klamath they are telling me that fishing down at the mouth of the Klamath is kind of slow for this time of year also. Let’s hope that the salmon get the message that it is time for them to head up the river because we want to fish! In the mean time you might want to keep in touch with some of the places I have mentioned in past reports to see if the Springer’s are showing up yet and hope we start hearing “Fish On” coming from the river in the very near future!

The Mid-Klamath: The Weitchpec, Orleans and Somes Bar areas are still a little bit high for decent fish at this time but it shouldn’t be very long before that will change. I haven’t heard from some of my contacts along the Mid-Klamath yet but I am hoping that come about in the next week or two.

Trinity River Flows and Conditions: Trinity Lake is 26.5ft. (1.5ft increase) below the overflow and 84.4% of capacity (1.4% decrease) at 11:00AM today. Inflow to the lake was 680cfs and dam releases are 5,098cfs to Lewiston Lake with 3,468cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and then on to the Sacramento River at Keswick.

Trinity River: Lewiston Dam releases are 1,630cfs water temps 48, air is 60 degrees and water temps at the Hatchery is 48 degrees. Limekiln Gulch is 6.3ft at 1,700cfs, Douglas City is 7.8ft at 1,680cfs, water temps 50 air is 59.  Junction City is 3.6ft at 1,800cfs.  Helena is 11.6ft at 1,870cfs with water at 51.8. Cedar Flat is 5.9ft at 2,120cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 2,360cfs, air 68, and water 57. Hoopa is 14.2ft at 2,770cfs, water temps 60.2 degrees. Mouth of the Trinity at the Klamath is 6,000cfs.

Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are 1,140cfs. Seiad Valley is 3ft at 1,840cfs. Happy Camp estimated at 1,980cfs. Somes Bar estimated at 3,990cfs. Orleans is 4.8ft at 3,730cfs. Klamath at 101 is 10.7ft at 7,950 cfs & water temps of 61   degrees. Smith River is 6.1.ft at 804cfs.

Temperatures in the Valley last week were 82/404 degrees with 0.05 inches of rain, total to date 54.05 inches. The Weather in the valley next week is expected to be 830/441 degrees. Mon, rain; Tue, AM cloudy-PM sun; Wed, scattered showers; Thu-Fri-Sat, partly cloudy; Sun-Mon, sunny.