Last week I received an email about a hazard of a large tree across the Van Duzen River below the Church Lane put in have not received any information about it being removed as of yet so I can only recommend that if you plan on using this launch that you do so with great caution.
The preliminary numbers for the salmon returns are looking good at this time. It is showing that the count of returning salmon to the Klamath River Basin is very close to what was estimated to return (380,000). This is good if it is accurate but I have not been able to verify it as of this report.
The weather has been dry for the last couple of weeks and the rivers are starting to drop to low flow conditions except for the Klamath River Basin. The Trinity has dropped somewhat low in upper sections but the mid and lower reaches are still flowing in very good shape. Lewiston to Douglas City is fishable and there are fresh fish as well as down runners in this section. The Douglas City to Junction City is about 50/50 down runners to fresh fish. The J.C to pigeon Point is close to the same while the Del Loma area is a little slower for hookups there are a few more fresh fish in the area. The Hawkins Bar to Willow Creek area has more fresh fish than down runners you will be running into a lot more half-pounders. The ½-pounders do provide a little more action it is not the same as hooking into a nice adult.

Trinity River Hatchery: The TRH Fall Run Steelhead report is showing an increase of steelhead numbers after the cold weather. The steelhead run reached a peak of 1,452 the week of Dec. 3, 2012. Jan.29 – Feb 4, 2013, counted 435 for a total of 4,382 of 2012 winter run; 2011 winter run at this time last year was 5,885
 

Fishing:

A week ago at this time there were seven drift boats working the Willow Creek run, kind of crowded. Even though there was a lot of pressure boats were landing one to three adults per trip and about ½ dozen of half-pounders. We were working below Willow Creek and had better success. Joe Daher and Ed Trujillo were able to land four for seven adults up to 12lbs with about a dozen half-pounders to the boat. They were using small Kwickfish most of the time but switched over to roe later in the afternoon. The good part of this series of trips was that they didn’t get onto the water until 9:00 AM. How nice was that!

Up river in Douglas City area Liam Gogan was working D.C. to Evans Bar run and was throwing Flies with some good results, 3 to 5 adults to the boat per trip.  Junction City to Pigeon point was a little slower but the results were almost the same.
Above the Del Loma access the shade and clear water made for good fishing, it was just a little harder to make the fish come to your presentation. The cold water made the fish a bit lethargic. Clear water in this area also presented one to have to be able to use some stealth.
 

The Mid-Klamath: The Weitchpec area saw the river clearing as the water dropped.  The river was still up to the willows so fishing was a little harder if you had a hookup and the fish ran for the bushes instead of the open water. I was unable to reach my Orleans to Happy Camp contact so I am not sure how the fishing was in that area. Above I-5 the action was good for small adults and trout. 
 

Trinity River Flows and conditions:

Trinity Lake is 31.2ft. (0.8ft decrease) below the overflow and 80.3% of capacity (0.6% increase) at 12:00PM today.
Inflow to the lake was 1,233cfs and dam releases are 869cfs to Lewiston Lake with 562cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and then on to the Sacramento River at Keswick.    
 

Trinity River: Lewiston Dam releases are 307cfs water temps 44.6, air is 42 degrees. Limekiln Gulch is 4.9ft at 329cfs. Douglas City is 6.2ft at 504cfs, water temps 43.2, air is 39. Junction City is 2ft at 585cfs.  Helena is 9.8ft at 759cfs with water at 43.3. Cedar Flat is 4.1ft at 1,300cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 2,285cfs, air 51, and water 42. Hoopa is 14.9ft at 3,520cfs, water temps 43.8 degrees. Mouth of the Trinity at the Klamath is 9,550 cfs.

Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are 998cfs. Seiad Valley is 3.4ft at 2,200cfs. Happy Camp estimated at 2,625cfs. Somes Bar estimated at 4,740 cfs. Orleans is 6.3ft at 6,030 cfs. Klamath at 101 is 12.1ft at 12.1K cfs & water temps of 44.8 degrees. Smith River is 7.5ft at 2,000 cfs getting on the low side with some fresh fish coming in.

Temperatures in the Valley last week were 61/33 degrees with 0 inches of rain, total to date 45.9 inches. The Weather in the valley next week is expected to be 50/29 degrees. Mon/cloudy, Tue/rain, Wed/partly cloudy, Thu – Fri - Sat/scattered showers, Sun/partly cloudy, Mon/showers.