NOTICE TO ALL MY READERS; I have been hacked and an email has been sent out that I and my family is stuck in Manila, Philippines and need money. It comes as FW: HORBALE TRIP-------! From Ed Duggan. Please do not open it, just delete it.

It has been freezing here in Willow Creek and most of the upper river for the last week. It was so cold in downtown Willow Creek that the south side of Hiwy 299 stays white all day and has never thawed this past week. It has even been icy along the river bank in the mornings. So if you are trying to fish please be extra careful and come prepared for the cold! The good part is that the steelhead are still coming up the river. True most of the fish we are catching are native fish and have to be released but do they put up a fight. So the catching of these great steelies is that they are scrappy and give you some really great action.

Notice: The Fish and Game Commission is going to hold a hearing March 6, 2013 at Mount Shasta, CA on proposed changes to the Fishing Regulations. The summery of the regulation change is there will now be a $20 charge to replace you lobster, steelhead and salmon report cards. Also if you don’t turn in your card or report them electronically you will not be able to get a new one until CDFW receives a form that corrects the lost or non reported information. I hope to have more information on this by next week.

Fishing: Fishing has been slow due to the cold weather and cold water but there are fresh fish still coming into the Trinity River. You just have to fish for them in a different manor. With the cold water they are not going to be holding in the normal holding water you are used to fishing. I have found them to be holding in the slower shallower water than the deep holes. The steelhead are also not as ready to strike plugs or hardware at this time but seem to favor bait or flies the resemble bugs.

Douglas City to Junction City area is cold and clear with a three to one native to hatchery rate. There has been some down runners in the mix also. One has to be slow in your presentation and try to get in front of the fishes’ face.

Del Loma is almost in the same condition but has a little more water.

Hawkins Bar / Willow Creek area roe has been the answer. My buddy Ed T from Sacramento fished Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week in willow Creek and was able to hook 23 Iron Heads up to 8lbs and landing most of them. They were able to catch several hatchery fish but ended releasing all the fish.

The Mid-Klamath: Orleans has been the hot area for steelhead fishing in the Mid-Klamath. Most of the fishers were fly fishing but those using roe were able to claim some good hook up also. Most of the fish were small adults with a mix of half pounders. Every once in a while some one was able to hook into a nice adult I the 8-10lbe range.

Up in Seiad Valley and above I-5 was still good for trout and small adults.

Trinity River Flows and conditions:

Trinity Lake is 36ft. (0ft increase) below the overflow and 78.2% of capacity (0.3% increase) at 10:00AM today.

Inflow to the lake is 834cfs and dam releases are 357cfs to Lewiston Lake with 55cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and then on to the Sacramento River at Keswick.    
 

Trinity River: Lewiston Dam releases are 302cfs water temps 41.4, air is 32 degrees. Limekiln Gulch is 4.9ft at 366cfs. Douglas City is 6.2ft at 486cfs, water temps 35.5, air is 29. Junction City is 2.1ft at 619cfs.  Helena is 9.3ft at7805cfs with water at 41. Cedar Flat is 4.9ft at 1,400cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 1,050cfs, air 32, and water 38. Hoopa is 15.2ft at 4,7070fs, water temps 37 degrees. Mouth of the Trinity at the Klamath is 9,160cfs.
 

Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are 1,130cfs. Seiad Valley is 3.2ft at 2,010cfs. Happy Camp estimated at 2,249cfs. Somes Bar estimated at 3,710cfs. Orleans is 5.7ft at 5,080cfs. Klamath at 101 is 12.2ft at 11.9K cfs & water temps of 38.2 degrees. Smith River is 7.8ft at 2,320 cfs.

Temperatures in the Valley last week were 43/27 degrees with 00 inches of rain with some snow, total to date 40.26 inches. The Weather in the valley next week is expected to be 53/28 degrees.