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Trinity River Fishing Report – February 19, 2012 PDF  | Print |  E-mail
Visitor Info - Fishing Report
Sunday, 19 February 2012 00:00

February 21, 2012 the preliminary Trinity River Water Flow workgroup will hold their fist meeting to start preparing suggested spring water flows for the Trinity River. On March 12, 2012 there will be a public meeting at the Golf Course Conference Room in Weaverville to present proposed water flows and possible alternatives. The general public is welcome to attend and participate in discussions as to which alternatives would be best. These flows are based upon the snow pack, water content and rain which is determined as to a Extremely Wet Year, a Wet year, Normal Water Year, Dry Water Year or and Extremely Dry water Year. Each designation comes with a quantity of water in predicted Acre Feet Storage in Trinity Lake. April 9, 2012 the final Water Year determination is received and then a final Water Flow for the Trinity River Spring releases will be determined. This year will be very important because the Phase I Review of the Trinity River Restoration Program will be done to see how and what restoration projects were successful and did they in fact do the job they were designed to do.


On March 22, 2012 the preliminary Phase I Review will be presented at the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) for public review and be discussed by the new membership of TAMWG.
 
Trinity River Hatchery Counts:
 
The TRH counts are still on going although we are coming to the end of the run. Fall totals for the 2011 season are; week of Feb.18 – Steelhead 510, total 5,266, 2010 total 2,037. Fall Chinook – 15,722, 2011 total 22,302, 2010 totals 11,908. Coho salmon to date 4,784, 2010 total 4,431. At this time there has not been any more Coho come into the hatchery.
 
 
Fishing:
 
The upper sections of the trinity are in good condition for water flows but the water is “gin clear” which means the fish are going to be spooky so it is stealth fishing until we get some more rain. The upper reaches by Lewiston are also seeing more down runners from the hatchery. Fly fishers are doing good on glow bugs for the hatchery fish and bug imitations for natives.
As you come down to the Douglas City / Junction City section there are not as many down runners but there are still some feisty natives around to give you a good fight. My buddy Steve Wozinak, from the bay area and a friend of his fished with Steve Townzen of Trinity River Guide and fished Junction City to Pigeon Point Saturday and did 8 fish to the boat for 11 hookups fishing pugs, spoons and flies. So that is not too bad for a days fishing.
 
Del Loma is still a little high but fishable. I have not seen very many fishers in that section but if one works steady there are a few fish to be had. Hawkins Bar, Willow Creek to Big Rock fishing has been a little slow. Hawkins Bar the water is still clear so again one has to use some stealth. As you reach the South fork section you will pick up some color and fishing is much better. Bait and spinners (spoons to me) are the way to go. You have to work the tail outs of the deep holes as that are where you will find most of the steelies. If you work the Riffles one should work the shallow sides both above and below the riffle.
 
Once again I am sorry to tell you that the Hoopa Reservation is off limits due to NO TRESPASSING! I know this is not a good thing but I am hoping that by salmon season this will be cleared up and you can once again go fishing there.
 
Klamath: Weitchpec is high and hard to fish. Orleans is coming into fishable shape with good color for fishing although the river is still to the high side. You will be fishing in the willows but spinners are working well if you can keep them out of the brush.
 
Trinity River flows and conditions:
 
Trinity Lake is 31.2ft (0.2ft decrease) below the over flow and at 80.6% of capacity (0.4% increase) of capacity at 12:00pm to day. Inflow to the lake is 628cfs and dam releases are 1,425cfs to Lewiston Lake with 1,113cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and the Sacramento River.
 
Trinity River: Lewiston Dam releases are 312cfs, water temps 45, air is 44 degrees. Limekiln Gulch is 5ft at 394cfs. Douglas City is 6.1ft at 429cfs, water temps 43, air is 42. Junction City is 1.7ft at 533cfs. Helena is 10ft at 721cfs and water at 45 degrees. Cedar Flat is 4.7ft at 1,340cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 1,693cfs.
Hoopa is 14.2ft at 3,110cfs, water temps 45. Mouth of the Trinity at Klamath is 8,050cfs
 
Klamath River: Iron Gate Dam releases are 998cfs. Seiad Valley is 3ft at 1,880cfs. Happy Camp estimated at 2,201cfs. Somes Bar estimated at 3,770cfs. Orleans is 5.7ft at 4,940cfs.Klamath at 101 is 11.6ft at 10.6K, water temps of 45.5 degrees,
 
Temperatures in the valley last week were 63/32 degrees with 1.1 inches of rain, total to date 37.25 inches. The weather next week expected to be 60/48, Mon – showers, Tue – Wed – cloudy, Thu – Fri – sun, Sat- scattered showers, Sun – Mon, showers.