Trinity Lake is 125 feet below the over flow (1ft decrease) and 37 percent of capacity (0.1% increase).

INFLOW to the lake is 1,360 and 401cfs is being released to Lewiston Lake and 83cfs to Sacramento River.

Trinity River at Lewiston is 318cfs, water temps are 44.5, air 39 degrees at 12:00 pm today.

Limekiln Gulch is 4.7ft at 355cfs. Douglas City is 2.2ft at 472cfs, water temps are 43.3, air 39 degrees.

Helena/North Fork is 9.7ft and 743cfs, water temps 43.2, air 39. Cedar Flat is 5.4ft at 1,750cfs.

Willow Creek is estimated at 2,800cfs, water temps 43.6, air 48 degrees.

Hoopa is 163.3ft at 6,110cfs, water temps 44.6. Mouth of the Trinity at Klamath is 16.6K cfs, water 44 degrees.

Klamath River releases at Iron Gate are 1,350cfs. Seiad Valley is 3.9ft at 2,630cfs.

Happy Camp is estimated at 3,840cfs. Somes Bar is estimated at 8,080cfs. Orleans is 8.3cft at 10.5K cfs.

Klamath at 101 is 14.9ft at 23.6K cfs and water temperatures of 44.8 degrees.

Last week’s temperatures for the Trinity Valley were 56/38 degrees, rainfall 4.1 inches, rainfall to date 22.6 inches. Forecasts for next week in the valley are 54/34 degrees. The creeks and river flows have peaked and are dropping. Up river there is good color to the water and down river below the South Fork it is muddy but clearing to a brownish green, Hoopa is blown out for now. Fresh fish are moving into the Trinity.

No changes to the Trinity River Hatchery count of Fall Run Chinook, Dec. 2; Chinook 248, for a total of 7,410 '09 vs. 5,079 in’08’; Coho 122 for a total of 3,169 '09 vs. 4,654 in '08; Steelhead 12 for a total 222 '09 vs. 470 in '08. Upper Trinity redd counts went up again last week, so if those figures are good then we are looking at about 10,514 Fall Run Chinook spawning in the main stem of the river, if you add to this the hatchery return we an estimated 11,205 Fall Chinook Salmon returning to the Trinity River. Now if you go over to the Klamath side of the river basin and add that return to the over all Klamath River Basin we could possibly make the projected escapement return to the Klamath Basin. This is looking better and better as the counts come in.

The rains did bring in more Steelhead and move more into the upper Trinity. Last Monday and Tuesday my fishing buddy from Sacramento came up and fished the Junction City run with good results. He got 5 to the boat, released two natives and one hatchery and kept two hatchery fish. All were in the 6-10lbs range. We eat the 8 pounder for dinner. Wednesday we fished in Willow Creek and brought a 3lb, an 18 incher and had a 10lb break the plug as we were netting it. Oh well we had fun and got to see two Bald Eagles fishing the river. It rained in the morning but was great the rest of the day. It started raining New Year’s Eve and blew out the lower part of the Trinity. From what I have seen and heard it is good fishing in between storms. So you want to keep an eye on the storms and be ready to go on a moments notice.

The New Year 2010 has several events lined up and some new changes. The events are the International Sportsmen’s Exposition January 7-11, San Mateo Jan. 21-24 Sacramento Expo. These are great sport’s shows that have many of the nuts and bolts of fishing and hunting. They will also have some great “Kids Events” for you and your kids to participate in. There will be several guides from the Trinity available for you to discuss fishing the Trinity and possibly book a Steelhead trip. It is time for you to send in your 2009 steelhead and salmon cards! It is also time for you purchase your NEW 2010 fishing license and Steelhead card. Some other changes are, 1) all north coast rivers will be BARBLESS fisheries now. 2) You will NOT have to display your fishing license above your waist but will have to have it immediately available when asked for it. This means you can carry it in your wallet or shirt pocket. 3) New limits will come into effect in March. What does this all mean to you the fishermen? You had better get you a copy of the new fishing regulations ASAP! Come March the PFMC will also be meeting to determine the new quotas for Salmon. I plan on attending these meetings and will do my best to keep you informed.