News:

As of today I have not been able to meet with the Hoopa Chairman, Leonard Masten, to discuss the problem of non-tribal members being able to cross tribal lands to fish the Trinity River. I am of faith that this will occur in the near future as fresh steelhead are starting to move into the Lower Trinity. I have received many phone calls and emails as to why the tribe has disallowed access to the river. Let’s hope that now the Holidays are over and behind us that a meeting can be set soon.
This morning I had breakfast with a friend of mine that goes out to the mouth of the Klamath and the Smith rivers. Ken told me that the mouth of the Klamath is sanded in and that at high tide there is only about a foot of water going across the bar. A good rain will break that open and when it does we will see plenty of fresh steelhead head up river. The rain we had last week did bring in some fresh fish but not the main run.  

Trinity River Hatchery Counts:

Fall totals at the Hatchery for Chinook salmon, 15,733, total for 2011 22,314, total for 2010 11,908. Total to date for Coho salmon for 2011 is 4,784, total for 2010 4,215. Steelhead to date for 2011 is 1,936, total for 2010 2,037. Remember that the Coho salmon and steelhead are still coming into the river.

Fishing:

Fishing has been slow because of the rain and fluctuation of the river flows. The last rain brought up the river here in Willow Creek two to 2-1/2ft. This morning the river was in good fishing shape and we do have some fresh steelies in. Eric Nelson was fishing this past week down below where the weir is placed and was able to catch a few fresh half-pounders when he hooked into a bright chrome fresh  hen that went about 13lbs. Eric said he was using roe with a feather jig. Being as to how this was a native fish he released her ASAP but was a happy fisherman as he let it swim away

Yes there are plenty of half-pounders but it is about 1 to 4 hatchery to native.

Below the South Fork the visibility is about one to two feet but above the South Fork the river is very clear so lone will have to use some stealth when approaching good steelhead water.
Up river is the same condition and the fresh fish are slow in getting up there. I haven’t heard of many half-pounders up river yet so if you are looking to fish for half-pounders you will have to fish below Hawkins Bar and above the reservation or go all the way down to Pearson’s in Weitchpec.

Klamath:

The Mid-Klamath at Weitchpec has been on and off for fishing. My friends Thommy and John have been working the mouth of the Trinity and doing good one day and slow the next. They say that it takes about two hours the catch your limit of hatchery steelhead but you will have lots of action on the native fish.

Trinity River flows and Conditions

Trinity Lake is 34ft (0ft decrease) below the over flow and at 79.1% of capacity (0.4% increase) of capacity at 1:00pm today.

Trinity River:

Inflow to Trinity Lake is 284cfs. Trinity Dam releases are 568cfs to Lewiston Lake with 284cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake. 
Lewiston Dam releases are 284cfs, water temps 43, air is 40. Limekiln Gulch is 4.9ft at 306cfs. Douglas City is 5.9ft at 354fs, water temps are 41, air 39. Junction City is 1.4ft at 382cfs. Helena is 9.2ft at 439cfs, water is 41.9. Cedar Flat is 3ft at 348cfs, Junction City is 382cfs at 1.4ft. Willow Creek estimate is 738683cfs, water at 40, air at 44. Hoopa is 12.3ft at 1,200cfs, water temps 41.6 degrees. Mouth of the Trinity is 4,310cfs.

Klamath River Releases:

Iron Gate Dam is releasing 1,020cfs. Seiad Valley is 2.7ft at 1,610cfs. Happy Camp is 1, 761cfs. Somes Bar is 2,524cfs. Orleans is 4.5ft at 3,110cfs. Klamath at 101 is 10ft at 11.5Kcfs water temp at 43 degrees. Temperatures in the valley last week were 53/36 degrees with 0.1 inches of rain, total to date 18.7 inches

Weather:

The weather next week in the valley is predicted to be 53/26 degrees, Mon-overcast, Tue-showers, Wed-partly cloudy, Thu/Fri-sun Sat/Sun – cloudy, Mon showers. Remember when traveling in the north be sure to carry chains and a shovel.