Yes I have been gone and that is why you have not seen any fishing reports of the Trinity River. I took my boat up to Hyde Boats in Idaho Falls to have it reconditioned and make ready for this fishing season. I must say the boys did a great job and make my boat almost like new. Hyde Boats does stand behind their boats and will make sure that your boat will always be fishable. In other words they stand behind their product. I wish I could say the same thing about other products. Fires and more fires! It is almost de je vue 2008 again. I am sure you have heard about the Flat Fire on the Trinity near Del Loma. Yes it has been Smokey and at times there is a lot of smoke in the area. On my way home Friday there was a 30 minute delay at the Del Loma Access section of the river and we had to wait to be escorted through the area. There was some fire along the road but most of it was up on top of the mountain. I you do plan to come up fishing be sure to call ahead to find out the latest conditions. Continued exposure to smoke is bad for people with heart and lunge problems and older people so it is best to find out just what the conditions are before you come up to fish.
Some of the firefighters that are working the area say that they see fish in almost every hole along the highway. The group of fishers that come up from San Diego area staying at the Del Loma RV Park and have been fishing the Grays Falls area and behind the park. They have been able to catch their fair share of Springer’s so we know the fish are there. Most fishers in the area have been using roe and doing well.

Some numbers you might want to call to find out the conditions: Weaverville, The Outdoor Store, 530-623-4999; Junction City, Trinity Canyon Lodge 530-623-6318; Del Loma 800-839-0194.

DFG Notice: The Junction City Weir will not be installed until July 23 and the Willow Creek Weir is scheduled to be installed August 28. Those dates are not set in stone but are the proposed dates I received from DFG.

Derby: As you know we had the “Kids Fish Lake Fishing Derby”, Saturday June 30^th and it was a very good program. We had 77 kids registered for the Derby and everyone caught fish. I will try to get pictures posted on MyOutdoorBuddy. I would like to thank all the sponsors, USFS Orleans Ranger District, Orleans Rod & Gun Club, Eureka Pacific Outfitters, Eureka Fly Shop and “D” Fishing Guide group. Lots of good prizes were handed out to the winners and the Grand Prize was a Junior Fly Rod.

Fishing: The Trinity River Flows have been dropping steadily now and are below 1,000cfs. We are supposed to be at 450cfs by July 26. The Springer’s are finally on the peak and should be reaching the upper river any time now. From the reports I have been receiving Grays & Burnt Ranch Falls have been producing some limits on a regular basis. Most of the fishers coming out of Grays Falls area have been using roe to get their limits. The influx of the late run Springer’s have started to slow down in the  Lower Trinity and Weitchpec areas so one is going to have to move on up above the mouth of the South Fork of the Trinity to hook Springer’s. The Salmon regs. for the Trinity do not come into affect keep until Sept.1^st so you can only keep two (2) salmon per day and two in possession until the Fall Salmon regs. take affect. Look for the Klamath Supplemental Fresh Water Fishing Regulations as they should be coming out any time now.

Klamath:

The Weitchpec and Orleans area has slowed down now and they are expecting the Fall run to start showing in a few weeks. The good part is that there is still some summer run steelhead in the area and they are full of fight and roaring to give you a battle. Remember these fish are native steelhead and must be released but they sure do love to fight. Some of these steelies are heading up the Trinity and will be moving into the upper river soon. Remember the Hoopa Valley is still closed to trespassing so you won’t be able to fish on the Reservation until the Tribal leaders release the NO TREAPASSING. 

Trinity River Flows and conditions:

Trinity Lake is 20ft (7ft increase) below the over flow and at 88.6% of capacity (3.8% decrease) at 10:00 AM today. Inflow to the lake is 262cfs and dam releases are 3,553cfs to Lewiston Lake with 2,599cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and then to the Sacramento River.
Trinity River: Lewiston Dam releases are 955cfs, water temps 50.5, air is 82 degrees. Limekiln Gulch is 5.7ft at 1,120cfs. Douglas City is 7.1ft at 1,180fs, water temps 54, air is 84. Junction City is 2.6ft at 1,150cfs. Helena is 10.9ft at 1,265fs and water at 57.5. Cedar Flat is 4.6ft at 1,270cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 1,411cfs, air 80, and water 61. Hoopa is 13ft at 1,570cfs, water temps 69.2 degrees. Mouth of the Trinity at the Klamath is 3,750cfs
Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are 1,035cfs. Seiad Valley is 2.3ft at 1,340cfs. Happy Camp estimated at 1,440cfs. Somes Bar estimated at 1,594cfs. Orleans is 4ft at 2,180cfs. Klamath at 101 is 9.6ft at 5,190cfs & water temps of 71.4 degrees. Smith River is 5.8ft. at 626cfs. Remember the upper water temperature limits for salmon are 64 degrees, so the Fall salmon run might be late.

Temperatures in the valley last week were 100/50 degrees with 0 inches of rain, total to date 71.85 inches. It has been hot in the late afternoons throughout the valley. The Weather in the valley next week is expected to be 91/52 degrees.
Monday/ partly cloudy, Tue/ cloudy, Wed/ AM cloudy- PM Sun, Thu/partly cloudy, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon/sunny.