To begin with I hope all had a “Happy Fathers Day” This is a late report.
Things are changing on the river daily now. As the flows drop more fish start coming into the mouth of the Klamath and head up river and into the Trinity. That’s the first right turn for those springers.  There are some locals that are now starting to go down to Burnt Ranch and Grays Falls and coming out with a fish or two. I have word that some of the early campers up at Del Loma RV Campground are catching a few springers. I believe that fishing for salmon will only get better as time goes on. By the end of June the flows are going to be down to 1,700cfs and will reach summer flows of 450cfs by July 26. This is a slight change of the flow schedule due to the change of the Water Year by the Record of Decision.
It is that time of year again when the Orleans Rod & Gun Club team up the Orleans Ranger District of USFS for the “Kids Fish Lake Fish Derby”. It is going to be Saturday June 30^th this year due t o the late spring rains and to Port Orford Cedar fungus disease in that area. This is a little later than what it used to be but it is the best time for the Kids as they will be out of school and ready for fun. The program is to provide “Quality Family Time” and for the kids to have an outdoor experience while catching some trout. To top it all off after the event the kids are provided a FREE HOT DOG lunch.         

Fishing:

The Trinity River is really looking good now. It has great color and visibility of about 6ft. The spring salmon are moving up the river but I have not see or heard that the main run as came into the river yet. I know it should be within the next couple of weeks but one never knows exactly when they will arrive. There are some springers being caught above Salyer and up as far as Del Loma but I have not seen many limits being brought into camps or the Motel yet.

Remember you cannot keep any salmon below the confluence of the South Fork of the Trinity to the confluence of the Klamath. But one can fish above the South Fork and keep 2 salmon per day with 2 in possession. The fall fishing regulations for the Trinity don’t kick in until Sept. 1^st. Also be sure to check out the fishing regulations before you go fishing and be double sure of where you are fishing because the new rules and fines are very specific.  Right now the spring salmon will go after spinners or small pieces of roe. Using spinners one should look to use a Blue Fox # 5 with red or orange body and silver blade. Another one is #4 or 5 Mepps with silver blade. I find that the Mepps spinner works a little better in the high water because they are a little heavier and cut down into the bottom of holes faster. I have read that Blue Fox has come out with a new spinner that is heavier for the high water flows although one could add a few small shots to reach the bottom. I haven’t found any in the tackle stores yet but they have been advertised in the Salmon Trout Steelheader magazine.
 

Klamath:

Orleans/Somes Bar area water flows are high for fishing. Weitchpec has been seeing springers with the water high but fishable in some areas. Some of the early run springers are being caught but not very many limits yet. Hopefully soon!

Trinity River Flows and conditions:

Trinity Lake is 12ft (2.8ft increase) below the over flow and at 93.6% of capacity (1.1% decrease) at 2:00am to day. Inflow to the lake is 1,566cfs and dam releases are 5,531cfs to Lewiston Lake with 3,471cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and then to the Sacramento River.
Trinity River: Lewiston Dam releases are 2,060cfs, water temps 49, air is 75 degrees. Limekiln Gulch is 6.6ft at 2,230cfs. Douglas City is 8.1ft at 2,260fs, water temps 51, air is 80. Junction City is 3.8ft at 2,220cfs. Helena is 12.6ft at 2,480fs and water at 51.7. Cedar Flat is 6.8ft at 2,785cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 3,106cfs, air 72, and water 56. Hoopa is 14.7ft at 3,320cfs, water temps 64.2 degrees. Mouth of the Trinity at the Klamath is 7,830cfs
Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are 1,560cfs. Seiad Valley is 3.6ft at 2,400cfs. Happy Camp estimated at 2,590cfs. Somes Bar estimated at 3,120cfs. Orleans is 5.6ft at 4,500cfs. Klamath at 101 is 11.3ft at 9,780cfs, water temps of 68 degrees.

Temperatures in the valley last week were 92/42 degrees with 0.0 inches of rain, total to date 71.2 inches. The weather next week expected to be 85/45 degrees. Tuesday, Wed, Thu/sun, Friday/cloudy, Saturday, Sunday/mostly cloudy, Monday, Tuesday/ partly cloud.