Fish & Game Commission

The April 21 commissioners meeting did not have a quorum to finalize the Salmon Regulations for the Sacramento River so you still have time to voice your opinion about the regulations by emailing them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Hopefully they will make some type of decision either at a special conference call on May 20^th or at their June 2-3 meeting. This gives you a last minute chance to weigh in on what you might like to see in the way of Salmon regulations. The proposed regulations are: 8,200 surplus harvestable Chinook salmon available for the Sacramento River. Season: Sept. 4 thru Oct. 3 from the Carquinaz Straits up to the 113 Bridge Knights Landing. Oct. 4 thru Dec. 12, unless 8,200 salmon quota is reached prior to, from Knights Landing to the Lower Boat landing Red Bluff Diversion Dam, 2- Adult Fall Chinook Salmon per day/possession. The period means that you may NOT have more than two Fall Chinook in possession. (This is what was presented to the commissioners)

Special Notice: May 3^rd the USFS announced that a congressional award of $2.15 million was passed for a Calif. specific scientific review of Salmon /Steelhead hatcheries. The object is to review operations of the hatcheries to “protect, enhance and recover natural Salmon and Steelhead populations” and maintain a sustainable Sport/Commercial fishery. The purpose is to improve cost-effectiveness of the hatchery program for the benefit of future generations of fishermen. If you would like to see what this is all about go to www.hatcheryreview.us .

Trinity River Conditions

I have received many requests about the Trinity/Klamath salmon fishing regulations. Because of the delay of the passing of the total salmon fishing regulations there will be a delay in the publishing of the DFG Supplement for the Klamath River Basin. The delay comes about because the commissioners have to pass all of the Salmon Regulations then it goes to legal review before it can go to the publishers and released. As it stands right NOW there is NO RETENTION of salmon on the Trinity from the mouth of the South Fork of the Trinity River to Weitchpec from Jan. 1 thru Aug. 14 (C &R fishery). You may retain 2-hatchery Trout or 2-hatchery Steelhead or a combination there of. You may retain salmon above the Mouth of the South Fork but because of the high water it would be very difficult to hook one. (These would be Spring Chinook) In the near future there ILL be some new regulations to regulate Spring Chinook salmon but at the present it is under review. Present river flows are still high for fishing but there are plenty of rafters and kayakers doing their thing in the rapids.

Klamath River Conditions

The Upper Klamath is still the best place to fish. The flows are of such that one can fish above Happy Camp but the best area from what I have heard is Seiad Valley to I-5. There is still a good amount of trout to be had and the warm weather has produced a nice hatch for the fly fishers to emulate.

River Flows and Levels

Trinity Lake is 70ft below the over flow (1ft increase) and 59.8 percent of capacity (1% decrease) at 10:00am today.
Inflow to the lake is 6,261cfs and 8,170cfs is being released to Lewiston Lake with 3,792cfs to the Sacramento River.
Trinity River at Lewiston releases are 4,380cfs, water temperatures 47.6 degrees.
Limekiln Gulch is 7.4ft at 3,400cfs. Douglas City is 6.5ft at 3,880cfs, water temps are 47.2 degrees, air 61 degrees.
Helena/North Fork is 14.7ft at 4,500cfs, water temps 48.4 air 62. Cedar Flat is 9.5ft at 6,290cfs.
Willow Creek 7,830cfs, water at 51, air 71. Hoopa is 18.8ft at 8,150cfs, water 54.8. Mouth of Trinity is 20.8K cfs.
Klamath River releases at Iron Gate Dam are 1,190cfs. Seiad Valley is 6.9ft at 3,560cfs.
Happy Camp estimated at 4,640cfs. Somes Bar estimated at 8,110cfs. Orleans is 9.1ft at 12.7K cfs.
Klamath at 101 is 15.2ft at 24.9K cfs water temperatures at 55.8 degrees.
Temperatures in the valley last week were 86/40 degrees with 1.6 inches of rain and some snow flurries, to date 78.45 inches. Weather next week in the valley will be, 73/396 degrees, with showers Monday thru Saturday.