The storage capacity is slowing down as the reservoirs are not getting the inflow needed to bring up the capacity needed for good water storage for spring crops and later cold water needed for the juvenile fish to survive. Last year approximately five percent of the winter run Chinook juveniles survived to reach the ocean. A good percent of the eggs did not even survive to hatch and most of the juvenile salmon boiled to death in the hot water of the upper Sacramento River. Only some (est. 5%) survived the trip down the Sacramento. Legislators, the Governor and the Feds came up with the idea to hold back 1.4 million acre feet of water in Shasta to provide enough cold water for the winter run Chinook salmon. They also decided that any extra water needed for irrigation will come from the Trinity through Whiskeytown reservoir. At the present time Shasta reservoir is 56 % of capacity and the Trinity reservoir is 31% of capacity. The north does need more snow and rain in order to bring up the storage capacity of all the reservoirs.

Finally the Trinity River has dropped to a fishable condition for most of the length of the river. It is now a perfect steelhead green from the South Fork down to the confluence with the Klamath. Although the upper sections of the Trinity have been in fishable condition for the past week, we could see some more rain in the near future. From the weather forecast it is not going to be a big gusher but enough to muddy op the rivers for a few days. The upper sections of the Trinity clear fast it takes the Klamath and lower sections of the Trinity a little longer the clear up. This is the same for many of the rivers of the north coast, like the Mad and the Eel.
Trinity River Hatchery: I did not receive a report from TRH. TRH counts for fall run Salmon is done as of Dec. 31, Chinook salmon total 5,342; Coho salmon total 3,024. The week of Feb. 4, 2016, Steelhead this week, 238 for a season total of 3,175.

Fishing: The Lower Trinity from the South Fork down has finally turned a beautiful steelhead green and many areas of the river are fishable form the bank. Roe and night crawlers are the bait of choice with hardware in silver or gold the next best. If you like to throw spinners I would use#5 with silver blade and bright orange or chartreuse body. For the uppers sections it is fish as usual, flies, hardware of choice or bait. The fly fishers are really having a heyday. If you plan to head on up I suggest you call in advance to check the weather.

Mid Klamath: the Mid-Klamath from Johnson up to Seiad Valley (flowing 4,170fcs) is oh the high side but fishable in some areas. Naturally the closer you get to the mouth the higher the water is going to be. From Seiad valley up to Iron Gate you are going to find good fishing waters. I have not received any reports from up that way due to the holiday. Sorry!

Reservoir Conditions: Whiskeytown is 86% of capacity, inflow is 636cfs, releases are 217cfs; Shasta is 56% of capacity (plus 4ft.), inflows re 7,404cfs, releases are 2,756cfs; Keswick is 92% of capacity and inflow is 7,404cfs and releasing 2,756cfs; Lake Orville is 48% of capacity (plus 7ft); inflow is 4,543cfs, and releases are 456cfs. Lake Folsom is 63% of capacity (plus 2ft.), inflow is 3,715cfs and releases are 2,878cfs.

Trinity Lake: The Lake is 146ft (an increase of 5ft.) below the overflow and 31% of capacity (2% increase) Inflow to Trinity Lake is 3,152cfs and the Trinity Dam is releasing 673cfs to Lewiston Lake with 361cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and on to the Keswick Power Plant with 2,756cfs being released to the Sacramento River.

Trinity River Flows and Conditions: Lewiston Dam releases are 312cfs, water temps are 45.4 and air is 48 degrees at 10:00a.m. today. Limekiln Gulch is 4.9ft at 430cfs, water temps are 44.5 and air is 47; Douglas City is 6.5ft at 601cfs, water temps of 45.8 and air is 54. Junction City is 2.9ft at 792cfs. Helena is 10.4ft at 1,180cfs with water temps of 46.5. Cedar Flat is 6.3ft at 2,460cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 39140s, air is 50, and water 48, Hoopa is 16.9ft at 6,800cfs, water temps of 49.5. Flows at the mouth of the Trinity at Klamath are estimated to be 19.7Kcfs.

Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are 1,190cfs. Seiad Valley is 5.1ft at 4,170cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 4,841cfs. Somes Bar is estimated at 9.4Kcfs. Orleans is 9.2ft. at 12.9Kcfs. Klamath at Terwer Creek is 14.8ft at 22.5Kcfs and water temperatures of 48.3 degrees. Flows at Smith River, Dr. Fine Bridge are 8.2ft at 3,060cfs.
Temperatures in the Valley last week were 64/41 degrees with 0.1 inches of rain with a season total of 49.25in of rain and 1.35in. of snow. Temperatures in the valley next week are expected to be 71/40 degrees, with some rain coming in Wednesday and Thursday then showers for Friday. The weather predicted for the weekend is supposed to be nice with some overcast. That should equate to some “GOOD FISH’EN”!

Good Fish’en and Good Luck but remember; “Keep your tip up with a tight line lands fish.”
Websites: www.MyOutdoorBuddy.com, www.Willowcreekchamber.com,
from Willow Creek, CA Phone 530-629-3554, E-mail yen2fish@yahoo.com