Just as the rivers get into fishing high water it starts to rain again. One would wonder if it is still winter. Andy of Indian Creek Lodge said it was getting good ½-pounder fishing off the back yard with Steelhead up to 18in. That sounder like some really good fishing to me. With all of the high-water releases from Lewiston and the rain the river just gets clear to the point of good fishing and then gets muddy again. It makes it hard to plan ahead for fishing trips and some great ½-pounder fly fishing. It would be great if the Bureau of Reclamation would slow down the releases during the rain events but I guess it is hard to predict the weather at this time of year. We are already into a “Wet Water Year” prediction so why not try to use the ole before dam charts to help with the water releases.

 

The new program for Trinity Lake diversions seems to be a little diverse with the mix up of how the water transfer works. How does the water diversions work when you fire the people who turn the valves but at the same time direct more water to be released to the Centurial Valley Canell. Something to consider, I guess!

 

Klamath River: For the Shasta, Scott Rivers at the confluence of the Klamath River. The Operating screw traps are showing an abundance of out-migrating Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon and rainbow trout/steelhead at this time. Of course, this is only the preliminary counts and will have to be combined with the final tally later on. This sounds great for the returns in three years from now. The true results will show up when we see a good survival rate in the ocean and a good return of fish later on.

 

Willow Creek: Fishing was getting good for high water fishing as the Trinity started to get some visibility. Now we are getting more rain. Ugh! I was hoping to see some better weather but I guess Mother Nature had different ideas. Oh well I am sure we will see some good fishing as the river starts to drops again. We just have to look ahead and pray for some light spring showers so we can get out there and fish. 

 

Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 36,836cfs. This is an increase of 1,764cfs. The Iron Gate/Bogus Creek area is flowing 5,608cfs an increase of 618cfs from the last report. The Upper Klamath has been flowing good since the dams have been removed. Let’s hope it continues so that we get some good returns later on. For better fishing information I suggest you call Marble Mountain Guest Ranch (800) 522-6284, or Scott Caldwell, SC Guide Service (530)905-0758 to get more up to date fishing information to fish the Upper Klamath.

 

Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 95% of capacity (a decrease of 1%) with inflows of 862cfs with releases of 1,460cfs. Shasta Lake is 92% of capacity, an increase of 6% and plus 10ft with inflows of 15,138cfs and releasing 4,134cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 82% of capacity (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 5,277cfs and releases of 5,852cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 90% of capacity, an increase of 6% and plus 7ft, with inflows of 13,480cfs with releases of 11,750cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 92% of capacity, an increase of 19% and plus 17ft, with inflows of 7,861cfs with releases of 4,997cfs into the American River. Trinity Lake storage is 2,135,855AF an increase of 87638AF of storage.

 

Trinity Lake: The lake is 26ft below the overflow, a decrease of 2ft and 84% of capacity (an increase of 1%) with inflows of 1,828cfs and releasing 850cfs into Lewiston Lake with 00cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to the Keswick Power Plant, and releasing 15,032cfs into the Sacramento River.

 

Trinity River flows and conditions: Trinity Lake is 87% of capacity, an increase of 3% and 20ft below the overflow a decrease of 6ft. Lewiston Dam is 96% of capacity, a decrease of 2% and water releases of 1,502cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 46.1 degrees, as of 12:15pm today Sunday April 6, 2025.  Limekiln Gulch is 6.21t at 2,1,709cfs. Douglas City is 8.56ft with flows of 2,066cfs with water temperatures of 48.2 degrees. Junction City is N/Aft at N/A cfs. (Gauge is still out of order) Helena is 12.46ft at 2,872cfs with water temps of 50.2 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is N/Aft at 0.00cfs (Gauge is still out of order). South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 8.89 at 5,114cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 7,936cfs, air is 64 degrees and water at 50.3 degrees, Hoopa is 20.11ft at 14,455cfs with water at 50.3 degrees.

 

Klamath River flows and conditions: Flows at the Iron Gate/ Bogas Creek are 5,608cfs, an increase of 618cfs. Seiad Valley is 8.36ft at 10,205cfs. Indian Creek is 6.36ft at 1,154cfs. Happy Camp is estimated to be 11,359cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 17,449cfs, and the Salmon River is 5.989ft at 4,932cfs. Orleans is 12.08ft at 22,381cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 19.01ft flowing at 46.418cfs with water temps of 50.2 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jediah Smith are 9.93ft with flows of 6,497cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 16.42ft at N/A. The Smith is dropping pretty fast.

 

Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 77 and a low of 37 degrees. Rain for the week was 3.04in with a water year total to date of 52.31 and 1.75in of snow in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 74 and a low of 43. The weather predicted for the next week is looking like we could have some scattered clouds with some possible showers.