The Trinity River valley and Hoopa are under “Excessive Heat Warning” at tis time and through the week. It has reached 118 during the last week and predicted to reach 108 this week. Of course, that affects the water too. From the CDC water flow reports the river will reach 70.8 degrees. If the water reaches 72 degrees that is the predicted water temperature Salmon will start having problems in trying to survive. Steelhead can survive up to 75 degrees for a short time before they stress out. Redd’s (eggs) will not survive in those type of water temperatures. The Redd’s are our next two years returns so IF we do lose many Redd’s then the returns will be very light for the next two years. I just hope that this heatwave doesn’t last very long and doesn’t get to hot. The heatwave also affects the fish but increases the river recreation.

This last week as we were going up rive to Redding, we were able to see many rafters and kayakers using the Trintiy. Practically every raft w saw was full. Fourth of July weekend was really a great time for people to recreate on the Trinity. I was unable to get a report for Trinity Lake but the news showed many boaters enjoying the lake.   

Fishing: The Fourth of July weekend was not a time to be fishing on the Lower Trinity as there were many kayakers, tubers and swimmers in the water. You best bet was to just stay back and enjoy the river and sunshine and have a cold one. It was really great to see so many people out there recreating on the river.

Lewiston Lake: Pine Cove Marina, Louise; The 4th of July weekend fishing. “Fishing Lewiston Lake has been solid”. There have been major hatches going off and the fish are having a lot to choose from. Many of the fishermen and guest of the Marina have been doing well fly fishing. Fly fishing has been the most successful, zebra and black midges under an indicator, PT Nymphs, Black Woolly and PMS are working well north of the marina. The bait fishers are having good fishing with nightcrawlers orange glitter power bait and the Lewiston Cocktail, (whatever that is)? Hardware fishers are using Kast masters, Cripplures and Little Cleos. There is moss in the water so any lures with extra blades (Panther Martins) have to be cleaned off regularly. Staying out of the heat and early day is the best fishing.

For fishing the upper river, Lewiston Lake and Trinity Lake information you can call, Pine Cove Marina, Matt or Louise (530)778-3878, for the river you can call Indian Creek Lodge, Cory, (530)623-6294 or Junction City Store, Butch, (530)623-2803.

Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 4274cfs. This is a decrease of 2263cfs.  Iron Gate Dam is releasing 912cfs a decrease of 106cfs from last time. The Upper Klamath is flowing clean now and is good fishing above I-5 if you fish early morning or late evenings. It is HOT up there! Seid Vally is flowing 1,230cfs so the river is dropping and the summer Steelhead are on the go to reach their spawning streams. If you are interested in fishing the Klamath you might call the Marble Mountain Guest Ranch (800) 522-6284, or Scott Caldwell, SC Guide Service (530)905-0758 

Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 99% of capacity (a decrease of 0%) with inflows of 1,428cfs with releases of 1,313cfs into Spring Creek. Shasta Lake is 86% of capacity (a decrease of 4% and minus 8ft) with inflows of 4,014cfs and releasing 12,564cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 89% of capacity (an increase of 4%) with inflows of 13,840cfs and releases of 13,345cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 92% of capacity (a decrease of 6% and minus 42ft) with inflows of 3,4636cfs with releases of 10,848cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 84% of capacity (a decrease of 9% and minus 9ft) with inflows of 1,706cfs with releases of 5,309cfs into the American river. Trinity Lake storage is 2,027,979AF a decrease of 43,692AF of storage.

Trinity Lake: The lake is 24ft below the overflow (an increase of 3ft) and 85% of capacity (a decrease of 2%) with inflows of 1,492cfs and releasing 2,865cfs into Lewiston Lake with 1,383cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to the Keswick Power Plant while releasing 9,922cfs into the Sacramento River.

Trinity River flows and conditions: Trinity Lake is 83% of capacity (a decrease of 2%) and 27ft below the overflow an increase of 2ft. Lewiston Dam is 93% of capacity (a decrease of 2%) and water releases of 496cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 50.3 degrees, as of 12:00pm today Sunday July 7, 2024. Limekiln Gulch is 5.37ft at 833cfs. Douglas City is 7.24ft with flows of 833cfs with water temperatures of 54.6 degrees. Junction City is 2.68ft at 1,110cfs. Helena is 9.93ft at 1,042cfs with water temps of 62.3 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 2.74 at 65cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 1,107 and air is 99 degrees and water at 68 degrees, Hoopa is 12.90ft at 1,850cfs with water at 70.8 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 4,274cfs a decrease of 2,260cfs.

Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 912cfs, a decrease of 106cfs. Seiad Valley is 2.16ft at 1,230cfs. Indian Creek is 3.86ft at 106cfs. Happy Camp is estimated to be 1,336cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 1,909cfs, and the Salmon River is 2.18ft at 515cfs. Orleans is 3.11ft at 2,424cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 9.08ft at 4,892cfs and water temps are 73.5 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jediah Smith are 5.68ft with flows of 461cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 11.81ft at N/A.

Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 118 and a low of 54 degrees. Rain for the week was 0.00in with a water year total to date of 52.46 inches and 0.40in of snow in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 106 and a low of 56. The weather predicted for the next week is sunshine and more sunshine. The valley is in a heatwave so be careful of heat exhaustion.