Trinity Lake is 41.75ft. below the over flow and 73.6 % of capacity. Average inflow
to the lake for the week is 547cfs. 159cfs are being released to the Sacramento
River through the Clear Creek tunnel. Water releases into the Trinity River @
Lewiston are 279cfs & water temperatures are 44.2 degrees with air temps of 46
degrees at 10:00am today. Douglas City flows are 927cfs @ 3.2ft, with water temps
of 43.4 degrees & air temps are 46 degrees. Helena / North Fork water flows are
1,600cfs. @ 12ft, with water temperatures of 44.8 degrees and air temps of 51
degrees. Cedar Flat water flows are 3,280cfs @ 7.5ft. Willow Creek flows are est.
@ 8,370cfs with water temperatures about 47 degrees and air at 50 degrees at 10:00am
today. Hoopa water flows are 11.7K cfs. @ 19.2ft. with water temps of about
48degrees.
The Klamath River releases at Iron Gate are 1,340cfs. Seiad Valley flows are
3,750cfs @ 4.9ft. Happy Camp flows are est. at about 5,180. Orleans flows are 14.2K
cfs @ 9.6ft. Water flows at Weitchpec are about 25K cfs with water temps of 50.7
degrees & air temps at 47 degrees. Klamath at 101 Bridge is 24.8Kcfs @ 15.1ft and
water temperatures are 51 degrees. Last weeks temps for the Trinity Valley were
62/34 degrees with 6.4 inches of rain. Next weeks forecast is for 59/35 degrees with
rain and showers until Friday. To date we have had a total of 44.95 inches of rain
in the Trinity valley and an average snow pack of 27in. with water content of 8.6in.
Last year at this time the Trinity Valley had an average snow pack of 100in. with
water content of 42in. in the higher elevations compared to this year of 45in. of
snow with a water content of 15in. The water year projections are looking very bleak
for the Trinity River this year. If we don't get a better snow pack up in the Alps
soon we could be looking at another "Dry Year" like we had in 2002. I don't think I
have to remind you of what happened then as we are still suffering the consequences
of that for Salmon quotas and seasons on the west coast.

The Trinity River was in great shape up until Friday night when the rains came and
started the river to raise. By Saturday the lower Trinity had come up 2ft and today
is blown out all the way up to Junction City. Fishing was great most of all last
week but now you will have to wait until the rains subside and the river drops back
to fishable conditions. Looking at the flow gauges most of the Trinity gauges show
that the river flows peaked out about 1:00AM this morning but I expect that to
change as we are looking at more rain for the week. The good part about the rain is
that most of the rivers that were on the verge of closing due to low flows are now
OK. The Smith and Eel are back up to fishable conditions and could possibly be ready
to fish by next weekend.

The upper Trinity did not see as many fly fishers last week as has been up there
right after the first of the year. That made the fishing a little better in the
Lewiston to Douglas City area and a whole lot better below Junction City. It seem as
though the month of January everybody wanted to fish the Trinity and of course the
upper section is always the area that sees the most fishermen during that time.
Except for the influx of fishermen for the Hoopa Derby the lower section had plenty
of fishing room with plenty of good fishing. During the cold snap a few weeks ago
you had to wait until the river warmed up but now you can start fishing around 8:00
O'clock in the morning and be able to hook some winter steelhead.

The Mid-Klamath was just starting to get into some very good Steelhead fishing when
the rains came and blew it all away. The Klamath is high right now but could come
back into good fishing if we don't have a lot of rain within the next week. If you
plan on coming up to fish the Klamath or Lower Trinity you best call someone before
you make the trip so you don't make the long drive for not. There is nothing worse
than traveling all afternoon and most of the night only to get up to a roaring river
and unfishable conditions. I don't know how many times that has happened to me and I
surely don't want to see that happen to you. Winter steelhead fishing can really be
enjoyable when the conditions are right. Until next time------

Good Fish'en ------ Good Luck and remember:
"Keep your Tip up and a tight line lands fish!"