The timing between storms is just enough to make the rivers clear up and provide some good Steelhead fishing. Yesterday I drove up river to check out how the river was looking and was surprised at how many fishermen were out on the river fishing. The Trinity River looked really great for fishing and the number of guides riggs in the different parking lots was very pleasing to see. I was unable to talk to many guides as they were all out on the river fishing but the water was clear with about 6ft of visibility and looked good. I did talk to a couple of the fishermen and they said they were having some good hookups with a couple saying they had hooked into a couple of adults of two to three pounds. I checked out the new Junction City Campground launch site and parking. I must say the launch look very good. The parking area could use some more work and gravel though. The new restroom building looked great but was locked just when the facilities were looking good and being used, we are back to using the bushes again. Why would BLM add a much-needed facility and then lock it up right as Steelhead fish is picking up for the winter?

I also had some time to talk with the new owner of the Junction City Store Amber. She sounded vey enthusiastic about the area and was very interested in trying to learn the river and about fishing. She is still trying to get her feet on the ground and learn about the area.  I did learn that Butch is still around and servicing the area for shuttles. This is good news for the guides as they need more people who shuttle their riggs.

We are expecting some more rain after Thanksgiving which will help to start the Winter Run Steelhead moving into the Klamath and hopefully up the Trinity as well as help increase action on the Klamath. We could use some good Steelhead action to help take up the slack for NO Salmon fishing for three years. 

Trinity River Hatchery summary: The Trinity River Hatchery count for Julian Week 46, ending Nov. 18, 2025; Chinook Salmon, 141-Jacks, 250-adults, total 391, season total 7,757, 1,8616 hatchery fish; Coho Salmon, 0-Jacks, 0-adults, season total 0; Steelhead, 0-1/2-lbs, 0-adult, total 9, season total 48, 9- hatchery, season total 49.

Junction City Weir summary:  Julian Week 46, ending Nov. 18, 2025: Chinook Salmon, 9-jacks, 8-adults, total 17, season total 1,274, 177-Hatchery Chinook; Coho Salmon, 0- jacks, 0-adults, season total 63; Steelhead, 0-1/2-lbs, 12-adults, total 7, season total 400, 144- Hatchery Steelhead; Brown Trout 0, total 0, season total 80.

Willow Creek summary: The WC weir was pulled October 20th due to rain and the possibility of washing out the weir.  Julian Week 42, ending Oct. 21, 2025: Chinook Salmon, 12-jacks, season total 1,959, 253-Hatcher Chinook: Coho Salmon, 1-jacks, 3- adults, total 3, season total 13, 8-Hatchery Coho; Steelhead, 4-½-lbs, 80- adults, total 84, season total 601, 168- Hatchery Steelhead.

Klamath River summary: Shasta River starting Nov. 20, 2025, 2025 count; Chinook Salmon, 5,859- season total, Coho Salmon total 2, 240-adult Steelhead season total 278;  Scott River Nov.20,2025; Nov. 20,2025; 2,877 Chinook Salmon, 38  Shasta River, Chinook Salmon season total 2,876, Coho Salmon-  38 season total, 31, 126 Steelhead; Bogus Creek starting Sep. 26, 2025, ending Nov. 20,2025 count, 316-Chinook Salmon, season total 1,283; Jenny Creek starting Sep. 19, 2025, Nov. 20, 2025 count; 208-Chinook Salmon, total 861, 0- Coho Salmon, season total0, 1-Steelhead, total 12; Shovel Creek starting Sep. 2025, ending Nov. 20, 20256 count; 263- Chinook Salmon, season total 723, 1- Coho Salmon, 0 Steelhead. This doesn’t count spawning downstream of the weirs.

Lewiston Lake: Lewiston Lake is still having good to fair water flowing through it this week, but I haven’t had a report of how the fishing is so it would be a guess. You can contact the Pine Cove Marina and ask Louise or Matt (530)778-3878) for Lewiston Lake fishing; for the Upper Trinity River you can call Indian Creek Lodge, Andy or Hannah, (530)623-6294), Junction City Store, (530)623-2803. The Junction City store has a new owner and I have not contacted her yet.  

Willow Creek area: I have seen very little people fishing the Big Rock area for some time now. Right now, the river is looking very good for fishing now after the storms. Fishing is still slow but should start to pick up by the end of the week. Fishing at the mouth of South Fork has been also slow just above the mouth. The South Fork is open to fishing, barbless, catch and release only. Salyer Bridge is still slow for lack of fishermen because of no fishermen. Junction City and most of up river areas are looking like it is being fished pretty hard. 

Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 5,019cfs. This is an increase of 491cfs. The Iron Gate/Bogus Creek area is flowing 1,086cfs an increase of 85cfs from the last report.  I’m still having some trouble making contact for the upper river but hope to change that soon. Now that the government shut down is over there should be some action on opening those areas that have been closed. The reports of Fall Chinook Salmon spawning numbers at Shovel and Jenning Creeks just keep improving every week. The recovery of the Klamath River is on its way for sure. For information I suggest you call or check out their face book Marble Mountain Guest Ranch (800) 522-6284, or Scott Caldwell, SC Guide Service (530)905-0758 to get proper fishing information to fish the Upper Klamath and river closures.

Lake Conditions: It appears that the readings are being posted a day late. Whiskeytown Lake is 86 %, a decrease of 2% with inflows of 401cfs and releases of 680cfs.  Shasta Lake is 58% of capacity, an increase of 1% and plus 3 ft with inflows of 7,021cfs and releasing 3,457cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 81% of capacity, an increase of 8% with inflows of 4,002cfs and releases of 4,055cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 71% of capacity, an increase of 1% and minus 0ft, with inflows of --- cfs with releases of ---cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 45% of capacity, an increase of 1% and plus 2ft, with inflows of 1,795cfs with releases of 892cfs into the American River. Trinity Lake storage is 1,789,747AF an increase of 24,200AF of storage. 

Trinity Lake: The lake is 464t below the overflow, an increase of 1ft and 73% of capacity, an increase of 1%, with inflows of 11,180cfs and releasing 291cfs into Lewiston Lake with 0cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to the Keswick Power Plant, and releasing 4,055cfs into the Sacramento River, a decrease of 115cfs. 

Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam is 95% of capacity, an increase 0% and water releases of 315cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 47.6 degrees, as of 0:00pam today Sunday/Monday November 23, 2025.  Limekiln Gulch is 4.74 at 364cfs. Douglas City is 6.62ft with flows of 459cfs with water temperatures of 46.7 degrees. Helena is 9.26ft at 596cfs with water temps of 46.9 degrees. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 3.74 at 453cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 1,049cfs, air is 50 degrees and water at 48 degrees, Hoopa is 13.33ft at 2,224cfs with water at 49.4 degrees. 

Klamath River flows and conditions: Flows at Bogas Creek are 2.01ft with flows of 1,089cfs, an increase of 85cfs. Seiad Valley is 2.84ft at 1,736cfs. Indian Creek is 3.89ft at 122cfs. Happy Camp is estimated to be 1,858cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 1,858cfs, and the Salmon River is 2.40ft at 649cfs. Orleans is 3.58ft at 2,795cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 9.76ft flowing at 6,045cfs with water temps of 50 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jediah Smith are 6.40ft with flows of 1,468cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 12.36ft at N/A.

Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 60 and a low of 44 degrees. Rain for the week was 1.61in with a water year total to date of 10.38 and 0.00in of snow in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 61 and a low of 35. The weather predicted for the next week for some clearing with scattered clouds and a bit of sunshine and some colder weather. 

Websites: MyOutdoorBuddy.com, Willowcreekchamber.com,
from Willow Creek, CA Phone 530-629-3554, E-mail yen2fish@yahoo.com