Klamath Update

[Jeff F]

Fished the K way down below Johnsons just before labor day. Water had just come up from Trinity release. Water clarity was an issue though vis was 2-3'. Swinging flies was not productive, I believe due to water clarity. Some bobber guys fished the same riffle and they hooked several steelies, on egg patterns mostly. Fish were there. Spoons worked.

Over the last few days releases from Irongate have reduced vis to 4" in Orleans. The releases are for Karuk ceremonies and are tapering back toward 1000. Clarity issues come from all the sediment that got dumped into river associated with McKinney fire/rain event. Multiple creeks in Klamath River dumped tons into river. Hopeful the pulse right now will push out the loose stuff and river will head back to normal. Fall rains will likely involve much longer clear times this season.

That's good info. Thanks Andy. Once it starts raining, it could be over. Major buzzkill....

[Bwag]

Currently sitting on Johnson’s Bar looking at Chocolate Milk. Wasn’t too bad Saturday/Sunday 2’ of vis hooked a few half pounders and a small adult. Clarity started to decrease yesterday and I woke up to brown water this morning. Plenty of salmon rolling in the soft water down river. Didn’t have it in me to pack up, going to go for a nice boat ride in a bit…

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Wow.......you are doing it right.......I am happy that you can go.......and in style.


When we went out with our jet boat guides, starting way down at Klamath Glen, we usually go up past Johnson's by mid-day and see the campers

there. You do need a jet boat to do this and that Popup camper is the way to go. This is usually prime time in the lower river but to bad

about the water conditions. I get emotional just looking at your wonderful three pictures.

Thanks Bwag.

[Al Baltz]

Thanks for the report Bwag. It looks like the water was clear enough to find a few fish. Unless your dog started out white...
Did you drive up from 101 (windy ass road) or come down along 96 from I-5? What did the water look like above or below Johnsons? I'm planning a trip up next week and am trying to decide where to go. Would you lean toward the Klamath or lower Trinity?
Thanks for any advise.

[Terry Thomas]

The Klamath below Johnson’s was mud yesterday. Close to unfishable the last the last three days for swinging flies. The increased Trinity flows have stirred up the mud and ash in the river. Not sure how long this will last. Good luck.
T.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Just talked with Mario Gomez of Ironhead Guide Service out of Happy Camp.

https://ironheadguideservice.com/

Mario said his kids are the fifth generation in Happy Camp.

They have a half-dozen good fishing guides and cover many rivers.

They guide Steelhead on Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua rivers mostly in the Fall and the Smith and Chetco rivers in the Winter.

In the summer Mario is a Wildness Fire Fighter.

In the summer they also have a good rafting business that is just all for fun.

_________________________________________

Mario said that there is a hillside, almost to Interstate 5, that burned and every time it rains the ash and mud run into the river.

He also said they just let a big flush of water out of the dam which is helping push the ash and mud down the river.

He said the fishing is pretty good, even in 2 to 3 feet of visibility, and it should get better soon.

[Bwag]

Thanks for the report Bwag. It looks like the water was clear enough to find a few fish. Unless your dog started out white...
Did you drive up from 101 (windy ass road) or come down along 96 from I-5? What did the water look like above or below Johnsons? I'm planning a trip up next week and am trying to decide where to go. Would you lean toward the Klamath or lower Trinity?
Thanks for any advise.

Water was pretty good Saturday... Dog was brown/gray from the get go, but I think a white one would come out about the same at this point. I try to avoid 101, got burned out on that the past few years due to the fires along 299. Water from probably the mouth for sure up past Weitchepec is brown, I'd guess it's brown all the way up to where the fire is. It's dropping at Johnsons, based on the comment above regarding labor day and water clarity, maybe it takes a week to clear? Drove home today, saw a few guys fishing the Trinity from the confluence up to Junction City. Guides are still taking boats up the Klamath, I'd guess they are fishing lures or bait, can't imagine fishing a fly in that water right now. I'd for sure say lower Trinity over the Klamath today, in a week? Tough call, Maybe take a drive to Weitchepec and if it's clear there I'd say it's a good bet it's clear all the way down. I've got a friend who's headed up the 17th, he'll send me a report and I'll pass it on. We live pretty close to each other, I'm in Clayton.

[Bwag]

Thanks Bill. Wish I could have fished it during your time. Still a bunch of Campers at the top of Johnson's each season. I'm always at the bottom, the old Doctor's cabin is there, I try to sleep within shouting distance for the AM wake up!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Many years ago we sold these nice little paper back books by Jim Freeman with little hand drawn maps.

He published about 8-10 books ?

Trinity River Fishing

Klamath River Fishing

California Steelhead Fishing

Practical Steelhead Fishing

California Trout Fishing

Shasta Lake Fishing

Fishing with Small Fry

Fly Fishing the Sierras


His books had good advice because he fished all those areas for years.

He said when you are fishing the Steelhead to keep moving until you find parked cars, boats in the river and people fishing.

.

[tcorfey]

Fished upper Trinity from pontoon boats first half of last week, then down to the Glen on the Klamath for last Thursday and Friday. Klamath at the Glen had 2'-3' of visibility, slow fishing swinging streamers. Nets and flossers got a few. Trinity was much clearer at least 8'-10' visibility fishing was slow mostly smaller fish except for one day that was cloudy had better returns.

Bit of a warning: We camped down near the 101 bridge and had a bear come into camp. He knew what he was doing, climbed in to the bed of a pickup and found the bag with freeze dried food in it's original packaging and had a meal. Did not disturb any of the other stuff in the bed.