DFG News Archive

Upper Trinity Reopening to the Take of Adult Chinook Salmon

Fishing for adult fall-run Chinook salmon will resume Tuesday, Nov. 15, on the Trinity River from the Old Lewiston Bridge to the mouth of Indian Creek, announced the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG).

The reopening is a result of the Trinity River Hatchery attaining the 4,800 fall-run Chinook salmon needed for spawning. With the reopening, anglers may catch and keep two salmon per day - only one of them an adult over 22 inches - plus either one hatchery trout, one hatchery steelhead, or one brown trout.

The quota for the lower Trinity River from the confluence with the Klamath River to Hawkins Bar Bridge (road to Denny) has not been met, therefore anglers can continue to harvest adult Chinook, 22 inches total length or larger.

Anglers may retain only “jack” salmon - those less than 22 inches total length - if they are fishing the Klamath River upstream of the Highway 96 Bridge at Weitchpec (confluence with the Trinity River) to the Interstate 5 Bridge near Yreka. The same restriction applies to anglers who are fishing the Trinity River from Cedar Flat to the Old Lewiston Bridge.

DFG has determined that the adult fall-run Chinook salmon at Iron Gate Hatchery has exceeded 8,000 fish needed for spawning. Therefore, the Klamath River above the Interstate 5 Bridge to 3,500 feet below Iron Gate Dam remains open to the take of adult Chinook.

DFG reminds anglers that Chinook salmon 22 inches total length or larger may not be retained in any section of the Klamath or Trinity rivers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Nov. 30, 2005.

Anglers may keep track of the status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling (800) 564-6479.