Truckee River, CA Fishing Report

Not a whole lot has changed since the last report on the Truckee River. We’ve had a few good days of rain this week, but the river has settled down to it’s below normal spring time flows. Clarity is not an issue unless you travel East of Reno. 250 cubes below Truckee, 700 cubes in the Hirsh, a little higher through the canyons, and about that way through Reno. Though the river has crested it is still high for the majority of anglers through the Hirsch and on down. Wading and crossing can be a challenge, be careful. The Glenshire, and Schoolyard area are good and wadeable if you want normal flow type of water. Like always trout are a bit closer to you in higher flows. Fish close first. I like busting out the dry dropper rig, or streamer rig, then nymph up on the deeper slots. Attractor flies are great this time of year. Princes, copper johns, etc. Big drys work too. It looks like it will warm this weekend into next, so we should see more bugs. Green drakes, pmds, and caddis are not that far off. Yours truly with a nice butta belly from yesterday.

Fishing has been up and down this week, seems like it always is in spring. Sadly, spring flows on the Truckee River looks like they have crested, good news for us now, could be bad news for us later. On a normal year the Truckee would be pretty much un-fishable with this hot weather we’ve had, now the whole thing is fishing even through Nevada. Like I said it’s hit an miss. Even though we have not had much run-off this year, flows are still high from the Hirsch on down. Easy pickings through the town of Truckee and the ‘shire , but still a bit big below. Bug wise things are about to explode. March browns are on the meal ticket right now, but the pmd, caddis and drakes of the green variety should be here shortly. We also get a nice carpenter ant, we could see those pretty much any day now. Nymphing wise, golden stones, pmds, green drakes, march browns, baetis and caddis should be in the box. They are all in the drift, so you should have them in the lineup.

Spring has come a little earlier this year. It’s t-shirt weather in the greater Truckee-Tahoe-Reno area. Warm sunny blue bird days. The Truckee River is fishing very well for this time of year. The river should be blown, but the lack of snow pack has kept us fishing. Flows will yo -yo up and down. Afternoons until the early morning hours, you will see a big spike in flows. The river will come up, then back down again. Clarity isn’t much of an issue yet, but remember trout can see just fine in off colored water. For some folks the water may be to high from the Hirsch on down below through Nevada, but for others, you know this is a good time to hook big fish. March browns are out in full force through California and that seems to be the main bug on the menu now. Skwalas are still around and baetis too. In my river seines everything is in the samples and about to explode. Pmds, green drakes, golden stones, caddis, you name it, they’re there. Bug wise things are going to happen earlier this year than in years past. I’ve been mostly fishing the Cali side and having a blast, the sheer beauty of this river still blows me away. Nymphs, streamers, and dries will all grab fish this time of year. Attractors are huge, everyone has them, this is the time to fish them. Princes, hares ears, pmx’s, they will all get fish going. With the water coming up the streamer fishing will be very good. This weekend is the general season opener making the entire Truckee River open for your angling enjoyment. If you don’t want to fight the higher flows stay near town. That”s a whole hell of a lot of trout water to be open and believe me them trouts are everywhere. Some butta belly’s from this week.

200+ in town and 500 plus everywhere else. Flows are variable but good.

Above the 267 Bridge: Opened April 27th! Should fish well through town unless we get a big Run-off and at this point that hasn't happened. Look for Ants, Stones and March Browns with the occasional Baetis still around. The campground areas tend to produce some nice fish with Nymphs.

Year round section (CA) below 267 Bridge: Fishing has been good over the past month and should hold unless we get the huge run-off. Baetis, Stones and Midges with the March Brown starting to show. The dry fly fishing has been decent some days and the Nymphing good. The Glenshire area, Below Prosser Creek and down in the canyon have been some of the better options. Watch for the spike in flows which should happen soon.

Spring has sprung here on the Truckee River. The gray landscape of winter has been replaced by the greening willows and cottonwoods along the Truckee River corridor. Fall is great, but spring is the best in the mountains. The river is fishing well for this time of year. Well can be relative in spring. The water is still cold, and you will have to work if you want to get any kind of numbers of fish. The river could be completely blown right now. Flows are up a bit in the Hirsch and down below, but water clarity is not an issue. We will see run-off here eventually as day time and night time temps warm. Both sides of the Truckee are fishing well. I’ve been on both sides all week and on both sides we have got fish. You will see skwalas, blue wings, march browns, and a few caddis mixed in. The march brown hatch is just getting going, usually we see them into June around here. Some photos from over the week.

After four days of heavy winds finally they have laid down. We should continue the good spring fishing we’ve been experiencing in the greater Truckee-Tahoe-Reno area on the Truckee River. There still is a descent snow pack up top, but so far we’ve been having a gradual melt. The river has been staying in the good, fishy- flow stage.  Flows are about 300 cfs below town, over 500 cfs in the Hirsch, and that pretty much stays near the same down through Nevada. The big blue wing hatches have died down in the desert, but have started here in California. We have some march browns out, and still lots of skwalas on the warm afternoons. If we get a nice warm week of weather the march browns should come out in droves. The streamer fishing has been good for most folks, but the nymphers have been getting ‘er done. There are a few caddis mixed in, but I don’t get on that tip till about June. We will experience some heavy flows eventually, probably in the next three weeks, but I’m not to worried about it this year.

On a side note: SPRING FEVOR CLINICS, will be back, more this week.

As a guide sometimes you’re a rock star, and sometimes you’re not. Sometimes we get into fish, sometimes we don’t. It’s never easy on this Truckee River. We have been catching fish this week, but it seems we always work for them. Spring is a good time to catch bigger fish, but the water is still cold and not every fish is active. Sometimes in spring we’re dealing with fluctuating water flows, and most of the time wind, making it tough for the fly angler. We all have a great time in what I call “my country,” or at least I hope. Some photos from the week.

General Conditions: Truckee River flows are around 210 cfs in Truckee. 450 cfs at Farad. Good flows guys!
 
Fishing & Hatches:Bottom line is guides do make fishing the Truckee a great experience. Nymphing has been productive with small stones.
Guide tip - BWO & midges - very small dark nymphs!

 
Top 10 Flies: Nymphs: Burk's Hunchback Infrequens-14-18 * Dead Drift Crayfish - Brown & Olive 8 * Mighty Mite-baetis, brn, tan-14-20 * BH Pheasant Tail Nymph-14-18 * Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph-14-20 * Micro Mayfly Nymph-brn & olive 14-18 * Micro Stone Nymph- 14-16 Streamers: Wool-head Sculpins-black,olive- 4 * Matuka- olive- 6 Dries:Limited dry fly action right now...stick with nymphs and streamers.
 

The last few days we’ve had perfect fishing weather. Cloudy and bit rainy, perfect. Fish are spread out in both states. You’ll find them everywhere now. Pocket water, banks, riffles and runs. Some rainbows are still spawning, but I’m feeling the majority of fish are post spawn, especially in Nevada. The big blue wings are now out in California, and it won’t be long until the march browns show up here. Skwalas are out and have been for a few weeks. The warmer the water temp gets the more bugs will show up. All rigs, and all trypes of fishing should produce fish. Streamers, dries, dry dropper rigs, whatever. We are experiencing very good spring fishing and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

170+ in town and 500 plus everywhere else. Flows are variable.

Above the 267 Bridge:  Closed for the winter!

Year round section (CA) below 267 Bridge. With low snow, access is fine and worth a fish.  Baetis, Stones and Midges for the most part.  On occasion and depending on the cloud cover, the dry fly fishing has been good and should continue to get better until the flows blow out and probably soon.  Until then Streamer fishing will take a few fish as well. Nymphing a size 10 stone with a Midge or Baetis dropper should work the best!

Into our first week of spring and the Truckee River is fishing pretty darn good. Temps have been mild and the bugs have been out. Skwalas, march browns, blue wings, and even a few caddis getting into the mix. Both states are producing fish. I can say not one side is better than another. On cloudy days you will see the blue wings, and in the afternoons you will see the skwalas. I always feel that in spring if the river is not blown, you can experience the best dry fly fishing of the year. Sure, summer, in the evenings are awesome when the caddis are out, but spring the fish are a little less leary and some big fish can be looking up. If we are talking nymphs, which on this river is a must, than all the above mentioned bugs will work.  This is my favorite time of year for the dry dropper rig. Fish are spread out and you never know who will poke their head up.

Hard to believe today is the first day of Spring. We’re having a little glitch in system with some rain and snow this morning, but after two weeks of warm weather we need it. It would be nice to get a couple more snow storms before summer, but the way its looking, that’s iffy. Good news is that the fishing will be good all Spring. We will have some usual run-off periods on the river. I’m feeling this year will be like last year. Last year, I didn’t miss a day on the river because of water conditions. I like it when it’s high and fast. The snow is melting slowly right now, mainly because it’s still below freezing at night. The river has been staying in good shape. If you come up have skwalas, blue wings, march browns and some caddis. Spring is a great time to streamer fish and use big attractor dries. Get out and have some fun this Spring on the Truckee River.

Man, the blue wing hatches have been gnarly the last few days down on the lower Truckee River in Nevada. Funny though, if its blue bird, fish will stay down, and cloudy they’ll be up on top. This week will be sunny and warm. I’m sure we’ll also see descent hatches of march browns and skwalas throughout the entire system. Bugs galore I guess. Feels like spring has sprung up here in the mountains, the cheeseburger birds are out, and winter just doesn’t feel like it has much left. Wind kept us off the river most of this week, but we’ve been catching fish the last few days on top and down below. Ed tore into this one yesterday.

This early spring weather that we’ve been having here in the greater Truckee-Tahoe-Reno area on the Truckee River has been great, but the fear of another lousy snow year has been on the back of my mind. Thankfully snow is in the forecast for next week. Lets hope it dumps, but not into June which can be the case around here. Right now though the Truckee River is fishing great. Blue wings galore, and fish munching on the nymphs and floaters. The next three months are the shoulder seasons, and you can experience great fishing as long as the weather is descent. Matt with a few healthy bows.

Flows are variable.

Above the 267 Bridge:  Closed for the winter!

Year round section (CA) below 267 Bridge. Hit and miss fishing all winter long.  Access will depend on snow coverage.  Midges Mostly all Winter and looking for Baetis on Cloudy days. Stones should start to work as we see warmer days in March.  Look for fish in the pocket water and along the edges.

Stomy weather had moved on...we hope..... Fishing is very good right now on the Truckee River and we BWO's are coming off every day, flows are stable, and the weather is relatively mild. If this continues we will have epic early spring fishing. The dry fly fishing will continue to get better. Look for march browns and skwalas entering the mix here shortly, but right now it�s blue wing olive time. Sparkle duns, Adams, thorax duns, they all work. Emergers, cripples, and soft hackles should pick the ones off that want it sub-surface. Some days are better for dry fly fishing than others. Nymphing wise, of course have any type of baetis pattern. Streamer folks should be sticking some as well.

Well, it doesn’t look like we're getting any storms in the distant future. Except for the shot we got this week, it's been since December that we have had significant amounts of snow. Scary for water thirsty states such as California, and Nevada. The fishing is however is very good right now on the Truckee River and we can only hope the storm doors will open before summer.  Blue wings are coming off every day, flows are stable, and the weather is relatively mild. If this continues we will have epic early spring fishing. The dry fly fishing will continue to get better. Look for march browns and skwalas entering the mix here shortly, but right now it's blue wing olive time. Sparkle duns, Adams, thorax duns, they all work. Emergers, cripples, and soft hackles should pick the ones off that want it sub-surface. Some days are better for dry fly fishing than others. Nymphing wise, of course have any type of baetis pattern. Streamer folks should be sticking some as well. Dennis with a couple of pigs from yesterday.

Despite the cold snap, fishing was good this weekend on the Truckee River. The winter window of fishing is open, mainly because the flows are stable. It's hard to say what's going to happen down the road. Looks like we are suppose to get hit with some storms by the middle to end of this month. Hopefully, they're cold storms and we continue to fish our way into spring. Though, I don't mind when the river blows out. Everyone's at home and the fishing can sometimes be very good. The bugs receded this weekend, but they'll be back this week with warmer weather. Good flows, and lots of bugs will be the deal this week. This is Fidel’s first fish on a fly rod, on his very first drift.

Good mid-winter fishing is happening right now on the Truckee River. Feels like spring in the greater Truckee-Tahoe-Reno area. I would like to see some storms roll through. We need them. For now though, the window is open, and you should get out there. Flows, and weather are perfect for this time of year. Nympher’s-worms, eggs, stones, baetis, and midges. Dry flyer’s-midges, and baetis. Streamer’s-good and slow through the holes. Lets hope the storm doors open again.

General Conditions: Truckee River flows are around 200 cfs in Truckee. 450 cfs at Farad.
 
Fishing & Hatches:Bottom line is guides do make fishing the Truckee a great experience. Nymphing has been productive with small stones.
Guide tip - BWO & midges - very small dark nymphs!

 
Top 10 Flies: Nymphs: Burk's Hunchback Infrequens-14-18 * Dead Drift Crayfish - Brown & Olive 8 * Mighty Mite-baetis, brn, tan-14-20 * BH Pheasant Tail Nymph-14-18 * Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph-14-20 * Micro Mayfly Nymph-brn & olive 14-18 * Micro Stone Nymph- 14-16 Streamers: Wool-head Sculpins-black,olive- 4 * Matuka- olive- 6 Dries:Limited dry fly action right now...stick with nymphs and streamers.