Bill Kiene semi-retired
12-03-2009, 09:00 PM
Pyramid Lake
We have had one of the best fall seasons at Pyramid Lake in recent memory. Fish in the 10 to 15 pound class have been a common sighting for those putting in their time. The fish seem to be hanging in a little deeper water but at somepoint during the day a school of big fish will show themselves for a couple of passes in the shallows. Reports have been ranging from 1 or 2 fish to 15 or 20 fish a day. Beaches with access to deeper water have been the best places to try. North Nets, Wino, Sandhole, Monument and Howard's have all been worth fishing as of late. Most anglers are catching the bigger fish on big dark colored woolybuggers like the midnight cowboy or the bloody mary in size 2 or 4. Useful droppers include pink and white beetles, chartreuse tadpoles and smaller white woolybuggers.
Truckee River
Winter flows are here. Fish are holding up in deeper pools as most of the runs do not have much water in them. the big fish are there but a stealthy approach is a must. The river is low at 14 cfs through Truckee, 141 cfs at Farad and 175 cfs through Reno. Most anglers fish the lower river this time of year due to weather and flows. In California this is the section below where the Little Truckee flows in down to the state line. In Nevada this basically means just about anywhere. There have been some really big brown trout and rainbows caught over the past couple of weeks, especially in Nevada. Try Nymphs under an indicator on a floating line: Mercers Poxy Back Biot Stone, Tungsten 20 inchers, Stealth Pheasant Tails, Mighty-Mite baetis, and Ju-Ju baetis.
Little Truckee River
The L.T. has come up a bit from 30 cfs to 60 cfs. The Brown Trout seem to be working their way back to Boca after a busy fall. There are still some lurking around but the cold weather is approaching fast. The Kokanee Salmon are all but gone. The Rainbows have their turf back and are chowing down on beatis mid day, both on the surface and below. Try Burks silhouette dun and drymerger B.W.O.'s. Small nymphs under an indicator have also been producing some very nice fish, try: San Jaun worms, mighty-mite baetis, ju-ju baetis and zebra midges.
East Walker
Flows are down to 19 cfs. This is very typical for this time of year. irrigation season is over. The flows should be between 15 cfs and 50 cfs all winter. The fishing remains pretty good. As the water gets lower a much more stealthy approach is a must. Nymphing with size 18 - 22 nymphs fished either short line style or under an indicator is the way to go. Hopper dropper set-ups will work but most of the big dries are gone for the season. The overnight lows in the Bridgeport area are expected to be really cold over the next week or so. Coupled with the low flows, anchor ice could be a problem. Afternoons are probably the only time to fish the East Walker over the next few weeks. Keep an eye on the flows and weather over the next month or so. Flies to try are any small baetis patterns and midges. Look for the occasional baetis hatch mid day, especially if there is some cloud cover.
Davis Lake and Frenchman's Reservoir:
Fishing here has been really good. Weather is going to start to ba an issue over the next few weeks. Look for ice to start forming and basically shut down the fishing. It would be a good idea to call Dollard's market in Chilcoot before you go.
We have had one of the best fall seasons at Pyramid Lake in recent memory. Fish in the 10 to 15 pound class have been a common sighting for those putting in their time. The fish seem to be hanging in a little deeper water but at somepoint during the day a school of big fish will show themselves for a couple of passes in the shallows. Reports have been ranging from 1 or 2 fish to 15 or 20 fish a day. Beaches with access to deeper water have been the best places to try. North Nets, Wino, Sandhole, Monument and Howard's have all been worth fishing as of late. Most anglers are catching the bigger fish on big dark colored woolybuggers like the midnight cowboy or the bloody mary in size 2 or 4. Useful droppers include pink and white beetles, chartreuse tadpoles and smaller white woolybuggers.
Truckee River
Winter flows are here. Fish are holding up in deeper pools as most of the runs do not have much water in them. the big fish are there but a stealthy approach is a must. The river is low at 14 cfs through Truckee, 141 cfs at Farad and 175 cfs through Reno. Most anglers fish the lower river this time of year due to weather and flows. In California this is the section below where the Little Truckee flows in down to the state line. In Nevada this basically means just about anywhere. There have been some really big brown trout and rainbows caught over the past couple of weeks, especially in Nevada. Try Nymphs under an indicator on a floating line: Mercers Poxy Back Biot Stone, Tungsten 20 inchers, Stealth Pheasant Tails, Mighty-Mite baetis, and Ju-Ju baetis.
Little Truckee River
The L.T. has come up a bit from 30 cfs to 60 cfs. The Brown Trout seem to be working their way back to Boca after a busy fall. There are still some lurking around but the cold weather is approaching fast. The Kokanee Salmon are all but gone. The Rainbows have their turf back and are chowing down on beatis mid day, both on the surface and below. Try Burks silhouette dun and drymerger B.W.O.'s. Small nymphs under an indicator have also been producing some very nice fish, try: San Jaun worms, mighty-mite baetis, ju-ju baetis and zebra midges.
East Walker
Flows are down to 19 cfs. This is very typical for this time of year. irrigation season is over. The flows should be between 15 cfs and 50 cfs all winter. The fishing remains pretty good. As the water gets lower a much more stealthy approach is a must. Nymphing with size 18 - 22 nymphs fished either short line style or under an indicator is the way to go. Hopper dropper set-ups will work but most of the big dries are gone for the season. The overnight lows in the Bridgeport area are expected to be really cold over the next week or so. Coupled with the low flows, anchor ice could be a problem. Afternoons are probably the only time to fish the East Walker over the next few weeks. Keep an eye on the flows and weather over the next month or so. Flies to try are any small baetis patterns and midges. Look for the occasional baetis hatch mid day, especially if there is some cloud cover.
Davis Lake and Frenchman's Reservoir:
Fishing here has been really good. Weather is going to start to ba an issue over the next few weeks. Look for ice to start forming and basically shut down the fishing. It would be a good idea to call Dollard's market in Chilcoot before you go.