Bill Kiene semi-retired
07-21-2010, 09:55 PM
Fishing Report
Truckee River
The Truckee River continues to be in great shape. The flows are just about perfect from Tahoe City through Reno.
California - The flows are up slightly around the Town of Truckee at around 300 cfs. This stretch is fishing really well with a little more water in the river. The section below Boca Bridge still has substantially higher flows at around 525 cfs but that is normal for this time of year. In the mornings fish are being caught on both nymphs and streamers. There are a bunch of different bugs hatching in the evenings with Caddis and Little Yellow Stones out in force on most evenings. This is a great time of year to fish dry flies on the Truckee but you have to wait until the sun gets off the water an hour or so before dark.
Nevada - the Flows are perfect at around 380 cfs. The Nevada side is getting a lot of rafting pressure (non fishermen) in the afternoons. The best time to go is early to late mornings and them again the last hour or so before dark. The Nevada side has been stocked several times and planters can be found at all the normal spots. There are plenty of wild fish being caught as well.
Good nymphs to try are Poxy Back Golden Stones, Z-Wing Caddis and smaller Bottom Rollers. For streamers try Bandit Leaches, Orange Blossom Specials and Slump Busters. EC Caddis, Burk's Extended Body Little Yellow Stones and Elk Hair Caddis are the way to go for dries.
East Walker River
Irrigation season is in full swing. The East Walker is flowing at 302 cfs, fishable but way to high to cross. The fishing has been pretty good. Big Ugly dry flies have been catching some fish as well as streamers and nymphs. The streamside brush gets pretty thick this time of year and getting around is the tough part. The fish like to hang out near the banks when the flows are this high to get out of the current. Stone Dead Stones and Turk's Tarantulas are good dries to try. Poxy Back Stones with a smaller dropper like a Z Wing Caddis is a good start for nymphing.
East Carson River
Flows are down to 269 cfs and dropping daily. The flows should be at their best levels over the next month or so when they start to get a little low. It is still a little high to think about crossing but the fishing has been great. Mornings and evenings are the way to go here also. Hopper patterns as well as Golden Stone dries are worth trying either with or without a dropper. Golden Stone nymphs and Caddis Pupa for nymphing and just about any steamer pattern in your box is worth a try.
Little Truckee River
Flows are at 99 cfs. This is great news for the fish in the Little Truckee. They were starting to get really spooky when the flows were down to 30 cfs last week. There are still some Green Drakes and lots of PMD's in the mornings and there are signs of some Caddis hatching in the evenings. Midges are out almost every day at some point as well. The fish are really spread out now that the flows have come up and it should stay that way for a while now.
Davis Lake
The Damsels are out in force. The weed beds have finally matured and the fish are happy. The Damsels seem to be a little smaller than normal. The traditional Damsel patterns have not been working as well. If you are going to fish Davis, try downsizing your flies to a 14 or 16. Floating lines with long leaders with a 2 inch strip has been working well for some of the locals and guides. The best way to access the lake is from a float tube, pontoon boat or a small pram. Anchor near or in the weed beds and try to cast to cruising fish. The best time to be at Davis for the damsel hatch is between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm.
Frenchman's
The fishing has slowed a bit at Frenchman's due to warm water and pleasure boaters. There are still fish being caught but mostly in the mornings. Nymphing with a variety of bead head nymphs have been working as well as stripping snail patterns, damsels and leaches.
Truckee River
The Truckee River continues to be in great shape. The flows are just about perfect from Tahoe City through Reno.
California - The flows are up slightly around the Town of Truckee at around 300 cfs. This stretch is fishing really well with a little more water in the river. The section below Boca Bridge still has substantially higher flows at around 525 cfs but that is normal for this time of year. In the mornings fish are being caught on both nymphs and streamers. There are a bunch of different bugs hatching in the evenings with Caddis and Little Yellow Stones out in force on most evenings. This is a great time of year to fish dry flies on the Truckee but you have to wait until the sun gets off the water an hour or so before dark.
Nevada - the Flows are perfect at around 380 cfs. The Nevada side is getting a lot of rafting pressure (non fishermen) in the afternoons. The best time to go is early to late mornings and them again the last hour or so before dark. The Nevada side has been stocked several times and planters can be found at all the normal spots. There are plenty of wild fish being caught as well.
Good nymphs to try are Poxy Back Golden Stones, Z-Wing Caddis and smaller Bottom Rollers. For streamers try Bandit Leaches, Orange Blossom Specials and Slump Busters. EC Caddis, Burk's Extended Body Little Yellow Stones and Elk Hair Caddis are the way to go for dries.
East Walker River
Irrigation season is in full swing. The East Walker is flowing at 302 cfs, fishable but way to high to cross. The fishing has been pretty good. Big Ugly dry flies have been catching some fish as well as streamers and nymphs. The streamside brush gets pretty thick this time of year and getting around is the tough part. The fish like to hang out near the banks when the flows are this high to get out of the current. Stone Dead Stones and Turk's Tarantulas are good dries to try. Poxy Back Stones with a smaller dropper like a Z Wing Caddis is a good start for nymphing.
East Carson River
Flows are down to 269 cfs and dropping daily. The flows should be at their best levels over the next month or so when they start to get a little low. It is still a little high to think about crossing but the fishing has been great. Mornings and evenings are the way to go here also. Hopper patterns as well as Golden Stone dries are worth trying either with or without a dropper. Golden Stone nymphs and Caddis Pupa for nymphing and just about any steamer pattern in your box is worth a try.
Little Truckee River
Flows are at 99 cfs. This is great news for the fish in the Little Truckee. They were starting to get really spooky when the flows were down to 30 cfs last week. There are still some Green Drakes and lots of PMD's in the mornings and there are signs of some Caddis hatching in the evenings. Midges are out almost every day at some point as well. The fish are really spread out now that the flows have come up and it should stay that way for a while now.
Davis Lake
The Damsels are out in force. The weed beds have finally matured and the fish are happy. The Damsels seem to be a little smaller than normal. The traditional Damsel patterns have not been working as well. If you are going to fish Davis, try downsizing your flies to a 14 or 16. Floating lines with long leaders with a 2 inch strip has been working well for some of the locals and guides. The best way to access the lake is from a float tube, pontoon boat or a small pram. Anchor near or in the weed beds and try to cast to cruising fish. The best time to be at Davis for the damsel hatch is between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm.
Frenchman's
The fishing has slowed a bit at Frenchman's due to warm water and pleasure boaters. There are still fish being caught but mostly in the mornings. Nymphing with a variety of bead head nymphs have been working as well as stripping snail patterns, damsels and leaches.