Truckee Area

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

If one wants to fly fish the Truckee area; now is the time...before the snows fall. This month's fly angling has been good and it should continue for a couple of more weeks before air temps get too frigid. Truckee is in the teens at night.

Mid-day fly angling will provide you with the best opportunity. Earlier this week the big Truckee was blown-out because of the previous week-end's rain deluge at lower elevations. I believe the snow on the peaks will remain now. I still have small snow patches on the north side of my home (6500' elevation).

Fall is beautiful in the mountains. For you skiiers and gliders...looks like a really nice season is in store for you. Plus, the trout can use another good winter.

Frank R. Pisciotta

[Jay]

Ill be stomping around your neck of the woods on Sunday! Just stepped away from tying for the trip.

[WinterrunRon]

Frank,

What is your definition of the Truckee fishin "good"? Just curious.

I was up a little over a week ago and I agree, the Fall colors are gorgeous! Coming back again one day this week.

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

For me, "good" is 4-6 fish to the net in 5-8 hours on the BT or LT. I'm not talking inlets, just moving waters.

IMO, ratings are relative to the venue fished. Now, when I first started fly fishing in Northern California, on the Upper Sac, McCloud and Hat Creek, "good" was a minium of 10 trout brought to hand; anything less was "fair" at best.

Frank R. Pisciotta

Game is starting..........Go Giants!

[Jay]

Well, I managed 4, so I guess it was "good" afterall!

Spent about half of the time at the LT and the other half at the T. The baetis didnt make much of a show for us on the LT.

[Frank Roepke]

Thanks for the post Frank, great name by the way.....
I will be hooking up with Matt Koles, Gilligan’s Guide Service Sunday morning to pick up some of his flies. Then off to the river. Hopefully he will have some good recommendations on where to go; can’t wait.

Frank Roepke

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

Frank---Matt is great tyer and has developed some very creative...and productive...original patterns for the BT (big Truckee). I call him "da Sheriff of the Canyon". He lives in Hirschsdale; the BT being in his back-yard. I personally feel he is the most knowledgable fly fishing guide as it pertains from the LT inflow at Boca...through the canyon...to the CA/NV state-line.

Winterrun--- legit question about what I consider "good" relative to the fishing on BT and LT. Hey it is all relative to the individual. You live in Rosevillle (my wife is a "born & raised" Loomite). What to do considerr "good" for the BT or LT?

Below is an excerpt of an article I authored for the Spring 2002 issue of Northwest Fly Fishing

[I]"If you are looking for easy fly fishing, don't come here! California's Truckee River is not a good place for the dilettante. This fishery befuddles competent fly fishers. Also , self-proclaimed hotshots with high expectations gleaned from constant success on other flowing waters---I was there during my first decade of fly fishing---will be disheartened. But, if one is patient and attentive, this eastern Sierra freestone stream will begrudgingly expose its secrets."


Frank R. Pisciotta

[Frank Roepke]

Frank-
Thanks for the kind words about Matt. I look forward to meeting him and plan on hiring him for a guide one I take a Spay casting class for y Switch rod.
I have only fished the Truckee 6 times and have not done well, except by Squaw Valley area. Caught several smaller bows.
LT= Little Truckee & BT= Big Truckee?
I live in the Greenhaven area, south of downtown sac 5 miles, couple blocks from the Sac River. Roseville is a nice area, we have a store in Rocklin, and I’m up there quite a bit.

Frank

[WinterrunRon]

Frank, so far, I have to settle with "good" for me as being one 18" brown/15-20 hours fishing in the last month (I don't count dinks under 12", had a few of those). But when I say 15-20 hours, I mean hours of actual line in the water fishing. So I'd be thrilled with a multiple fish day. But I'd be eqully thrilled if I get that one big bite in the next trip... or three. I'm still looking for my big boy. Hope to get him in November!

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

Frank---Correct, BT and LT; big Truckee and Little Truckee respectively.

WinterRun---How many less than 12" have you caught during your 15-20 hours on the Truckee?

Frank R. Pisciotta

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I have fished the Truckee River "off and on" for over 40 years, very sporadically though, so much of what I can tell you about it is older info and from thousands of shop conversations for that long too.

It is close to Sacramento and the Bay Area.

It is a very unique fishery with very diverse food for the fish.

It has some monster fish in it.

It is very finicky for most average trout fly fishers.

It would be cool to fish it a lot and try many different techniques.

It has almost any type of water you can imagine in a trout stream too.

** I would go at least once with every local Truckee area fly fishing guide if you want to learn faster and change you luck dramtically.

[bigfly]

Bill, you nailed it on every count.
I tell people that aim to fish here, that it is as difficult as it is rewarding.
If you care to fish it well, address the points Bill made, and the fish will start to "magically" appear!
1. Since it is so close to population centers in NV. and CA both... try to fish some water that requires a walk. Fishing close to the car means a smarter/higher pressured group of fish nearby.
2. Because the food forms are so diverse, one must pay close attention to daily/seasonal changes to the "menu".
Do a seine for bugs, watch for daily hatch patterns, get as close to natural in you fly selection, etc.
3. We do have some fatties lurking about, but, they don't really want to cooperate.
Attention to detail (a fresh leader, and a good 1st drift for instance), and persistence counts here.
4. One can be an "average" fisherman, and get seriously spanked here. Those that fish it at a high level of competence, for a long time, still get hard lessons. The badly presented dry, or a nervous mend when drifting an indicator, tips them that the game is on.
5. Exploring, and mastering the wide range of techniques that work here, makes a better all around fisherman out of you.. when you fish this water well, fish will line up and take a number to be caught, when you fish other places. Cliche but true, really.....
6. The diverse types of water, and the way varying flow rates interact with it, forces changes to my approach, almost every time I go to the water.
The flows, force changes in where the fish will hold, so.. some water holds fish only some of the time. Avoid pool fixation, keep moving, cover water.

For the time being, I'm dealing with a loss in the family, and stand eight hours from my favorite water (In the desert!).
I'd appreciate it if you guys would fish it for me while I'm gone (and report). This is perhaps the best time of year to fish the Truckee, and I seriously miss it..
Say hello to Walter for me.

Jim

[Scott V]

Any time I fish anywhere I only hope for 1 fish, if I get more that is great. But I enjoy being out in the outdoors so if I do not catch fish, oh well it beats mowing the lawn. I have horrible allergies.

[Woodman]

Scott, I agree with you. One fish is my measure of a good day. If I get skunked I need to find a new "lucky hat"

The hours that I am focused on my fly/line/indicator are time I'm not thinking about more stressful things.

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

Scott & Woodman---I agree with your sentiments on "good" or "great" as it applies to fly fishing. I like to say that fishing is an excuse to walk and commune with nature.

Your comments also remind me of a POGO cartoon that I have clipped-out of the newspaper 10+ years ago:

Panel #1---character sitting by tree with rod and fishing in a stream and another asks "How's the fishing?".

Panel #2---fella with rod responds "Good".

Panel #3---Questioner asks "How many have you caught?". Angler "none."

Panel #4---Questioner (perplexed) "How is it good if you haven't caught any?".

Panel #5---Angler, "Oh, when you catch fish it is 'Great'".

Frank R. Pisciotta

[WinterrunRon]

Frank,

I'm going to say 6-8 maybe, but like I said, I don't count these. Not that they're too many to count, but I have little interest in anything less than my target fish! :evil: In any event, it's not a lot.

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

...weather holding and the trout are bulking-up...and eating.

Really crowded on the LT this last 4-5 days but the BT has been a pleasure to fly fish...solitude.

Frank R. Pisciotta

PS---Since most people note their blogs & websites...check-out my eclectic posts on mine...you may like it.

www.flyfishingcalifornia.blogspot.com