Bull_Dog
10-03-2012, 11:44 AM
October is here! Wow the summer went fast. It actually still feels like summer except for the days getting shorter. Forecasts for the Reno-Tahoe area are for way warmer than average air temps for the next few days and then it cools off some but the temps are still going to be above the normal for this time of year. It has however cooled off enough to get the fall bite started at many of our area waters.
Truckee River
The Truckee is in great shape from Tahoe City all the way through Reno. The upper stretch is low but it can fish really well at lower levels. This stretch has more small wild Rainbows and Browns that can get podded up in the bigger pools in the fall. Most of the larger tributaries of the Truckee like Donner Lake, Prosser and Boca Reservoirs are donating water pretty evenly right now. Overall the flows are down from this summer. There have been a few October Caddis sightings and tons of smaller mayflies throughout the day. Nymphing either with an indicator or “Floater No Cator” style high sticking has been really effective. There are still some fish in faster water where an indicator can hinder a good drift. Both techniques should be in your arsenal to most effectively fish the Truckee River any time of year. October Caddis patterns are a good choice for a lead fly and droppers can be a variety of mayfly patterns in sizes 14-18. The Brown Trout are really starting to get active and the next month or so should be awesome.
East Walker River
Flows are 79 CFS. They have been fluctuating a bit but it has actually helped. When the flows go up and down only 10-25 CFS it does not spook the fish too bad and they actually can get more active. This coupled with cooler nights in the area has had a positive impact on the fishing. Hoppers are out in force enjoying their last days before they draw the freeze card and disappear until the next summer. The flows are perfect for Hopper Dropper set-ups and the fish have been looking up a bit more recently. Nymphing has also been outstanding either “DCA” style or “Floater No Cator” Commonly referred to as High Sticking. Caddis, Baetis and Midges in sizes 16-20 have been working well for all nymph rigs. Look for the flows to drop below 50 CFS before long which is normal going into the winter months as irrigation season ends.
Little Truckee River
Flows have been 45 CFS for a solid month. On the bright side it is better than 30 CFS :-D. There are plenty of fish in the river but they are tough to catch and very spooky. The warmer than average September has slowed down the normal fall changes. The leaves are starting to turn and the nights are starting to cool down for sure. Fall Baetis are starting to hatch mid day and it will not be long until the Browns move up stream for their yearly spawn. If you are going to the Little Truckee take all your Baetis nymphs and dries, your midges and some 6X and 7X tippet. Wear natural colored clothing and leave the bright hats at home. Try to stay out of the water as much as possible.
Davis Lake
The fishing at Davis has really picked up over the past week. Jon Baiocchi, local guide helped us out with the report this week. Blood Midges are hatching in the mornings around 8:30am and that is usually followed up by a Callabaetis hatch at 11:00am. There are numerous ways to approach the fishing at Davis right now. Maybe the most attractive method is chasing big Rainbows in shallow water in the mornings eating Blood Midges on the surface. It is very rare to get this opportunity but it is happening now. You can still use your boat for transportation to get to a shoreline that is out of or has little wind. The most important thing is to not beat the water. Have patience and scout for feeding fish and tread lightly. The other option is to have one of the area guides that are on to this pattern show you the ropes.
Frenchman’s Reservoir
The fishing at Frenchman’s is off the charts. The fish have grown all summer and they are really rambunctious. There is an awesome Callabaetis hatch mid mornings and there have also been some Blood Midges around. Snail patterns fished on a sink tip or intermediate sink fly line in 4-12 feet of water have been working well. Nymphing with a “DCA” in the same type of water has also been effective. Maholo Nymphs and Midges are a good way to go.
Pyramid Lake
Pyramid opened with a bang. If you like to troll in 20-40 feet of water that is. We are experiencing a very warm fall and the water temps at Pyramid are still very warm. This has kept fish out of the shallows for sure. There are tons of Tui Chubs schooled up along various beaches but the Trout are not there yet. As the water temps continue to cool we should see more fish in and around the schools of bait. Your best bet for fly fishing right now is to fish deep off some type of boat or on one of the many beaches that have steep drop-offs.
Truckee River
The Truckee is in great shape from Tahoe City all the way through Reno. The upper stretch is low but it can fish really well at lower levels. This stretch has more small wild Rainbows and Browns that can get podded up in the bigger pools in the fall. Most of the larger tributaries of the Truckee like Donner Lake, Prosser and Boca Reservoirs are donating water pretty evenly right now. Overall the flows are down from this summer. There have been a few October Caddis sightings and tons of smaller mayflies throughout the day. Nymphing either with an indicator or “Floater No Cator” style high sticking has been really effective. There are still some fish in faster water where an indicator can hinder a good drift. Both techniques should be in your arsenal to most effectively fish the Truckee River any time of year. October Caddis patterns are a good choice for a lead fly and droppers can be a variety of mayfly patterns in sizes 14-18. The Brown Trout are really starting to get active and the next month or so should be awesome.
East Walker River
Flows are 79 CFS. They have been fluctuating a bit but it has actually helped. When the flows go up and down only 10-25 CFS it does not spook the fish too bad and they actually can get more active. This coupled with cooler nights in the area has had a positive impact on the fishing. Hoppers are out in force enjoying their last days before they draw the freeze card and disappear until the next summer. The flows are perfect for Hopper Dropper set-ups and the fish have been looking up a bit more recently. Nymphing has also been outstanding either “DCA” style or “Floater No Cator” Commonly referred to as High Sticking. Caddis, Baetis and Midges in sizes 16-20 have been working well for all nymph rigs. Look for the flows to drop below 50 CFS before long which is normal going into the winter months as irrigation season ends.
Little Truckee River
Flows have been 45 CFS for a solid month. On the bright side it is better than 30 CFS :-D. There are plenty of fish in the river but they are tough to catch and very spooky. The warmer than average September has slowed down the normal fall changes. The leaves are starting to turn and the nights are starting to cool down for sure. Fall Baetis are starting to hatch mid day and it will not be long until the Browns move up stream for their yearly spawn. If you are going to the Little Truckee take all your Baetis nymphs and dries, your midges and some 6X and 7X tippet. Wear natural colored clothing and leave the bright hats at home. Try to stay out of the water as much as possible.
Davis Lake
The fishing at Davis has really picked up over the past week. Jon Baiocchi, local guide helped us out with the report this week. Blood Midges are hatching in the mornings around 8:30am and that is usually followed up by a Callabaetis hatch at 11:00am. There are numerous ways to approach the fishing at Davis right now. Maybe the most attractive method is chasing big Rainbows in shallow water in the mornings eating Blood Midges on the surface. It is very rare to get this opportunity but it is happening now. You can still use your boat for transportation to get to a shoreline that is out of or has little wind. The most important thing is to not beat the water. Have patience and scout for feeding fish and tread lightly. The other option is to have one of the area guides that are on to this pattern show you the ropes.
Frenchman’s Reservoir
The fishing at Frenchman’s is off the charts. The fish have grown all summer and they are really rambunctious. There is an awesome Callabaetis hatch mid mornings and there have also been some Blood Midges around. Snail patterns fished on a sink tip or intermediate sink fly line in 4-12 feet of water have been working well. Nymphing with a “DCA” in the same type of water has also been effective. Maholo Nymphs and Midges are a good way to go.
Pyramid Lake
Pyramid opened with a bang. If you like to troll in 20-40 feet of water that is. We are experiencing a very warm fall and the water temps at Pyramid are still very warm. This has kept fish out of the shallows for sure. There are tons of Tui Chubs schooled up along various beaches but the Trout are not there yet. As the water temps continue to cool we should see more fish in and around the schools of bait. Your best bet for fly fishing right now is to fish deep off some type of boat or on one of the many beaches that have steep drop-offs.