Truckee CA.

[bigfly]

Conditions are about perfect...
Near 60 deg air. Blue skies.
Chilly at night.
Avg.54 water. Clear/green.
Low flows on the upper section (Above town).
400 cfs down below.
Fish are loving it.
Moving to flies....

Far fewer folks on the water.
Fish are only slightly less spooky.
Dries for little guys...
Big bites for piggies.
Sz20 Baetis, Baetis, and more Baetis....
BWOs, sz18.
A bunch of sz 18 Caddis.
Hoppers still around...
Streamers.
You choose....

This is some of the best fishing of the year.
This week is sunny, can't say about next week......
I'm going out now, looking for Walter.
Hope you are getting out.

Jim

[Morgan]

Going to go chase steel instead.
Darn ;)

[Chet Troutpuncher]

Ripped streamers down in the canyon yesterday afternoon.
Damn pretty out there and fishing wasn't too shabby either.
Landed one nice brown on a streamer. Especially cool because it was a fly Andy Burk tied and gave me when I bought my switch rod from the West River Fly Shop a few years ago. I forget what he called it but it's trout fry imitation. Kind of a cross between a Dirty Hippy and a Home Invader.
The dog landed a meaty and stinky deer leg.
Everyone was happy.

[bigfly]

Chet, sorry I missed the deer leg.....
Plenty of carcases near I-80, Little Rico rolled in one.
He was pleased as well.
Give me a call to fish.

Andy's ties are hard to duplicate....but I'm getting closer....
At least the fish are eating them.

Switched to my new Grey's Streamflex (11ft 4wt.) Shortlined yesterday for numbers.....
Today we go back to swinging streamers.
Practice makes perfect......
Steelhead time is nearly upon us.

[Dan LeCount]

Switched to my new Grey's Streamflex (11ft 4wt.) Shortlined yesterday for numbers.....


haha, youve been converted! They really are pretty badass for high sticking.
And senor Kwan, Andys streamer you're thinking of is probably his "Zombie"

[bigfly]

I'm always saying, the art to fly fishing, is being able to change techniques as needed.
"Let the water tell you how to fish."
The Euro approach is perfectly suited high pressure waters like ours......
Perfect for Winter fishing as well.
This stick throws a dry fly too.......sweet.
I'll be getting another.

Jim

[Chet Troutpuncher]

Thanks Dan. I'm committed to becoming a better streamer fisherman right now.
When I head out now I only have two fly boxes: weighted and unweighted streamers.
Simplifies things so much and SO much less fussing with set-ups.
More room for beer in my waist pack too.

[bigfly]

Chet, making more room for beer.......
There's a strategy I never thought of!
Brilliant!
I applaud your dedication to learning too.
Let's go swing the big stick soon. (It's a two hander!)
I can hear them talking......

Jim

[steveg137]

So this weekend for the first time I had some consistent success high sticking (Upper Sac), allowed me to fish (and catch) in water that previously I'd either not fish or only fish with dries.

Can see how a longer rod (I was using 9.5ft) would help, the streamdance 11ft looks great. Grey's have excellent reputation in the UK, I just picked up GRX 9foot 7 weight for $100 on sale, will be using it for Steelhead and trying for bones on honeymoon Belize in Jan (assuming I'd allowed by the boss).

Going to get to grips with high sticking some more this fall, exciting to start learning a new skill on the water!

Steve

[double ipa]

Aren't the two handlers great! Seems I fish with mine 75% of the time now. Caught a nice brown on the T with that 2 hander purchased from TRO and a streamer Dan tied for me awhile back. Just returned from a week on the Mighty North where some nice bright large friends of mine ate a few trad patterns on the swing. Stopped on the K on the way back and found some half pounders too. See you at there on the river.

[bigfly]

http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac260/Bigfly1/Bigflyguideservice%20slide%20show/PA040185.jpg (http://s905.photobucket.com/user/Bigfly1/media/Bigflyguideservice%20slide%20show/PA040185.jpg.html)
Truckee CA. "town run" in fall color..


The question is, how we ever got along without a big stick?
Some say it's a little heavy, but when you do hook up.......it's not a one-sided conversation.
My new SH 4wt is much lighter, but still has the reach!
Great for smaller, pockety Fall flows.
Surgical mends.....
I have one of Dan's streamers too, in case.
Glad you are hooking up chrome-wise.
See ya....

Jim

[JohnD]

That's a pretty piece of water. Is it NV side?

[Chet Troutpuncher]

That section is in town. A little bit below the Donner Creek confluence.

Woolhead sculpins (olive and black) worked pretty well yesterday afternoon. Two nice browns in the 14" neighborhood.
The main attraction was the first grab I got, though, which felt like the chinook salmon I had for dinner.
Two big slow head wags, downstream at warp speed for a second, quick stop...then upstream at warp speed.
Unbuttoned.

[bigfly]

Another sad tale of fish that got away.
Sounds like a wild fish to me.
These guys practice the "go to Reno" move.
With the get some slack (I'm back!) chaser.
I'd hate them if I didn't love it so much.
Two days ago, I watched a local fish ninja catch 6-7 in about 10 drifts......
Then he hooked a pig he couldn't follow.
No head shake, just gone.
Even those who are prepared, are often not ready.
Not knowing whether it will be 8" or 8lbs, on the 1st drift, or the last of the day.
It is why we live/fish here.
Ya gotta love it, well.....mostly.
Thanks for the report Chet.....
We'll fish soon.

Jim

[Dan LeCount]

I'm always saying, the art to fly fishing, is being able to change techniques as needed.
"Let the water tell you how to fish."
The Euro approach is perfectly suited high pressure waters like ours......
Perfect for Winter fishing as well.
This stick throws a dry fly too.......sweet.
I'll be getting another.

Jim

Yea, they're great hopper rods and can even do delicate dry work as well. (especially the 11' 3wt)

[bigfly]

Winter menu is in effect.
Smaller dark Baetis sz 20, BWOs sz18, and of course, Midges sz20-22-24 etc.....
Look for risers...they are spooky in this clear/lower water condition.
Nymphing, either short-line or bobber fishing will work...
Saw some Little Winter stones yesterday.....
Very occasional streamer chase (Skulpin).
Truckee river below Trout creek is open (Just upstream of 267 bridge) to state line NV., C&R only.
Water is green/clear. 40-42 deg. or so...Air temp 28 high,13 low....
Nights are cold enough to cause a little shore ice to start forming........
Bring some clothes.....the next two days will be funky, with 2-3" of snow.
Then clearing and very cold (low of -2 deg on wed.)
I'll see you out there.....


Jim

[Cmcculloch]

PM sent today.

[bigfly]

http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac260/Bigfly1/Clients/df79fd68-a8c4-4564-85b7-b9f4241314a5.jpg (http://s905.photobucket.com/user/Bigfly1/media/Clients/df79fd68-a8c4-4564-85b7-b9f4241314a5.jpg.html)
Hoar frost and a Truckee river "1/2 pounder".....

Blue skies today 12-22-13.
Air temp 44 deg water temp 33 deg.
Shore is patchy snow, river ice has relented.
Always bring your Stanley's ice paste.....
Parking isn't an issue yet, nor are the approaches.
Check your antifreeze..... Another tip....Buy local window washer fluid -15 deg.
The roads are good, but drive carefully anyway.
Should be a great week.......

Jim