Happy Fishgiving from the Little Truckee :)

[Gregg]

The better half and I wound up with no kids and no plans for Thanksgiving, so decided to gear up and run to Truckee to catch a bit of the BWO hatch midday. Grabbed some coffee and with snow still in the air managed to get on the water and scout out some rises. With the fresh snow on the ground it's almost too still out there, the only sound was us laughing while we fooled a couple a nice bows on dries in between breaking the ice out of our rod tips. Quick drive back down the hill to open some wine and cook up some scallops and pasta and throw a movie on. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/908/XThLzN.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/p8XThLzNj)
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/633/WfOm1q.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/hlWfOm1qj)
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/910/5QdZ6L.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pa5QdZ6Lj)
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/633/4jZ9vv.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/hl4jZ9vvj)

[Randy Lee]

Your living the dream Gregg.Fantastic pics.
Randy

[Mark Kranhold]

Awesome looking day, some great pics as well!

[PV_Premier]

Your living the dream Gregg

understatement of the year!:p

[Gregg]

It's been a pretty fun year, been trying to get out there as much as possible. If you see us on the water come say hey!

[Morgan]

Very cool pics Gregg! Looks like you guys had a great time.

[k9mark]

You're a lucky man

[RaffiB]

Lucky man and a dream way to spend thanksgiving!!!! Great pics by the way

Rafdawg_34

[cdevine]

Lucky man and a dream way to spend thanksgiving!!!! Great pics by the way

Rafdawg_34

Road going out was pretty icy and snowy last week. Going to be tougher after these storms we are getting. Not a bad thing if it shuts down for a little while. Nice BWO hatch going on. Fish are super healthy.

Cool pics. Congrats.

[Troutstalker55B]

Road going out was pretty icy and snowy last week. Going to be tougher after these storms we are getting. Not a bad thing if it shuts down for a little while. Nice BWO hatch going on. Fish are super healthy.

Cool pics. Congrats.

Great pictures Gregg, thanks for sharing.

Closing the Little Truckee from November 15th to the last Saturday in April needs to happen. The river is being raped, and the ecosystem of such is suffering. Back in the day there was never such a thing as a year round fishery, we gave them a break, and they gave back during the warm months. I hope that TU #103 takes the lead on this. It has to happen. - J.

[cdevine]

Great pictures Gregg, thanks for sharing.

Closing the Little Truckee from November 15th to the last Saturday in April needs to happen. The river is being raped, and the ecosystem of such is suffering. Back in the day there was never such a thing as a year round fishery, we gave them a break, and they gave back during the warm months. I hope that TU #103 takes the lead on this. It has to happen. - J.


Its hard to argue that. I'm a member of TU#103 and everyone I've met has been really outstanding. Just look at the recent restoration work.

Normal winters I never touched this place. Just isn't really my thing. Rather have the solitude. Then again normal winters its nearly impossible to get too. I would fish mainly from Lockwood down to USA parkway. (nevada truckee) Some great winter truckee fishing. We all know that area is pretty hard hit by the drought.

The one thing I can say is the fish I landed were healthy and hard fighting. No sign of abuse or wear. I heard a quote from somebody recently that made a lot of sense. "Some folks just like to get out and wet a line." Its the 10% of the people that are catching most of the fish. So while it might be crowded it doesn't necessarily mean that fish are getting yanked out left and right. We all know how tough that place is.

I don't want to hijack the thread. These were nice pics caught by 2 people who look very happy.
I will leave it at that.

[Troutstalker55B]

Its hard to argue that. I'm a member of TU#103 and everyone I've met has been really outstanding. Just look at the recent restoration work.

Normal winters I never touched this place. Just isn't really my thing. Rather have the solitude. Then again normal winters its nearly impossible to get too. I would fish mainly from Lockwood down to USA parkway. (nevada truckee) Some great winter truckee fishing. We all know that area is pretty hard hit by the drought.

The one thing I can say is the fish I landed were healthy and hard fighting. No sign of abuse or wear. I heard a quote from somebody recently that made a lot of sense. "Some folks just like to get out and wet a line." Its the 10% of the people that are catching most of the fish. So while it might be crowded it doesn't necessarily mean that fish are getting yanked out left and right. We all know how tough that place is.

I don't want to hijack the thread. These were nice pics caught by 2 people who look very happy.
I will leave it at that.

The bottom line is the Little Truckee needs to be closed during winter whether it's a dry year, or a wet year with heavy snow. I know the Truckee area well, my family had a cabin on the main stem between Squaw Valley and Truckee in the early 70's. I lived in the town of Truckee from 86 to 91 and fished the Hirschdale area when there was no sheriff. I'm not going away and I
will make damn sure this issue is resolved. - J.

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

Wow!---Hey guys this is a wonderful topic and I'm glad that Jon brought it up.

Why not start a new thread and we can discuss. IMO it is a timely topic. I've been lobbying for a winter closure since the regs were changed. I've even written a "manifesto" about my opinions on the LT.

I know a lot of local, looong-time fly-anglers (...and TU members) in this area. Almost all have no problem with closing the LT during the winter. As an active TU 103 member, how would do you propose that the local TU be made aware of the feelings of a lot of local fly fishers?

Chris, as a starter, I agree with Jon; close the LT during the winter. Personally I've see a lot of abused trout on the LT; maybe you haven't fished there a lot. They have been hammered for 4 years without a break because there has been unimpeded access. Thus far we have some snow, so that will slow impact down this year. But be mindful, if some sparse weather re-visits the future...they get hammered again. I say giv'em a break.

Frank R. Pisciotta

[cdevine]

[QUOTE=Frank R. Pisciotta;162096]Wow!---Hey guys this is a wonderful topic and I'm glad that Jon brought it up.

Why not start a new thread and we can discuss. IMO it is a timely topic. I've been lobbying for a winter closure since the regs were changed. I've even written a "manifesto" about my opinions on the LT.

I know a lot of local, looong-time fly-anglers (...and TU members) in this area. Almost all have no problem with closing the LT during the winter. As an active TU 103 member, how would do you propose that the local TU be made aware of the feelings of a lot of local fly fishers?

Chris, as a starter, I agree with Jon; close the LT during the winter. Personally I've see a lot of abused trout on the LT; maybe you haven't fished there a lot. They have been hammered for 4 years without a break because there has been unimpeded access. Thus far we have some snow, so that will slow impact down this year. But be mindful, if some sparse weather re-visits the future...they get hammered again. I say giv'em a break.

Frank R. Pisciotta[

I would vote to close it. (If I had a vote). I really haven't fished it much Frank so I can't speak to abused fish. Sorry to hear that. I think they should close the east walker as well. Another fishery that could take a rest. The great thing about the big truckee during normal years is the length and there are areas that don't get pressure because challenging to wade or traverse. You don't feel like you are rubbing elbows.

Question - why was it reopened in the first place?

[John Sv]

Question - why was it reopened in the first place?
In my conversations with CA DFW, the fish and game commission moved for changing the reg in what they thought was to make fly fishermen happy. The anti-year-round crowd weren't terribly vocal at the time if memory serves. That is not intended to be a disparaging comment. I think it was more of a blind-side to that segment of the fishing population. For some reason I think I was at the meeting where fish and game comm reco'd it, and there was a fair bit of comments that 'we just want at least one year round opp in the Sierra'. Same with the Big T. I think they came on as year-round at the same time. (I was there for something else. The above kinda reads like I was there to support year round season, which was not the case)

I walked the LT before the first storm- the habitat improvements are looking good! Nice job TRWC and TU!!!

[Gregg]

If I can figure out how to re-title this thread to "The possible raping and pillaging of the trouts of the Little Truckee discussion forum" I'll do it, not sure if that is an admin edit tho.

I'm indifferent to it being open or closed over the winter because on normal or semi-normal years it's virtually impossible to get back there when the road snows over. I've only recently started fishing the LT after 12 years of fly fishing because honestly, the two times I went before I couldn't even get a hit, and when the weather turned I always got turned away by the road. The handful of times I have been back there this winter so far I've seen 4 or 5 people on the water scattered over a few miles, and in casually chatting with them most everyone reports only a fish here and there hooked. I think there are a few pros on that water who fish it all the time and land high #'s of fish, like Cdevine said, but most everyone I chat with is leaving empty handed or with maybe one to net. I'm not opposed to it staying open for the diehards who want to snowshoe 3 miles in for total solitude, I think the nature of the fishery and the weather works enough as a seasonal closure for most people who cast out there. If we're talking about hammering fish, the Yuba could honestly use a break if anything. It's like a goddamn armada of guide boats through there most days and a number of the fish I've landed look way more beat up than anything I've stuck on the LT. All that being said, I'd still be totally fine with a LT closure if people smarter than me (ie: everyone) thought it was needed.

Now, all that being said, the fish we landed yesterday looked beyond healthy. Super vibrant color, no ragged jaws from hooks, and thick and strong. And the other 2 people we saw on the water said they got skunked.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/907/2VfdSG.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/p72VfdSGj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/633/uxXrSG.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/hluxXrSGj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/905/uOOLZY.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/p5uOOLZYj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/908/f6oK7V.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/p8f6oK7Vj)

[sierraangler]

If I can figure out how to re-title this thread to "The possible raping and pillaging of the trouts of the Little Truckee discussion forum" I'll do it, not sure if that is an admin edit tho.

I'm indifferent to it being open or closed over the winter because on normal or semi-normal years it's virtually impossible to get back there when the road snows over. I've only recently started fishing the LT after 12 years of fly fishing because honestly, the two times I went before I couldn't even get a hit, and when the weather turned I always got turned away by the road. The handful of times I have been back there this winter so far I've seen 4 or 5 people on the water scattered over a few miles, and in casually chatting with them most everyone reports only a fish here and there hooked. I think there are a few pros on that water who fish it all the time and land high #'s of fish, like Cdevine said, but most everyone I chat with is leaving empty handed or with maybe one to net. I'm not opposed to it staying open for the diehards who want to snowshoe 3 miles in for total solitude, I think the nature of the fishery and the weather works enough as a seasonal closure for most people who cast out there. If we're talking about hammering fish, the Yuba could honestly use a break if anything. It's like a goddamn armada of guide boats through there most days and a number of the fish I've landed look way more beat up than anything I've stuck on the LT. All that being said, I'd still be totally fine with a LT closure if people smarter than me (ie: everyone) thought it was needed.

Now, all that being said, the fish we landed yesterday looked beyond healthy. Super vibrant color, no ragged jaws from hooks, and thick and strong. And the other 2 people we saw on the water said they got skunked.




I completely agree. What a buzzkill on a thread that was meant to share some stoke... which this place sorely needs more of. It's also good to see someone else has got his GF into fishing as well (and she actually likes it!).

This is the first winter I've really gone out and fished the LT. In the last 6 weeks, what I'd call "winter", I have been out there ~4 times, all on weekends. In the warmer months I probably fish there ~2-3x per month on average. When I go it's at least for 3-4hrs if not more. 1st time I saw 1 other angler and there was 2 other cars besides mine. I think I got 2 fish that day. 2nd time I was the only car, there were boot tracks in the snow so someone had been out the day prior but not one other angler out while I was there. Got 4 fish to the net and lost 2-3, which was one of my better days on the LT, and I would think a good day by anyone's standards. One of which was a very healthy 18" brown. Sunday I saw the most cars I've seen in a while - 5 other cars, but only 2 other very courteous anglers while fishing. Got one healthy 16" brown and had another similar sized, very feisty, healthy rainbow which did his Flipper imitation and spit the hook. Not once have I landed a fish that was tattered, torn or unhealthy looking or was I unable to safely release a fish back into the river.

I'm no guide or pro, but my personal 1st hand experience, even in the warmer months, does not match up with what others are saying about this river getting hammered. After this weekend, and during any other normal winter, you won't even be able to get out there unless you are very motivated and have a sled. The most anglers I have ever seen on any given day summer or winter actually on the river is probably 6, and that's when I see guides w/ clients. The vast majority of the times I go to the LT I see no one, or maybe 1 other angler on a completely different stretch. Granted, I don't usually fish from the upper lot and will bypass the other access points with cars specifically to spread myself out, so maybe that affects my experience. But if anyone is focused just on fishing the upper lot only and 5% of the available water, then I think they are probably missing the point to begin with. Usually what I get out there is solitude, unlike the the Big T. That place can be a junk show, Hirschdale in particular.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/711/23511353832_22592693d8_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/BPBQnw)

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/658/23252018439_1be36fd51a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/BqGEZD)

**no fish were harmed in the writing of this post**

[JasonB]

If I can figure out how to re-title this thread to "The possible raping and pillaging of the trouts of the Little Truckee discussion forum" I'll do it, not sure if that is an admin edit tho.


I wasn't going to further hijack your thread, which I thought was very nice and looked like a great way to spend Thanksgiving. Since we're on the topic of hammering the LT, or the BT, or the EW, or the Y... or any other letter configuration someone cares to add to the mix:
I am all for both regulatory, and personal/ethical restraint at times when/where needed. I too am somewhat indifferent if the stream were closed to winter fishing as it's not really my main winter playground; I just don't really see it being a game changer for the health of the fish there personally. I'm no biologist, nor even any sort of expert at all, but I do have to wonder about the efficacy of a winter closure in regards to minimizing our angler impact on streams like the LT. Given the numbers of anglers in the spring-fall season versus the winter season I would think that limiting the numbers of summer anglers would be FAR more effective.

I realize that it would likely be unpopular with a lot of anglers, but I've often felt that I would vastly prefer a daily/weekly limit to the numbers of anglers on the real high pressure streams such as the LT. Not just for the fish, but also to improve the angling experience for all. I fish a lot in the winter, in part, because I prefer the less crowded conditions. Only being allowed to fish a certain stream during peak season along with every guide, dude, dudette, dog, and cousin just seems like the wrong direction imho. I'd much rather have a fewer opportunities to fish a given stream IF I knew that the trade off would be less pressured fish and fewer anglers when I did get the opportunities.

I'd be supportive of making regulation changes for the health of the fishery, but I think there are other possible options that would do more than a winter closure. Until then, it is legal, and I don't think that Greg showed any signs of un-ethical fishing here as far as I can tell; and I don't think his post warrants any heat.
Cheers,
JB

[Morgan]

It seems a lot of the time im on the LT there are just as many dog walkers as there are fishermen. If one river system is closed to "protect", the health of the fish then another system suffers. Winter will come and the LT will be a pain in the ass to reach. Just give it time and enjoy what we have for now.

[cdevine]

It seems a lot of the time im on the LT there are just as many dog walkers as there are fishermen. If one river system is closed to "protect", the health of the fish then another system suffers. Winter will come and the LT will be a pain in the ass to reach. Just give it time and enjoy what we have for now.

You guys Rock! I think I'm the dumb one... 8 degrees when I took this pic a couple weeks ago. Sorry I thought it was worth showing so hopefully doesn't offend. Entire river to myself. I also fish a lot during the winter because the crowds are less. During the summer I hike into the elevation stuff. I think the LT is done for the winter guys. Everybody can be happy now. Lots of snow on the way this week and hopefully we have a big winter with tons of precipitation. If you do the x country ski thing more power to you. That is dedication.

But I also see a lot of bird watchers and dog walkers enjoying the area. Often times in the lower section of the river where I've happened to catch both my biggest brown and rainbow. An area that doesn't see much pressure.