Truckee Area Update

[gilligan]

Hey Frank-Water was at 56 down near Hirschdale this morning. The release from Tahoe hasn't seemed to change a thing, it's been about 58-60 for the last week. Mornings have been cool again, maybe that's why. Fishing is still very good, hope you're getting on some yourself.

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[Frank R. Pisciotta]

"...stretch of water along state route #89 will have more water, but the caveat is the water-release is from the top of the lake which will be warmer than water-releases from bottom-release dams such as at Prosser and Boca dams."

Matt---I didn't mean to imply that waters below Prosser & Boca would also be warmer. My intent was that the water above Prosser inflow will be warmer than the cooler water below Prosser. The flow in your canyon are now perfect at 565 cfs. I'm sure it is exposing lot of prime lies which have been difficult to fish during the last months...and really confident you and your clients are having a very good time.

Today I met your buddy Travis at the cabin you helped me rent...thanks again.

Frank R. Pisciotta

[jayclarkflyfishing]

Yo Frank-
The water in Perazzo is pretty nice with fish eating grey drakes, yellow sallies, and some smaller mays that i wasn't able to identify.

Below the diversion its a different ballgame.Low warm flows and VERY small fish.Seems they bumped up the diversion flows and Independence Creek isn't adding much at a trickle of 8.4 cfs.

Jay

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

The weather around Truckee has been pleasant with blue skies, sparse cloud cover and mild breezes. We are experiencing mid-summer flyfishing conditions(in late August!); most especially clear and warming waters. Plenty of bugs are availalbe providing your timing is accurate; best approach being mornings and evening excursions, whether on moving or stillwaters.

The TRUCKEE RIVER has slowed a bit relative to the more productive angling we had during July and into early August.. The hackneyed reason... waters flirting with the higher 60's... by late afternoon, more signifcant in the upper river above Prosser inflow to Lake Tahoe; flowing at 278 cfs.

So, while angling in the "upper"river", it is best to seek cooler flows, whether you look for such at seepage springs and pocket-water surrounded by aerated whitwater. The other option is to explore the heavier currents below Prosser and Boca inflows; currently at 387 and 558 cfs, respectively. Overall,
deep nymphing techniques will provide the most consistent angling; more so during the heat of the day. "Picking pockets" with dry-dropper methods works best in the AM and during the last light of the day.

Generic patterns in sizes 14-18 are suggested. There are lots of Spotted Sedges with a waning amount of Little Yellow Stones flying around (Hint: in the streamside bushes). Like-sized, dry, downwinged patterns of the aforementioned get opportunistic grabs. Upwings such as Royal Wulffs and Humpies (I prefer ParaChute Humpies); any hair-wing attractors especially in the quicker flows.... Stimulators are good choices and do not hesitate to use an out-sized 10 or 12. The hoppers are thick now.

I must admit the most productive pattern I've used recently, with either deep-nymphing or as a dropper off of an indicator dry has been Matt "Gilligan" Koles' Gil's PMD Nymph. We have some great tyers in this area, even the well-known fly guru Andy Burk; but Gilligan's original patterns are fooling tons of trout in this area...and I do use Andy's patterns.

The Little Truckee is getting very low (139 cfs). There are both mayflies and caddis emerging...but very few heads showing, in the Meadow area. Now is the time of year I personally start using midges; as trailers during nymphing or dry-droppering.

It remains crowded with displays of poor angling etiquette; not to mention scammer guides who do not have USFS permits. The smaller trout are making more of an appearance. IMO, the larger ones have become very educated. Grade A spring-creek tactics...and skills...are required here. If not, do not venture here, you may become very frustrated.

Frank R. Pisciotta

www.cyberfly.com
www.flyfishingcalifornia.blogspot.com

[El Rey]

Frank, thanks for the update. Glad to hear the flows are down on the LT. I think I'll give it a try next week. I especially like the meadow section of the LT that you showed me some years ago. I've had pretty good success there over the years.

Ciao,
Harlan

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

Harlan----Yes the LT Meadow, a magical place.

But, not to blow anyone's bubble, I recently got a report of a mountain lion sighting there....extremely rare for this area.

Frank R. Pisciotta

[Jed Peters]

Harlan----

But, not to blow anyone's bubble, I recently got a report of a mountain lion sighting there....extremely rare for this area.

Frank R. Pisciotta

The Lion was actually spotted by the Teichert night watchman near the entrance to the club....

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

Jed----My mention of the mountain lion was one seen in the upper meadow of the Little Truckee about 2-3 weeks ago. The sighting by the night watchman may be the same lion since the distance of the sighting you mention is about 7-8 miles away.

I live in Tahoe Donner. Last year there was a suspected sighting in Tahoe Donner. About a week later tracks were verified as a mountain lion; 1/2 mile from my home! For years there was a known lion in the Euer Valley. All of these locations are within a 20 miles radius...well within the range of the same lion. Or an off-spring looking to establish new turf.

I'd like to hear from anyone who knows mountain lion behavior, range etc. Please send a PM, post on this thread or start a new thread on mountain lions in the Sierra. I've had bobcat on my back deck, but I'm not really comfortable with bigger, wild cat in the forest behind my home.

Frank R. Pisciotta

[jayclarkflyfishing]

Frank-
I've lived in the Sierra almost my entire life and I have seen ONE mountain lion in the wild.They are here no doubt, but I don't concern myself with them. I am aware that they are around but the chances that I am attacked are very slim. With that said, I know I have been watched by cats and probably stalked and I have heard them scream on the Sierra Buttes while skiing a couple of years back.

Jay

[Ralph]

Frank-
Over several years we had a lion routinely hanging near our house on Alder Drive. Lisa jogged underneath it one morning - it was laying on a branch of the tree and jumped off only after she had passed it. Lions are much more common than people suspect. I don't know anyone who has seen a lion in our neighborhood here in Nevada City, yet we pick them up all the time in our camera traps. Cool animals and I wouldn't be overly concerned by a "sighting". I'd be MUCH more concerned by a pack of feral dogs . . . which Truckee does have.