Truckee - May

[bigfly]

It appears we are over the hump, the melt has peaked.
Provided it doesn't get too warm.....cross fingers.
The color and flows above town are really nice.
Mid morning temps are best. Temp dropped to46 deg today.
They aren't crazy about swings in temp......

Not as wade-able below town. (Below Donner crk)
Pick a side and fish it.
Very wide stretches are best for crossing.
Be careful wading, maybe bring a staff for below town.
Mostly the lower canyon's still too big to wade, much...waters still too cold to swim.
Fish are eating streamers more now.
The bug of choice for me has been a March Brown nymph. sz 18-16.
Seeing Western Green Drake, Golden stone, and little Yellow Sallie nymphs.
Dark Baetis nymphs sz 18-20.
No Ants yet.......
Worms galore.
Still a few Skwalla adult/nymph around.
Used 3 AB's to get down in the med sized water, and 4 AB's in fast stuff.
1-2 will do for slower water drifts.
The grabs are super-fast/tentative. Two bumps and gone. Bring your gunfighter reflexes/stare.
They know it's game on.....
Some fish are very close to shore, until you walk up...
3x to top fly, use 4x for your dropper fly.
Been extending my 10 ft leader, for deeper runs.
I landed a feisty 16" wild bow on 5x in heavy water. (Was out of 4x....!!!)
Made the fight drag too long. Fish was fine, I was tired..... bit of a chase is required......
Raise your odds...and treat them nice.

My advice, is to rollcast and waterload when using this much weight.
Big open loops.
I can fish all day without tangles this way, most clients as well.....
But overhand casts require many "breaks" to sort things out......using precious/expensive time.
And..... you fish like a mercenary, no false casting to waste time.....or spook fish.
Faster, more accurate drift cycles, mean more fish.

Been fishing the switch rod more often.
It is the tool for Spring on the T.
Have fun, be safe....and pinch those barbs.

Jim

[EricO]

Gracias Senor Jim....great report and super timing.

Hitting it this week. Will report back this week!

Eric

[Morgan]

After spending some time on the river w/ you I now understand what you put down....for the most part. Ive been honing my skills. Hope to get on the T again soon.

[EricO]

Wed T report.

Water flows were perfect and clarity was decent. Actually seemed to clear more towards the end of the day.

Fished mostly small flies...zebra midges, micro may's, birds nests all in sz 16-18. My buddy tried a golden stone for a while (cuz he had nice sized one land on his shoulder) to no avail.

Flies that worked best were midges...stomach pumped one fish and that's all there was...just tons and tons of midges in various colors...irridescent blue, opaque,etc. One mayfly in it's gut.

Count at day's end: Hooked four and ldr'd every one. My buddy hooked six, landing four. One was a 16" beautifully colored bow...rich deep red. I'd forgotten how deep the colors are on Truckee fish. He even caught a 16" brown with pretty red and black spots to really stick it to me.

Water is very cold. But very tasty and refreshing.

Took a snoop at the Little T after we were done. Just walked streamside for a while wishing I hadn't put away my gear. But very cold water as well. Turned over a bunch of rocks and found one golden stone, but that was about it. Man that river looks pretty.

EO

[bigfly]

EO, I almost always mention midges in my post. (If I don't, it's because I get over repetition...or figure you guys do.)
Small is safe......they think. Midges are present year round. Midge mania in the Winter.
Doubt that was a Golden stone, there are still Skwalla flying about. (Very dark by comparison.)
I admire your daring, drinking the water.....
Good job fishin'.
Thanks for the report.

Jim

[EricO]

Oh ya, forgot about the skwallas.

Man, I love that water...now granted, I wouldn't indulge in summer but now it's tasty, refreshing and cold to the teeth.

Forgot to mention...not A rise all day. Not surprising though.

Thanks for the tips Jim.

EO

[bigfly]

EO, I wouldn't say anything is wrong with the water in the T.
But as a climber, I contracted Gyrardia at 12,500 ft.
You never know who's been above you.....
Besides, I think any mammal can spread it. And supposedly, 20% of the human population are carriers.
I never drank untreated water again..................Use a pump, and it's still cold on the teeth.
Not saying you need to worry........
Personally, over time, I've developed the constitution of a Camel.
And a fondness for frosty beverages.

Believe me, I'll let you know when they start rising......

Jim

[EricO]

Wow, you got it at that elevation?

I got it about three years ago. Guessing it was from a small creek I fished and drank out of. And that stuff is NO joke...not a fun time at all!!!!! And I happened to get all the fun symptoms when I was on a short two day vacation in Sierra City.

Eric

[ownfl4g]

Ive had that stupid paracite twice in my life and both times I did no drinking of any water, must have actually been from not washing my hands or something.

[kabah088]

Any word on the little truckee below stampede? Im headed up thursday for work and need to get my line wet somwhere near 80.