Truckee, CA.

[bigfly]

Got a small dusting last night, it's already gone......Oh, wait, it's back........
Sky is starting to blue up, and it should be nice today, or not..........
Have been guiding and fishing a bunch.
Really nice conditions.....like late May.
Had a protege get his hook straightened yesterday....
Most fish are as excited as I am for Spring.
A few risers....
Water temps hovering around 50 deg.
Saw a couple guys wet wading...but not deeply.
River is very clear and the flows are just touching the grass on the banks.
The bows can be pretty hot, so be prepared to run.
Browns are about 20% of the catch, but it is picking up.

Little bittty Baetis......
Larger BWOs if a cloud happens.
March Browns are a favorite, especially a nymph or emerger.
Some Caddis about....
Golden stone nymph....
The ubiquitous midge sz 22-16.
A few worms in the seine.
Buy or tie some Carpenter Ants, they should show after this next weather....
Seeing more moves to food with the rise in temps.
A streamer might work........
Flows near town are warmer.
Down in the canyon, a bit cooler and heavier.
Using 3-6 ABs on the switch rod for bigger water bobbing.
Skagit line is in use too.......

I'll say again......Don't wait to fish.

Jim

[Jeff F]

Jim, thanks for the report, as always.

I have a question though......I fished in the canyon on Saturday. Only saw one bug the entire day (a big MB). Water was high, of course, but very very fishy. It was a very tough day for me, with only one fish caught.

So....let me ask you this: When you come up to a run or spot that is so fishy you can pretty much guarantee that there is at least one, if not more fish in there, will you keep changing flies, sizes, etc until you get some interest? Or take your lumps and move on?

I know the fish in the T can be an enigma sometimes, but man.....it was a frustrating day. I seem to only have good days when the bugs are poppin'. Seems like the T is very very hatch driven.

Thanks for any info.

I did SEE a big fish though. Unfortunately, it was a big dead rainbow lodged between some rocks. I pulled it up on the bank to look for gut hooks or any signs of foul play, but didn't see anything. Must've just died from old age. It was a BIG fish though, probably 25". Too bad...

[bigfly]

Jeff, the T is an enigma, and that is why we like it. At least some of us.....
Personally, I'd rather get skunked, than catch easy fish.
An impossible fish has some serious appeal.......

They dropped the flow from Donner lake, and the river got a bit colder because of that......bugs will fluctuate hatches.
We will have some temp fluctuation over the next week with the weather. A dusting, then the melt...
It's blue sky/cloudy blustery right now.

Fishermen can have "pool fixation". Thinking more drifts are better....
But once the fish know you are after them, they often pass......
If I know there is one in there, or maybe miss one, I might "rest the hole" say a beverage length, then run a different fly through.
Hooking up at all, means you were working it OK.
Some days.............
And, tell me your MB reference.....? Mega Bug?.......

Saw a guy fishing the other day, without enough weight, or depth, he eventually got one because he moved into water he was rigged for.........
Many times, it's the setup, not the bug. Although, nailing the bug choice is key as well.
Sometimes showing them what others aren't, is good too.......
Mostly, more weight, and more depth.
I like to fish water I can't see through......

My guess on the dead fish.....over played.
Landing and handling big fish is the final stage in fishing....... not the hooking...
They suffer from our learning curve. Treat them nice!
Get a bigger stick, and use 4x at least..... and get a bigger net! I hate to see fish folded......a frame/bag at least 18 inches long.
Forget hand landing too......
Watched a "Pro" bobble one through the cobbles the other day saying, "a net was for not letting the clients fish get away".........
Keep photo ops short if you need one at all..............maybe, don't show us your fish.......
The T isn't packed with fish, so they get more "photo/air-time than they really need. There are a lot of us.....
The fish and I thank you.

Jeff, keep at it!
Hope this helps.

Jim

[Dan LeCount]

And, tell me your MB reference.....? Mega Bug?.......

march brown

[bigfly]

Just asking Jeff,.....Dan......want to be on the same page OK?
That's all you had?
You chased any lately?
My take on the MBs....they aren't all over....but the fish know where they are.
Yesterday afternoon I watched Stellar Jays, Brewers black birds, Alder gnat catchers, Swallows, Dippers, and even Geese, taking March browns.
While fish noshed on them and some BWOs, mostly, just under the surface.
Resurrected the old greased leader technique to fish the top 6-8 inches of film....
This river teaches persistence, and problem solving.....

Jim

[Jeff F]

It was a March Brown I saw fluttering around. Probably a #12.

I kinda avoid fishing pools. I prefer runs and pocket water. In pools, I find that the fish have more time to inspect the goods, and more time to say....."nice try, bro".

By the amount of flies I lose on the Truckee, I know I'm getting down deep enough. I think I probably need to fish smaller flies now and then. I have stopped using gold/brass beads though. I try to get as natural as possible.

Thanks for the reply, Jim. Good stuff.

[bigfly]

Flows are fine......
Clear/green and 50ish.
Shifting to Summer schedule, early and later.
High noon can be a challenge.
Flying Ants have been seen.....sz10
Lil Baetis sz20
BWOs sz18
Glosasoma Caddis sz20
March Browns....sz12
Midges....22-16
It is fine up here!
Hope you are getting out.

Jim

[bigfly]

Flows are nice on the upper river....
Bigger and pushy in the canyon.
Temps are stable at 53 deg.
Fish are feisty!
Bugs have been on and off..
And, puzzling.......
But, definitely try an ANT!!!!!! They're flyin'!!
Still the occasional Skwalla...
Still a few winter stone...????.
March Browns patchy....
And some Gray Drakes too!
Some small Baetis.
Very small white may sz20-22
Glosasoma Caddis are out.
Crane flies, Lil yeller fellars....
Starting to find some stone fly shucks......
Crays are common.
Aquatic annelids...
As always......get a drift.
Looks like a short season, so fish now.

Jim