Truckee, CA.

[bigfly]

It's been a while.......
Was a "weathery" week.
Poured rain onto what little snow we had near town. A skosh of new on the crest....
Both pounding rain, and heavy flakes...and heavy winds.....
(I took a couple days off with chest crud, sat by a fire and tied the perfect Skwalla).
Knocked power out in town, always fun to see people shopping in the dark.
Get the distinct feeling they don't practice darkness very much. Always bring a head light....in the mountains.
Only the cash registrar were powered......

The Truckee is running a little high right now and off color.
Glennshire stretch is wade-able, below Boca is two handed rod territory......
But those who know.......shared fishing successes of both bows and browns.
The menu always expands during high flows, serious fishers take advantage.
This week will warm dramatically, the flows will drop, and clear.
One nice thing about the T is how quickly it clears.
Bees, and other flying bugs are showing up.
It's pushing it, but this might be the week for Skwallas. Would be the earliest ever....
Try a dark 2nd instar Stone. Several fish rose for Adult recently, but none are out that I can see.
Nor have I found the nymphs near shore yet....that is the tell....
A big difference between stockers and wild fish, is the wild fish remember this bug over 5-6 years and more....I love Skwallas because of this very thing. After eating Midges all winter, nature serves a double bacon cheese burger......on top.
Midges are still a dominate bug. I've been fishing them as a dry, and drowning them.
I have convinced several "old guys" that they can learn to fish the little stuff...let me know if I can help you...
BWOs still making an occasional appearance. Dry or nymphs....
Alders are budding, grass is greening, zero issues moving around the water. (Maybe bring a staff.)
Most of the water fowl are acting amorous, and thinking Spring.
I will state once again, this IS the time to fish, not this Summer when there is no water left.....
Do not fish out of seasonal habit, it's the worst approach.
Right now the fog is lifting, sun peeking, and hoar frost is drifting and twinkling like diamonds.......

Jim

[Chris Evison]

As usual a great report Jim, really enjoy reading your posts. On top of Kingsbury we got close to 5 inches of rain thru Sunday night, then 5 inches of snow. At 7700ft on east side that 5 inches is we have on the ground. Pretty scary, fingers crossed for big March and April snows. Keep the reports coming!

[bigfly]

A popular spot for reference. Looks fishy to me......
High water mark was two days ago, water well up in the grass (The line of sticks in foreground).
Now the water is dropping 2-3" per day and is green/tan and clearing fast.
Water has warmed to a fishy forty+ degrees.
Warm enough to swing........
First Robin of the year as well....
Saw my first Little Winter Stone yesterday....(1)
Spied maybe 2 BWOs...
Midges are happening near noon, with mating swarms about 4:30 pm. Clumps after that.......
I'd fish subsurface for a while yet, water's a bit high for risers.
As soon as it stops freezing at night, it's officially spring, and we will start going off color.
It's game-on right now though.
Thanks Chris....

Jim

[Morgan]

Nice read Jim.
Its ridiculous how warm it is for mid feb. Scary actually.
I would usually be bundled up throwing tiny bugs on local waters. Not this year. Its long sleeves, no fleece and huckin streamers.
As you said. Fish now while we still have water. Hope for a miracle March and nasty April.

[bigfly]

I seriously doubt I would out-fish Ralph, because I would probably be watching, more than fishing.
For the first twenty years I caught fish, and cared little for bugs.....while Ralph walked that path...
Bugs were more trouble to learn, than I could deal with.
My background is hunting of quarry, not matching the hatch.
I avoid Latin like the plague, and don't have the grey cells left to learn it. Although I learned Nemouridae today.....
So, I carry a bug seine and use it every time I go out.
I carry a specimen vial filled with alcohol to keep anything interesting that's found.
Then take it to the fly shop when I go shopping for flies.
No Latin or silly fly names to learn.......
If there isn't a fly that's close, I learn to tie it.
That's called, an advantage.....especially in a one fly-shop town. (The fish here could stock the boxes...).

When you know where the fish is, and why, as well as what it's eating, (and after watching Ralph's video), you know how it should be served.......
You won't need luck anymore, and you can go ahead and call yourself a FLY-FISHERMAN.
And the fish will have your picture up at fish school.......Have you seen this man?

My goal now is to catch a fish with one drift, a bit like call pocket billiards...and spend the rest of the time out on water, observing.
Instead of flogging the water for hours and catching a bunch. Big, or many was my process for many years....
Now, knowing is more important than anything else.
When you get to the stage when you can go to fish without luck, and turn bigger heads, just remember, the river becomes your responsibility. Treat it well.
And if you don't figure out the bug this year, it will be back next year, just not on the same day......

Jim

[JasonB]

Great stuff in this thread! I think we could all learn a thing or two from reading and re-reading several of these posts (I sure have) by both Jim and Ralph. This thread speaks volumes to the experience and character of both to see the tone of the discussion. This is exactly the sort of thing that has lead to many an internet pissing match, and battle of egos. It's great to see such humility, and I cannot agree more with this concept of being the eternal student. As in all things in life: "There is always more to learn"

Thanks for furthering our collective education guys.
JB

[NVTrout]

Yep, totally agree Jason. I know I've learned a bunch from both Ralph and Jim. Just regular guys who are "into it", good at what they do, and willing to share. You don't always see that in the fly fishing world. I've seen both ends of the sprectrum, runnin around the eastern Sierra........especially on the water.....I've encountered guides that I would never fish with, or recommend anyone to. I wont got into specifics, or name names. I've just come across behavior that was very off-putting, I guess you could say. I've also come across some great guys who are the ones I follow on line, recommend people to, etc.......

[bigfly]

A buddy found the first Skwalla yesterday.
I love being able to call it close on bugs appearing.......no schedule to this really, it's, are the conditions right?
Makes fishing a little easier if you time it...
Tie them, buy them, but don't wait, it will be a whole year till we see'em again.

Next bug.......fly'n ants.....start tying.....

Jim

[cmcdhuibh]

I envy you living in Truckee, I know its only 100 miles from Sac. but it's 100 miles from Sac.
Enjoy your posts cheers Chris

[bigfly]

NV...
wanted to say, nice fish, and fly....
You may need a bigger net....which is a common problem on the T...

And I wore shorts and t-shirt yesterday, even wet waded for a bug sample....
Seems like Spring...to me.

Jim