Truckee River 

A quick bump of flows last week to 1,900 CFS have average daily flows close to 1,000 CFS through the downtown gauge. Bug activity is ramping up as several species of insects are hatching throughout the day.

Caddis, PMDs, Little Yellow Stoneflies, are all present in the system. I have also seen a few golden stonefly shucks in the water and dried on rocks, but it’s a little early to throw those bigger stones. 

Fish has been good, but difficult in consistently locating the fish. Covering water quickly and effectively is you best bet. We recommend going in with a plan so you don’t end up with a “spray and pray” approach. Focus on seams and pockets that will give the trout respite from faster flows, but don’t be afraid to cast into the faster riffles where trout can be found when actively feeding.

Reading the river is critical in higher water. A lot of the straighter sections of the river will look like a uniform glide, but closer investigation will reveal slight pockets and “glassier” water that will hold fish. Don’t rush past these spots as well. Need some more detail? Swing by the shop and let us describe these subtleties. 

Flies we suggest: Carot, The Ticket, G6 Caddis, OCD Caddis, Nemec Stone, Masked Marauder, CDC Red Tag, Parachute Adams, Parachute Madam X, Perdigon, ID Theft, Sculpzilla, Weirs Sculpin

Local Still Waters

Record high temperatures early in the week with a chance for a thunderstorms for the latter part and then a cooling trend for next week back to average temperatures. Sounds like summer in the Sierra!!!

Fish will continue to seek out deeper water as surface temperatures continue to rise, but fishing has been great! Most fish are 10 feet and above, making some midday dry fly action possible with midge and callibaetis. 

JB and Matt put in some time at a local stillwater with some great footage.

Indicators and fishing “naked style” with chironomids and callibaetis patterns in deeper water are still fishing well. Sinking lines from intermediate to type 5 with streamers, boobies, and damsel patterns fished over drop offs and weed edges are effective as well. 

Flies We Suggest: Gilled Nymph, Zugbug, Red Eye Damsel, Flying Ant, Parachute Adams, Parachute Madam X, Yankee Buzzer, Bead Head Wooly Bugger, Bellyache Minnow 

Fishing naked might not be what you first think… Often as the fish are 3-5′ deep having a plastic indicator plop down on the surface can be off putting. A really effective way to have a more delicate presentation but retain contact with your fly is a style of retrieve called the “naked style”.

Simply explained, this style used a floating or intermediate sink line with a slow retrieve using a finger roll or small/short strips. Most effective along drop-offs and edges of weed beds this approach can swim your fly like a natural and allow you to have sensitivity to the lightest of takes