All the Options
Right now the Sierra Nevada angler could not be happier with both still water and river options fishing well. Our Tahoe area rivers are running cool and higher than average, which is creating some awesome fall fishing. Caddis and early Blue Wing olives are the primary hatches. For the still-water guys, the lakes are cooling down and fish are feeding in the shallows, with opportunity from both the shore, and with boats. This past winter has kept this summer mild, and the nights cool and we are finally reaping the rewards of a near record snow pack.
Carson River:
East Fork: The only downside to this river is the cold water temps! Reports of water temps in the high 30s in the morning but warming into the high 40s throughout the day means no need for an early start. Fishing will be best midday into the later afternoon when the bugs will be moving around and water temps are highest. Dry dropper is still producing some fish, but mostly on the dropper as the cool nights have dampened the hopper and moth activity. Try indicator rigs/tight line set ups for the deeper slots, with a dry dropper rig or light indicator set up in the shallow pockets. Small streamers have also been producing a few fish. Skating or moving a large caddis in the afternoon can be a fun way to produce some violent dry fly takes this time of year.
West Fork: With these flows we begin to look towards the “canyon section” of the West Carson which is the boulder filled section downstream from Sorenson’s Resort. Access is more difficult, but the fish will be more plentiful and will readily eat small dries and nymphs which can be a lot of fun with a 2 or 3 wt rod. Try stimulators with tiny emergers or bead headed midges as a deadly rig for this section.
Truckee River: Truckee river anglers have caught some really nice fish recently, with many of them being in Nevada. Reno boasts some of the best urban fishing in the country so if you want to try catching a large trout in the middle of a sprawling city, Reno may be the ticket. The canyon section is also fishing well with streamers and nymph rigs. Try crawdads, soft hackle caddis, BWO nymphs, and the ever present small black midge. Fall time fishing is one of the windows to get a trophy trout on the Truckee, so explore, try new things, and walk the extra mile.
Little Truckee River:
After a brief drop in flows, the Little Truckee was brought back to 200 CFS, and now sits at 160 CFS which is truly an ideal flow for this river in the fall. Keep an eye on the flows as they still may drop them back to minimum levels, but until then get out there and try your hand at this technical tail water. If you are out there on a busy day, spread out, fish the in between stuff, and practice proper fly fishing etiquette. If some one is already fishing a run, give them space, but also don’t sit in the same run for hours at a time. This river can be a lot of fun to fish, but can also quickly become unpleasant if angler’s don’t show respect for each other.
East Walker River:
The East Walker has been high all season, and is still a touch too high to fish certain sections but overall is fishable and fishing well. The miracle mile is the safe bet, but some of the other accessible runs and pockets throughout the California Canyon and Nevada sections are going to have fish that haven’t seen many flies. If you do end up in the mile, these fish are educated and weary, so fish smaller, more natural bugs especially BWOs, caddis, and midges. In the canyon/Nevada sections, the fish will be more willing to eat larger, flashy nymphs like crawdads, blow torches, and wooly buggers. The CA section of the East Walker closes to all fishing November 15th, so get out there before it’s closed.
West Walker River:
Flows are just about perfect on this CA freestone river, which has been stocked several times by Mono county recently and has plenty of fish to catch. For whatever reasons, this river seems to fish best with some of the classic nymphs such as prince nymphs, red copper johns, pat’s rubber legs, and hare’s ears.
Stillwater Options:
One of the areas top lakes has opened and is fishing well. Heenan Lake is a special regulation, single barbless, catch and release lake that is well managed for fishing. The lake has large Lahontan Cutthroat trout and a good population of them. Generally the lake fishes better from a personal watercraft such as a float tube, kayak, canoe, or small raft/pram. Boats with electric trolling motors are allowed, but gas powered motors are not. A variety of methods work, but favorites are chrinomid fishing under an indicator and stripping leeches or small nymphs. The fish can be found at various levels of the lake and it changes from day to day, and also hour to hour. If you are seeing surface acitivity or cruising fish, try an intermediate line or a chinomid a few feet under an indicator. If you are seeing very little fish activity try a full sink line, or a slip indicator with a 20+ foot leader. A good rule of thumb is if you are not seeing results within 30 minutes of fishing, change up your depth, fly or both until you start getting fish to eat. There’s a ton of fish in this lake and 10+ fish days are common if you get your rig dialed.
Other lakes in the area that fish well into the fall are Caples, Silver, and Lake Tahoe. The big fish begin to cruise the shore line and the browns start coming shallow to figure out which river they are going to try to spawn in. Now’s the time of the year for a trophy from shore with a fly rod.
Hot Lakes:
Heenan Lake - Awesome fall time option!
Sawmill Lake - BOOK NOW! Open and fishing hot!
Silver Lake - Strong population of Brown and Rainbow Trout
Caple’s Lake- Fishing well near the inlets, chance at a big fish!
Tahoe - Not a numbers game but when we fish Tahoe we are looking for that fish of a lifetime
