These Dogs are Quick
Well here we are in the dog days of Summer. Flows are low, hot days bring Hoot Owl Rules and the fish are as attuned to fake flies and bad drifts. While we’re seeing more refusals, when you match that hatch you are getting rewarded. Low flows doesn’t mean low action and mornings have been predominantly the best fishing with a late-late evening pick up on most rivers. Of course all of this can change in an instant this time of year and if the forecast is any indication, we have some cooler temps, cloud cover, and precip on the way.
This report is written to give a quick overview of the Tahoe area, for a more detailed report including access, stop by the shop or give us a call at 530-541-8208
East Fork Carson River: Flows have been fairly predictable for this time of year and fish are not holding in just one place. The are on the move looking for a good mix of food and oxygenated cooler water. This coming week looks to have some cooler weather and afternoon cloud cover or even some precipitation. The wind will remain low setting up a great environment for bugs to cove off at more regular hours. There has been a lot of action and we’ve been having fun in smaller water up high above the HWY 4 Bridge and Wolf Creek Rd area. Small 18-20 perdigons, midges and 16-18 caddis patterns have worked great under 12 and 14 Chubby Chernobyls. We really haven’t seen a big hopper population this year and more stonefly looking dry or stimulator has been more producting. An old school double humpy has also been a producer.
East Carson River Fishing Regulations:
Above Hangman’s Bridge to Carson Falls: General Regulations
Below Hangman’s Bridge: Artificial lures only. 2 Trout - Minimum size limit: 14 inches total length. Highly recommended Catch and Release
West Fork Carson River: Still getting some reports of better fishing in the pocket water.Go explore between 89 & Sorenson’s and also below Sorenson’s down to Crystal Springs Campground. The wild fish are up high off Blue Lakes and can be super fun on a 3wt. The meadow water sees a lot of spin gear pressure and is better after a good stocking however upcoming storm systems may move some fish around if flows spike.
Truckee River: Heavy nymphs/streamers/split shot into the fast water is catching trout for us right now, especially as the day heats up. Check those temps and lay off the fish around 68 degrees for best catch and release practices, but August is a decent time to target the big fish because they tend to be pretty predictable on where they hold at (seams next to white water). Dead Drift Craws, pat’s rubber leg in crawdad tones, big duracell jigs, tend to be our favorite summer bugs. If you want to fish a second or third fly, try a PMD type nymph off of a tag above the heavier fly. This is the time of year where the euro nymphers do the bragging, but high sticking with lots of weight under an indicator works well too. High sticking streamers (Just don’t be annoying about it - Gallup) also works if you don’t have a euro set up.
Truckee River Fishing Regulations:
Below Lake Tahoe Dam:(All Year) Closed for 1000’ below Lake Tahoe Dam.
Below 1000’ of the Tahoe Dam to Trout Creek: Catch & Release Barbless Artificial - NO BAIT. Zero Bag limit.
Trout Creek to Mouth of Prosser Creek: Catch & Release Barbless Artificial Flies only. Zero Bag limit.
Prosser Creek to NV Stateline: Artificual Lures and Flies. Two Trout.
Little Truckee River: The fish haven’t gone anywhere but the flows sure have. Things are way down here and prepare to clean your bugs after every drift. The top sections have been fishing better than down low. Maybe stand on the cliff and spot some rollers before walking down. A pretty consistent hatch of Green Drakes and PMDs have been happening between 10am and 2pm, but the fishing can be good earlier in the morning or late afternoon as well, especially if the rain clouds roll in. Try to find your own water without overcrowding other anglers, the amount of stories of people wanting to hold hands while fishing always makes us laugh.
Little Truckee River Fishing Regulations:(All Year)
Stampede Reservoir downstream to Boca Reservoir: Catch & Release Barbless Artificial - NO BAIT. Zero Bag limit.
East Walker River: The East Walker has been a feast of famine year. We’re had a lot of great days and some decent action lately, but also some days where the bite just shuts down for no real climate induced reason. First light the fish will be spread out feeding in random nooks and crannies, but by mid morning they will slide into the oxygenated seams (think white water!). It’s really a Dry/Dropper system that is working best right now but if you’re big game hunting this is one of the more fun, small water technical games for chucking streamers to coax a monster out. We’ve had luck on crayfish patters as well under an indicator or big foam chubby. With lowering below 100, look for several changes at fish in the larger buckets. We really like this flow if it holds and we get the cooler air temps and storms coming this week. Check temps, be aware of your surroundings, and enjoy one of our favorite eastern Sierra rivers.
East Walker River Fishing Regulations:
California: Last Sat. in Apr. through Nov. 15. Only artificial lures may be used. Minimum size limit: 18 inches total. Two Trout.
Stillwater Options: Perfect time of year to go for a hike up to a high altitude lake looking for wild fish that are eager to eat flies. All the normal lakes are fishing best from boats or float tubes as the fish have started to go deep during the sunny hours.
Hot Lakes:
Sawmill Lake - OPEN and STOCKED! Fresh load of big fish this week.
Fallen Leaf: Good numbers of Lahontan Cutthroat with the occasional brown/lake trout mixed in.
Lower Blue Lake - Road open to lower Blue. Check out some of the other lakes in the area as well.
Caple’s Lake- Fishing has been good. Better from a boat or tube and drift around the inlet.
Tahoe - Not a numbers game but when we fish Tahoe we are looking for that fish of a lifetime
Heenan Lake - Closed until September.
