Cooler Nights on the Horizon
This past week has been a scorcher and has slowed fishing…but this next week we are going to see some cooler days and more importantly some cooler nights. Those cooler temps should get the bugs and hopefully the fish active once again. While we still expect warm water temps into the afternoon, we should be able to squeeze in a few more hours of good fishing each day, and the fishing should be better all morning. Stop by the shop or give us a ring for some suggestions on waters that stay cold, whether it means going higher in elevation or to a tailwater that stays cold.
East Carson River:
Flows have been stable and fishing has been stellar in the mornings. The river has been very productive for us here at the shop. Dry dropper remains king, but it’s not a bad idea to have an indicator or euro rod set up for some of those deeper buckets where the larger fish like to hang out. Fish the pocket water, rifles, buckets, and everything with any depth over your knees. Water temps are less of an issue along the roadside section of river, but anything below hangman’s make sure to carry your thermometer and stay vigilant to those increasing temps. Once water temps hit 67, we recommend opting for a cold drink at the Cutthroat Brewery as the fish will struggle to revive in these conditions. Fly choices are funky colored chubby chernobyls (reds, blues, pinks, and purples) or other hopper patterns with a sized 14 or 16 bead headed nymph below it. For nymphs try caddis, yellow sallies, or clinger mayfly type patterns.
Truckee River:
This River is under voluntary “hoot owl” which is self-imposed restrictions for fishing this water due to rising water temps. Get up early and fish from sunrise until about noon for not only the fish’s sake, but also because this is when your best chance of catching larger sized trout will be. Big grasshoppers/chubbys with a heavy nymph 3 or 4 feet down can be a very fun and productive way to fish the Truckee during the hot summer months. For nymphs, try a medium Caddis or stonefly followed by a tiny midge or may fly.
Little Truckee River:
With the low flows this river isn’t what I would call “firing” but there are still the usual fish in the usual holes who will feed consistently during the daytime hatches. These fish see a lot of flies and even more fly lines. The ticket to catching them is often a downstream presentation with 5.5X or 6X tippet. Try small PMD drys followed by a smaller PMD emerger, or a medium sized chubby with a bead headed PMD nymph.
East Walker River:
Get up early if you want to fish this river as temps are non lethal only between sunrise to about 10:00 AM this time of year.
Stillwater Options:
Bust out those float tubes and slip indicators as our rivers begin to slow and the lakes become our best option for all-day fishing. Strip full sinking lines or deep water midge in 20-40 feet of water. Still water is often considered boring but the fish are often bigger, have more room to run, and can still make for an awesome day of fishing. Also just like our rivers there’s often a window of dry fly fishing in the late evening so if you are looking for that dry fly fix, don’t forget about lakes.
Hot Lakes:
High Elevation Lakes - Stop by the shop for more information
Blue Lakes - Lower is fishing great
Prosser Reservoir - Trout and Smallmouth
Sawmill Lake - BOOK NOW! Private Lake with large rainbows and browns
Lake Baron -Stocked!
Bridgeport Reservoir - Carp time. Drop a line by the dam.
Silver Lake - Stocked!
Caple’s Lake- Chance at a big Lake Trout
Tahoe - Not a numbers game but when we fish Tahoe we are looking for that fish of a lifetime
