Holiday Goods! Happy 4th!
Things are moving fast around here with flows changing and bugs on the river. Weather has played a factor for much of the last week. On the forecast is full sunshine and a little wind. Get out on your beat early and try to beat the wind. We did see a bump in flows with these recent midday T-storms we’ve had but the cool down of the rivers is welcome. The coming week looks to be warmer and full sunshine, watch those water temperatures and follow Hoot Owl regulations. It’s always good to pack a thermometer with you.
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
All Lake Tahoe Tributaries- Now open to catch and release fishing with barbless flies or lures. No bait.
East Fork Carson River: Flows have been steadily dropping over the last couple weeks and the river is in great shape. The system is full of 12” - 16” wild rainbows and we’ve seen a few in the 17” - 20” range as well. There are still a good population of stocked fish as well. These fish have seen a lot of flies by now and you have to make great drifts and presentation in your first casts. You might not see anything rising as you approach your spot, but a well placed Chubby Chernobyl with a caddis-like jig (Various Duracells, Frenchies, Bird’s Nests, Caddis Pupa and a variety of perdigons) have been effective. Nymphing remains productive throughout the AM hours as well, but it’s time to carry dry-fly setups. Water temps are great in the mornings and have been rising to 65-68 by 12 noon. Get out early and beat the weekend warriors to more active fish.
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: If you’re looking for a river close to the basin and want to get out for a couple hours, the WC has been holding it’s own. Get off the beaten path around Pickett’s Junction and move down into the pocket water about and below Sorenson’s, or head up river off Blue Lakes Road, higher you go and you can get into populations of Brookies. Use stealth when approaching cut banks, minimize your missteps around the river - unnatural noise will spook these fish with it’s lower Summer flows.
Truckee River: River has been fishing good which is why the foot traffic has also been present. Lots of anglers enjoying the prime time Truckee with green drakes, PMDs and caddis all hatching. Luckily the Truckee is long and fishable all the way through Reno so spread out, find some solitude and enjoy the fishing. Flys to try are small frenchys, yellow/orange/pink/flashy perdigones, and the ever present midge. If fish are rising, try to see if they’re eating PMDs or green drakes and match the hatch. The upper section finally got a flow bump for the rafters, but this area can be a fun option especially early morning before the rafters hit the water. Also carry those thermometers as the water temps will start getting high especially in the upper sections. Soon the lake will be dumping warmer water into the river and the whole river will mainly be a morning fishery.
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: Flows have started to drop and the river sits at 323 CFS as we write this report. For me, this is a perfect Little Truckee flow but others might think it’s still a bit high. PMDs have begun with green drakes in full swing. The fish seem to be more willing to take a green drake earlier in the day before the PMDs begin, but once these start to hatch they switch to taking almost all PMDs, even refusing the natural green drakes. Nymphing/tight lining is also effective at these flows but remember to check your flies if you tick bottom, more than likely they now have some green fuzz on them. PMD drys, green drakes drys, and small perdigones, red midges, tiny frenchies, two bit hookers, micro mayflys, are all flys I would bring up there right now. Foot traffic will increase as the flows drop so please remember to be respectful of your fellow angler as this river gets busy during the summer months.
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: Fishing well but getting hot in the afternoons so an early start and early finish are recommended by us. Check those temps, and 69 degrees or warmer it’s probably time to look for fish elsewhere. Can always throw an indicator and leech out at Bridgeport reservoir looking for carp or big trout. Caddis are the main hatch so anything green and worm like should get eaten, with crawdads and streamers working as well. Nevada sections seem to be a bit more productive with the CA side still recovering a bit from last years fish kill in the mile.
East Walker River Fishing Regulations:
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:
Bridgeport Reservoir: Fish for big browns from a float tube near the damn.
Sawmill Lake - OPEN! Road is now open! Call for early season Sawmill Availability.
Pyramid Lake - Get it in before it closes!
Lower Blue Lake - Road open to lower Blue
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.
