Good Times…Sometimes
So far it’s been a cooler spring which has kept the flows somewhat stable on several of our rivers, but things may change as a warming trend is forecasted next week. Check the flows before you go by calling the shop or checking the USGS flow gauge sites of the river. If the rivers not blown out, it’s go time. Spring is big fish season as it’s the first major hatches and food opportunities since fall and the fish are hungry. Streamer fishing, nymphing, and afternoon dry flys are the go-to tactics. General hatches are March Browns, a few Baetis/BWOs, and the beginning of PMDs/Caddis/Golden Stoneflies.
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 including the Upper Truckee, Trout Creek, Taylor Creek, Blackwood Creek, Ward Creek, General Creek Closed until Saturday preceding Memorial Day. Once open the rivers are catch and release, barbless, no bait.
East Fork Carson River: Flows have been up and down with the variable temperatures but for the most part has been too high to fish. Check the flows and look for sub 500 CFS which should mean fishable (and floatable) river conditions. Even at 500 CFS we will be fishing the edges and soft water behind structure where the fish can still feed but won’t get washed down to Gardnerville. Larger stonefly nymphs, worm patterns, big euro-jig duracells and blow torches will be the flies of choice until the flows come down to summer time averages.
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: West Carson is high but clear, and is an option where you at least have a decent chance of finding some fish. The meadow sections will be easier to fish but the fish will be more dispersed so cover ground, fish a run for a few minutes, and move onto the next. The pocket water will be moving pretty good but there are always a few pools throughout the canyon that fish well during these flows.
Truckee River: Flows are actually pretty decent for the Truckee this time of the year, and varies depending which section you fish. Up high should be around 200-300 CFS which is a great flow for standard nymph rigs and dry dropper stuff. Below Martis Creek is about 500-600 CFS which is big nymph rig water with extra splitshot or tungsten flies. The keen angler will probably find some March Brown feeding fish in the afternoons and have a chance at some dry fly fish. The canyon section is upwards of 1000 CFS which takes some more advanced wading and fishing skills to be sucessful, but this is where the big fish are generally hooked and sometimes landed this time of year. Flies to be fishing are March Brown imitations (Size 14-16, dark, mayfly patterns), Stoneflies (Size 8-12, golden, coffee or black), and your dirty patterns (Eggs, Worms, mopflies).
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: Sitting around 350 CFS, which many consider high but in my opinion is perfect flows. The one downside is the river a little in between hatches where BWOs are finishing up but PMDs haven’t started yet, so hatches may be too small to get the fish rising in the afternoon. The inlet into Boca Reservoir has been fishing really good especially from a raft/float tube.
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: Some good reports have been coming from both the Nevada and California sides with the perfect flows to fish the whole river. The reservoir is full to the brim so there’s a chance the flows will increase any day, so be sure to check the gauge before you go. I always consider the East Walker as my favorite Spring River as long as the flows are stable so this would be my top recommendation at the moment. Streamers, nymphs, big drys, small drys can all work but nymphing is normally king.
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: Many of those big fish holding lakes have iced out and have been fishing well. Caples Lake, Silver Lake, Bear Creek Reservoir, Spooner Lake Topaz Lake, and Bridgeport Reservoir are ones that come to my mind. Indian Creek Reservoir is also fishing well for now. If the lake has an inlet, even if its just a temporary snow melt creek, thats the area I would be fishing near.
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 - Float tubing or from a boat is going to be better than shore.
Lower Blue Lake - Roads closed
Caple’s Lake- Thawing out quickly.
Tahoe - Not a numbers game but when we fish Tahoe we are looking for that fish of a lifetime
Heenan Lake - Closed until September.
