It’s Go Time
Sitting here smiling as I write this report because I think it’s good news across the board. I can’t think of a river in the Tahoe area that isn’t fishing well, so no matter what you choose to fish you should hopefully catch a trout or more. A couple rivers are a little on the high side, which may make crossing difficult but everything is flowing clear and the bugs are hatching. This year has been one of the biggest bug years I’ve seen in the last 10 years which we can attribute to last years monster water year. Caddis, PMDs, Yellow Sallies, and even Green, Gray, and Brown drakes have been swarming at night and throughout the day on many of the waters with plenty of opportunity for throwing dry flies.
East Fork Carson River: The river has dropped below that threshold number of 400 CFS and is starting to fish well. We have seen success from some of the deeper pools along the road for large stocked rainbows, and we are starting to find happy wild fish below Hangman’s bridge. Some good caddis hatches with a few PMDs have been seen, but the major bug moving around is the large, black nocturnal stone flies that we see in the river. Large pat’s rubber legs, or other stonefly imitations should work for the bigger fish at the bottom of the pools. Dry dropper with a bead head mayfly (frenchy, strawberries and cream, Hogan’s lil amigo) and a larger chubby or hopper pattern as the dry is a fun way to fish this river. Streamers, single drys, and euro/indo rigs are also on the table, but cover ground and look for soft water.
Truckee River: Some of the biggest green drake hatch and PMD hatches we’ve seen on this river have been going off at around 10 am, and finishing up around 2 PM. There’s also a caddis hatch and spinner fall most evenings after 7 PM. Narrow windows, but if you time your day of fishing right, you may get lucky and see some of the best dry fly fishing this river has to offer. Larger, up to size 8 green drake patterns work well in the faster runs where the fish have less time to study your fly, while more accurate size 10 or 12 patterns tend to work better in the slower tail outs and eddies where fish can get a good look at your fly. Orange or pink colored PMDs, and size 16 caddis should also work for the dries. If you want to try nymphing, use dark may flies, small stoneflies, PMD nymph patterns and caddis pupae or the ever present black/dark olive midge.
Little Truckee River: Flows are great on this tail water, but an aquatic plant has taken over the river bottom, so nymphing may be difficult as your flies will get gunk on them if they even come close to the rocks. Try weightless nymphs with a small splitshot, or emerger patterns that ride in the surface film. PMDs and green drakes have been the main hatch, and a “drake dropper” rig where we use a big green drake and a small nymph should catch some fish. If you find yourself out there on a busy day, go try the big Truckee, it’s been fishing great!
East Walker River: Flows have come back down and the river is back to fishing great. Temps are starting to become a concern, so carry a thermometer and call it a day when temps hit 67 degrees. Caddis hatches have been insane and fish are readily on the chow. If you are up for an early morning start I would check out this famous river to our south. Flow Chart
Stillwater Options: Surface temps have begun climbing and the fish will start going deep. Float tubes, small boats, and sinking lines will be working better the next few months, with opportunity for the bank angler in the mornings and evenings. Calibaetis, midges, and random terrestrials will wind up in the water if you want to try dry flies, but leeches and wooly buggers are the safe choice if no fish are rising.
Hot Lakes:
Bridgeport Reservoir: Huge Brown Trout and Carp
Baron Lake: Awesome lake in SLT that is C&R, barbless, artificial.
Sawmill Lake - BOOK NOW Fishing well from float tubes and rafts
Pyramid Lake - Season is winding down but some success from float tubes
Red Lake - Some big cutthroat are being caught
Caple’s Lake- Thawed and fishing well
Tahoe - Not a numbers game but when we fish Tahoe we are looking for that fish of a lifetime
Heenan Lake - Closed
