Summer Ramp Up
Consistent warm temperatures are here which brings both pluses and minuses. On the plus side, the bugs are active and evening dry fly opportunities can be found on all of our rivers. Caddis, PMDs, and golden stoneflies are moving around so try a dry fly in that run before grabbing the junk rig and you may be surprised with what comes up. On the down side, the warm temperatures will begin to turn some of our fisheries into morning only options as the water temps will be too high to safely practice catch and release. So grab those thermometers and check the water temp throughout your sesh.
East Carson River:
Flows continue to drop and we are now at ~130 CFS which is actually a great flow for fishing this river as it becomes crossable and easily wet wadable. Dry dropper rigs are the go to at these flows with a golden stonefly colored chubby chernobyl as the dry, and a heavyish mayfly or caddis nymph as the dropper. Wet flies like soft hackles and streamers have also been working as it breaks up the dead drift presentation that these fish look at all day. Both roadside and the wild fish section below hangmen’s are fishing well.
Truckee River:
I personally spent a lot of time on the Truckee this past week and caught fish nymphing, swinging wet flies with a trout spey, and on the dry fly. The secret is that fish are spread out. Yes they’re in the deep buckets, but they’re also in the pocket water behind boulders that break up the whitewater as well as the cut banks in a couple feet of water. Fish it all with streamers, dry droppers, light indo rigs, but also bring the junk rod for the deep buckets. Hatches are PMDs, green drakes, golden stoneflies, caddis and midges in the morning.
Little Truckee River:
Crowds are thick but for a reason. This cold tailwater is a go to in the heart of summer as water temps are not an issue, but the crowds tend to get overwhelming. If you don’t mind chatting with your fellow angler and fishing within shouting distance of other people then I say check it out, but if solitude is more your thing I would skip the Little Truckee. The main hatch is PMDs, with the occasional green drake and of course midges.
East Walker River:
Unfortunately this river is one that has lethal water temps when it gets hot, making this river a morning fishery in the summer. The river should be fishable from first light until noon, but bring a thermometer and check the temps when you arrive, and again when the air temps start to get hot. As a general rule of thumb, 64-67 degrees is danger zone so fish heavy tippet with stouter rods to minimize fight time, and then keep that fish wet. Above 68 degrees is generally considered too hot for trout to recover so time to hike back to the car and enjoy a cold beverage or two. If the water temps start to get hot but you still have that fishy itch to scratch, try your hand at catching some carp at bridgeport reservoir. Guaranteed to be smarter and fight harder than any trout.
Stillwater Options:
As our lakes warm up, the fish begin to retreat to the depths. Shore fishing will be most successful in the morning and evening, and for midday fishing we recommend having a float tube, kayak, or other watercraft. From the boat either deep water midge with a slip indicator or slow strip leeches and wooly buggers with a sinking line. From shore cast out a dry dropper or indo rig with a couple nymphs and play the patience game.
Hot Lakes:
Blue Lakes
Prosser Reservoir
Sawmill Lake - BOOK NOW!
Lake Baron -Stocked!
Bridgeport Reservoir - Carp time. Drop a line by the dam.
Silver Lake - Stocked!
Caple’s Lake
Tahoe - Not a numbers game but when we fish Tahoe we are looking for that fish of a lifetime
