Truckee got its first taste of spring weather this week, and in typical Sierra Nevada fashion just when you think it's time to put on shorts and a t-shirt, the weather shifts once again. We are getting a couple of small systems pushing through this week, the first starting this evening going through the weekend, and the next expected on Tuesday.

We are thankful for these continued wet weather patterns over the last few weeks as they are helping to preserve the already strong snow levels, but we are equally grateful for these longer days and warmer temps. The long term forecast for fishing conditions this year is looking very promising to say the least, and we can’t wait to be able to fish those evening caddis hatches during those warm summer nights that we’ve missed over the last couple of years due to warm water temps and hoot owl closures. The summer of 2023 should be one for the books!

Photo Note: Check out the 'Chipped-Tail' Truckee River Brown Trout that Finn netted last week, which looked like the same Brown that Matt Heron's client caught on the same day! 

Truckee River Fly Fishing Report

The Truckee River has been fishing very well over the last week mostly due to the warmer days bringing water temps up and making fish increasingly active. With the continued low and clear water conditions here in Truckee, we are finding success on small baetis nymphs in sizes 18-20 as well as midges in size 20-22, paired with a worm pattern as an attractor.

Focus on fishing the slower water types such as the deep buckets, tail outs, or slow deep pocket water on the California side of the river right now. If fishing the lower river from Sparks heading east, try slightly faster water than you may fish up high as temps will be a bit warmer around here. With the diminished water clarity out east and the warmer afternoon temps we’ve found a really good streamer bite here, and nymphing mid-day then switching to streamers towards the evening has been productive. While we’ve seen some hatches of baetis down here, we haven’t seen the fish reacting to them on top, only subsurface. The dry fly bite should really pick up in the next few weeks as we expect Skwala Stoneflies here in California, and prolific baetis hatches out east in the months of March and April.

Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report

Pyramid continues to fish well this week, with some exceptional fishing found on overcast days. Keeping an eye on weather patterns out here is the best way to consistently up your odds right now. With the small storms expected to pass through this week, the river may slow down a bit, but the lake should be great, so plan accordingly! The bite has begun to switch more towards the mornings and evenings, often seeing a mid-day lull, but as always this lake remains unpredictable and often defies any sort of reason or pattern. Both stripping streamers and chucking an indicator are doing well and be sure to switch off if one isn’t producing. We’ve been fishing both midges and leeches under the indicator with equal success, and when fishing streamers some colors can be more productive on any given day, so be sure to mix up fly selection throughout the day until a consistent producer is found.

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