TCO Fishing Report – November 19, 2020
Note: Although November 15th marked the end of Trout Fishing in the area for most waters - there are still quite a few here locally that remain open through the winter. Check with the fly shop for more details.
With the first bit of substantial precipitation over the last few days the Truckee did see a slight bump in flows but this won't be enough water to make the river run muddy and the higher flows shouldn't last more than a couple days. The forecast is also calling for sunny, clear days through the remainder of this week with highs in the 40's. this will mean fishing should be good mid day and anglers should make the most of this break in the weather. with the extra bit of water in the system big "grabby" flies like Pat's Rubberlegs and San Juan Worms should be a good bet but still don't overlook the small staples such as BWO's and Midges. Look for fish to be transitioning into the slower deep runs of the river as water temps drop and fish look to expend less energy coming into winter. Indicator fishing will be the best bet so anglers can successfully get their flies to the bottom of these deep runs which can be upwards of 8 feet in spots. Our recommendation for fishing the Truckee is to fish deep with a lot of weight and this time of year is no exception. Presentation will always be the most important factor on this river with fly selection and tippet diameter coming in a close second. Make that first drift into any given run is your best possible to maximize your odds for one of the large wild trout that inhabit much of this river, these fish are well educated and require a drag free drift at the right depth with an appropriate bug and tippet selection. The more they see that bug moving unnaturally the lower your odds are.
The Little Truckee has been fishing very well and anglers are finding good action on top with BWO dries in the slower water mid-morning. Nymphing seams, riffles and tail outs have been producing some very nice fish as well when hatches aren't present and anglers should have a good selection of both types of flies and be willing to adapt according to the situation. The trout on the Little Truckee have a knack for inhabiting some unsuspecting water and when fishing here we recommend to give a few casts in any potential holding water on your way up to the main buckets. This river might make you rethink what kind of water big trout can hold in! As always we highly recommend 6x tippet out here, using monofilament for dries and fluorocarbon for nymphs will make for more hookups throughout the day but be aware when setting hook and treat every take as if it where a 5 pound fish knowing that fish larger than that are lurking around in this small water. The epic battles with big wild fish on light tippet is one of the best parts about fishing out here but can also cause some serious heartbreaks so be ready to take it with grace when one of these wily trout give you the middle fin! Bug selection will be the same as the main river but should be downsized when fishing in this small clear river. BWO's should be fished in 18-20's and midges do best in 20-22's and it's not uncommon for anglers to fish smaller than that for an additional advantage. Yes, 24" fish do eat size 22 and smaller flies! Please be aware that this road does not get plowed and a good snow storm can close access here, although it is currently accessible this can change quickly so feel free to give us a call for latest road conditions.
Pyramid Lake has seen some steady fishing over the last week and while it's certainly not on fire we can definitely tell you its worth the drive out there for a chance at a 20+ pound cutthroat on a fly rod! As with the week prior, fish are being caught almost equally on the indicator and on the strip. The big fish do seemed to be keyed in mostly on the moving targets though and the popcorn beetle fished with a bugger on a full sink line seems to be the best bet when fishing during low light hours. when the sun is high we recommend using an indicator set up fished anywhere from 7-10 feet using both balanced leeches and midges. Please stop into the shop to further discuss tactics when fishing here as well as shop our selection of Pyramid specific flies including popcorn beetles and midges tied here in house with more patterns to come in the near future.
Tight Lines,
TCO Staff
(530) 563-5119