Truckee River and Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report February 25, 2022
With daytime highs expected just above freezing this week, we recommend fishing mostly mid-day through the afternoon after the sun hits the water, allowing water temps to come up and both the fish and bugs to become more active. We have another shift in the weather pattern towards the end of the week with a warmer system expected to lay down a mix of rain and snow. While it’s not the large storm we are all hoping for, it’s a great sign that winter isn’t done just yet!
Truckee River Fly Fishing Report and Forecast
The Truckee continues to fish in its typical form this week, challenging angling for educated wild trout (not much ever changes here). With a good fly selection, proper rigging, and a good drift you will likely see fish, but this river never gives them up easily. While this time of year isn’t a numbers game, the quality of fish has remained very high, and we aren’t seeing fish much smaller than 14” with a lot reaching over 20”. The active bugs remain the same, and having a good selection of BWO’s, midges, Skwalas, eggs and worms will cover most your bases on this river in the winter. Using either an indicator or tight line set up has been working best with very little activity on the surface, despite the prolific hatches of midges as of late.
Streamer fishing remains a little spotty as of now, especially up at the higher elevations, and if throwing streamers is your thing, we recommend spending a day on the lower river east of Sparks for your best odds, especially if you time it on the overcast days in this week’s forecast. Baetis will likely be active during the stormy days if it doesn’t become too windy, and the lower river can be the best place to find some noses on these days as well. Look for fish to continue to hold in the slow deep pools here on the CA side, while east of Sparks they will be a little more spread out, occupying more medium speed water, riffles, and pocket water.
Little Truckee Fly Fishing Report and Forecast
Access on the Little Truckee is limited due to snow on the road, and only those with high clearance 4x4 vehicles should attempt getting back here. As there is limited cell service once you get past Boca, please be prepared when traveling back here, have a plan in place if you get stuck. As flows have now stabilized out of Stampede, the fishing should be getting good once again and using dry flies, dry droppers or euro nymph set ups should work well as long as you are fishing an accurate representation of the bug while using light tippet.
Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report and Forecast
Pyramid saw some of the best fishing of the year over the last week as the last storm system pushed through dropping a dusting of snow at lake level. Just a few days ago local angler JD Richey got to hand a 27-pound fish, the biggest fish thus far this year, but there’s no doubt that there’s a good possibility of larger fish swimming around in this incredible lake, so don’t miss you shot at a world record trout. As We’ve stated before, February is THE month for you best shot at a mega. Most methods of fishing are working well right now and it pays to mix up your presentation when spending the day out here to see what the fish best respond to.
We’ve been getting good numbers of fish using an indicator paired with a balanced leech and a midge, primarily focusing on depths from 4-8 feet. The strip bite has also stayed steady most of the day and using midnight cowboys or other buggers and woolly worms with a beetle or booby trailer has been a consistent way to find action on your sinking line. The bite remains spread out amongst most of the beaches, and we recommend spreading out as well, as there is structure along pretty much every single beach that would be considered suitable for these fish to hold along and bringing a ladder will further open up options in this regard. While the fish seem to mostly be active during the low light hours of the day, the big fish have seemingly been caught mid-day when the bite is often at its slowest, so never let your guard down here as any bite could be the 20-pounder.
We hope you can make the most of this exciting time of year for fly fishing. Layer up and get out there if you can. Also, we are still selling off some of our 2021 gear in the shop, so come on in and see what’s left. 20% off a $500 rod is pretty nice!
-- Miles
**** Select 2021 Gear on Sale this week at TCO****
