Truckee River and Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report for February 18, 2022
With a shift in the weather patterns early this week, we saw the first bit of snow in Truckee in 37 days. Although it was short lived, this small storm increased activity from the fish and made for a few excellent days on the water. We are looking at another small storm in the forecast expected at the beginning of next week, and we expect to see similar results in terms of increased fish activity in the short term, but unfortunately it doesn’t appear that this storm will lay down any of the significant precipitation that we desperately need. Bring on a miracle March!
The shop is having a Winter Tag Sale to move out some 2021 Gear.
Truckee River Fly Fishing Report & Forecast
The Truckee continues to fish very well and while the cold, clear water conditions persist, the bite can be a little tricky in certain stretches, I.E., along 89-south, or in certain spots in Nevada getting de-watered for Reno’s water source/power generating. So keep a close eye on the flow charts and choose a section where flows remain the most regulated. Our go-to would be the canyon section, from Hirschdale to the Nevada state line where flows are hanging around the mid-300’s. When fishing along this stretch we recommend using indicator set-up’s and fishing the deeper pools setting your indicator deep and with ample weight to get down to the bottom.
In some of the sections with lower water or shallow runs, try using a dry dropper rig with a dry skwala stonefly and a midge or BWO nymph as your dropper to effectively work the skinny water. There has been some action when fishing dries, and the midges have been incredibly active as of late, so there is certainly a possibility of getting some fish on midges, BWO’s or skwalas on top. But if you don’t see fish consistently rising, we recommend putting your trust in the nymphs. The exception to this would be along the lower river east of sparks, where good hatches of BWO’s are being reported, if dries are your thing you might want to make the trip down the hill.
Big Truckee Brown was named Nemo ... and released to keep just keep swimming.
Little Truckee Fly Fishing Report & Forecast
The flows at the Little Truckee have begun to stabilize as they appear to be done working on the dam. Access out here is still a little spotty with some patches of snow and ice still found on the road, so we still recommend using only 4x4 vehicles with good snow tires only, and, please be careful if venturing out there and keep in mind there is little to no cell service once you get past Boca. We have not heard any reports out here as of late, but with the low flows right now we would guess to see a good bit of technical dry fly fishing using BWO or midges or good nymphing using a euro rod, yarn indicators, or a dry dropper rig. Use of 6x tippet will be important to maximize your odds here with the current conditions. The Boca inlet now has some open water and can fish very well this time of year with good hatches of BWO’s and midges on top as well as good indicator fishing. Please stay off any remaining ice found here or at any of our other lakes as these warm temps have made the ice unsafe to walk on.
Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report & Forecast
Like a light switch, Pyramid has really turned on with this shift in the weather patterns and this last week has seen some of the best fishing of the year as the low-pressure weather system and the days leading up to the full moon coincided. We expect this weekend to be a bit slower with a few sunny days in the forecast and the waning moon but should kick it right back into gear the beginning of next week as this next small system works its way over the Sierra. If you have a flexible schedule and you’re able to do so, we encourage you to try your luck out here over the next week, preferably on Monday through Wednesday. February truly is the best month to target the record-breaking fish found in this lake, don’t miss out!
We had our best luck on balanced leeches in darker colors yesterday but were also catching a handful on midges and other nymphs mostly in the 6-9 foot range. The strip bite has also begun to kick into gear big time, and using midnight cowboys, buggers, boobies or beetles can be a great way to break up the monotony of staring at a bobber. This method is best fished on areas with a gradual drop off and a continuous sandy bottom, to increase the time spent with you flies in front of fish and to avoid any hang-ups on the bottom, a type 3-5 sinking line is sufficient this time of year as fish hang higher in the water column. The bite seems very spread out amongst most of the beaches and overall we saw the best bite window mid-morning and late afternoon with a slight lull in the action around 12-3 (a good time to take a break and get some lunch and a beer!).
As always, Thanks to each and every one of you that has supported us over the last year and a half. We really pride ourselves on giving you accurate info and sound advice to maximize your time on the water, and we hope that our reports and advice given instill confidence on fishing our difficult waters.
Tight Lines,
– Miles
PS - We are having a Winter Tag Sale to move out some 2021 items and make room for new 2022 Gear. Come check out what what have. It won't last long.
