Truckee River Fly Fishing Report October 1, 2021
While the water on the Truckee continues to be way too low for ethical fishing on most sections of the river, the canyon area from Hirschdale to the Nevada state line has been hanging in there at about 120 CFS, and for those looking to fish the river we ask you to please stick with this section. The Little Truckee is also too low for ethical fishing at 27 CFS, please don’t fish here during this vulnerable time as the trout here attempt to spawn during these extreme drought conditions. On a positive note, conditions on our local lakes have been improving weekly with the consistent cooler weather, so stop in the shop and we can get you in the right direction for some killer fall still water fishing. With pyramid also opening today, now’s the time to get the rust off of your still water game and get ready for the next few months.
With a change in the weather patterns expected next week we hope this is a good indicator of things to come for this fall. Please do your snow dances and keep your fingers crossed for the exceptional winter that we desperately need.
Truckee River Fly Fishing Report
With a meager 9 CFS coming out of Lake Tahoe, the upper stretch of the Truckee River is unfishable and that will likely remain the case until we see significant precipitation. By the time the river gets below the confluence of boca reservoir it has increased to 100 CFS, this is low but still “fishable”. Then once the river enters Nevada it decreases to +/- 50 CFS, once again becoming too low to ethically fish. Please focus your efforts on the section from Hirschdale to the Nevada state line.
Please be aware of any actively spawning fish as we come into October and the browns begin their yearly dance. Spawning redds have already been reported on the Truckee, so please remain hyperaware where you are wading to avoid disrupting any actively spawning fish or stepping on their redds. If you are unsure what to look for, please give us a call or stop in the shop and we can explain this in further detail.
The fish are taking a variety of bugs and different presentations, and while nymphing is the go-to on this river with the lower water using dry flies or a dry dropper set up has been more productive than usual as well as throwing streamers as we come into fall. This cold front expected this week should hopefully mix things up and we expect to see and increase in activity from fall bugs like BWO’s, Midges and October Caddis.
Little Truckee Fly Fishing Report
Given the current low flows and actively spawning fish on the Little Truckee we highly encourage you keep off this river and fish elsewhere during this time.
Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report
Pyramid Lake is open for the season! While the opener here is hardly ever lights out fishing for those using flies due the fish hanging in deeper water this time of year, it’s still a very exciting time of year for anglers who have been itching to get back out here, and yet another reason we welcome the cool fall weather to drive these fish closer to shore and within the reach of fly anglers, so pray for snow! If you just can’t wait to catch your first Pyramid LCT (Lahontan Cutthroat Trout) of the season and you don’t want to resort to chucking spoons, you can still get into fish if you’re patient. A great way to throw flies at these fish this time of year would be to use a float tube, kayak, boat or anything of the likes to get you a little further offshore and into deeper water. Use a fast sinking fly line in a type 5-7 sink rate with large streamers and give your flies a good long soak before you start your retrieve.
We are well stocked in all the necessities for fishing this lake including, rods, reels, lines, flies and of course stout tippet. So come on in and get geared up for another great year at the ‘Mid.
– Miles and the TCO Crew