January 2nd Fly Fishing Report for the Truckee River, Little Truckee River and Pyramid Lake 

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Happy New Year, everyone! We hope that your 2026 resolutions may involve a bit of fishing in one way or another. Things look bright for another great year of fishing in the Truckee/Tahoe area this year! With a few storms coming and going over the last couple of weeks, we have finally seen things switch over to true winter conditions. This late start of winter, while not ideal, isn’t too uncommon and we can certainly still catch up to our average snow levels with a few large storms.

This week’s storm is looking like it may be some high snow levels, largely affecting things above 6,000’, and mostly coming down as rain here in Truckee, with only a few days of snow and primarily showing a rain/snow mix. Seeing the forecast, it seems access on the Truckee will remain open here in town and definitely wide open down in Reno. Looking ahead for the fishing at Pyramid Lake this week, we expect a few slow days this weekend, but things should pick up heading into the middle of the week. Read below for more!

Winter Guided Fly Fishing

Winter on the Truckee is a truly special time, and our guided trips are your ticket to the best of it! Leave the crowds at home. Winter solitude brings cold, clear rivers, and the biggest fish are ready to strike. Whether you want to hunt for a trophy or looking to dial in technique, our guides know exactly where the action is. Maximize your time on the water, learn the local secrets, and make this winter the most productive yet. Don't wait—book your Truckee fly fishing adventure today!

Truckee River Fishing Report

The Fishing on the Truckee has been a bit tough as of late. Last week we did see the river blow out for a couple of days due to heavy rains, but it has since dropped and stabilized. It still holds a fair amount of color, but that’s actually a good thing as it gives you the ability to fish larger flies, heavier tippet and better conceal yourself from the fish. As we see the water temps hang in the upper to mid-30’s the fish are sure to be a bit lethargic right now and you really need to bump them in the nose to find them. 

Due to the decreased visibility, we are finding good success on attractor flies like worms, eggs, and stoneflies, which were a tough sell just a few weeks back when the water was so clear that we were forced to almost exclusively fish sizes 18 and smaller. If in doubt, using these smaller offerings is still a good choice, as both baetis and midges are the only real hatches found during the winter months.

Focus on the slow, deep pools at this point as most fish have now pushed back into walking speed water. This means focusing on bubble lines, the sides of the main seams, tail outs on big pools, or otherwise seemingly featureless water where the fish don’t have to work hard to eat their daily calories. Fish these areas thoroughly and focus on the mid-day window for the best fishing as this is when temps come up and the fish become a bit more willing to eat.
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Recommended Flies for the Truckee River

Little Truckee Fishing Report

Due to recent snowfall, the Little Truckee is currently difficult to access. It also remains low despite the recent storms. We highly encourage you to fish the main Truckee instead and give these fish a well-deserved break from angling pressure.
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Pyramid Lake Fishing Report

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These series of recent storms have finally made Pyramid fish with a bit of consistency, but we have still yet to see good numbers of large fish really show up with regularity. There are still certainly some bigger fish in the mix, with a few 20’s showing up over the last few weeks, but when we compare it to last year, it appears the overall number of big guys is down as of right now. 

The full moon will be on Saturday, and as we’ve said in the past, this is one of the most consistent factors for a day of poor fishing, as we’ve seen it too many times to not believe it anymore. Typically, it takes a few days of the waning moon cycle before the bite picks back up, so we would expect things to get good again as soon as the beginning of the week, especially as this week-long storm really pushes in.

Keep an eye on the wind levels and direction when planning a trip out here. Ideally you are looking for wind speeds of 15-30 MPH, and while you can still find good fishing in most wind directions this may change your choice of beaches based on which way it is facing. On consistently overcast days, the bite can be good most of the day this time of year, so fishing an entire day to maximize your odds will be the best policy, but if that’s not an option, we would say that the afternoons have actually been a bit better than the mornings right now, surprisingly! Most presentations have been working, with the most consistent probably dark balanced leeches 7-9 feet under an indicator, but certain beaches will be best fished using chironomids and some stripping beetle/bugger combos. Once you fish out here enough, you will start to see patterns on what is best fished where, it takes some time but is one of the fun parts of really dialing in this finicky lake!

Recommended Flies for Pyramid Lake

Check the Flows Before You Go...

Trout Creek Outfitters Clearance Rack!

Before you go, take a moment to explore our end of summer blowout sale featured on this Clearance Rack. It's a great opportunity to find quality gear at reduced prices, perfect for adding to your kit or trying something new. You might just hook a fantastic deal!

Watch us catch some fish in the snow!

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