It is certainly one of the best times to be outdoors, and what better way to spend time outside than fishing? With the brown trout on the river at peak activity and Pyramid Lake now open for what we hope is another epic year, there’s a lot of fishing to be had right now.
October 3rd Fly Fishing Report for the Truckee River, Little Truckee River and Pyramid Lake
We have been seeing a clear shift in weather patterns over the last few weeks. These consistent rainy days are a great sign for some above average fall conditions. As the leaves begin to turn, the rain persists, and days get shorter and colder, the beauty of fall here in Truckee really is second to none.
Guided Fly Fishing
Fall on the Truckee is a truly special time, and our guided trips are your ticket to the best of it! As the water cools and the leaves change, the big wild trout get aggressive. 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 autumn the most productive yet. Don't wait—book your Truckee fly fishing adventure today!
Truckee River Fishing Report
Over the last week we found the fish to be a bit more tight-lipped than we were expecting. If we were to conjure a guess as to why, we would blame it on the weather being a bit too nice. Well, that changed over the last couple of days, with consistent drizzly, overcast weather. This will very likely turn the bite back on, putting more worms in the system, and hopefully making the fish a bit less reluctant to take your streamer.
The flows have dropped out of Lake Tahoe from 300 CFS down to 75 CFS, and this could’ve been another factor as to why the fishing slowed for the short term. At Glenshire, we are seeing flows now at 100 CFS. This is pretty dang low, and may make the fish a bit more spooky. This could also make for some good dry fly fishing using baetis and midges, as well as caddis in the late evenings.
With increased releases out of Boca Reservoir, we are still seeing the canyon section remain at 500 CFS, which is fantastic flows for the month of October. The crawdad bite has slowed quite a bit, but there are still some fish looking for these meaty morsels from time to time. Craws are still a great anchor fly on the tightline rig.
With the fish moving around a bit as temps drop, the indicator has become increasingly effective lately. Under an indicator we have been fishing a lot of egg patterns, stoneflies and worms. These paired with a small, dark nymph in size 16-20 have been an effective combo this week.
We have even seen a few October Caddis fluttering around and using an adult October Caddis as a dry dropper has been a fun way to fish some of the slower tailouts and riffles. The pupa of these will also be worth throwing on, in place of the standard large attractor nymphs mentioned above. These bugs really require clean, cold water and prefer large bouldery sections of river, you will typically find better populations of them up higher in the Truckee River system, and not many once you get out of the canyon and into the desert.
Recommended Flies for the Truckee River
Little Truckee Fishing Report
At 56 CFS as of today, we are continuing to recommend staying off the LT for the time being, and giving these fish a break while the water is so low.
Pyramid Lake Fishing Report
This year’s opener at Pyramid Lake started off with a bang in terms of numbers. Those who were jigging into bait balls were putting a good amount of fish into the net, and even the shore anglers found a few!
The fish were marked anywhere from 70 feet down, all the way to the surface, and there were a good number of tui chub bait balls around the lake this year. With the cooler weather kicking the season off, we would predict these bait balls break up within the first couple of weeks of October and the cutthroat will likely spread out before the lake flips and they begin to move into the shallows with regularity.
As of now, the best way to find fish out here will be using heavy jigged streamers and a fish finder, mark bait balls and cast into them in search of the cutthroat hanging out below. For shore anglers, focus on significant drop offs, use balanced leeches or balanced baitfish and play around with depth until you find consistent results.
Some of the largest fish of the year are often caught within the first few weeks of the opener, and this is a good time to find that true fish of a lifetime out at the lake. We are continuing to expand our selection of Pyramid Lake specific flies and will have some custom ties for you shortly, but in the meantime, we are very well stocked on great balanced leech and baitfish patterns, midnight cowboys, beetles, boobies and all of the other essentials for this unique fishery, as well as all the rods, reels, lines, nets and other accessories you will need for your highest odds of finding that 30. See you guys out there!
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!
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