November 21st Fly Fishing Report for the Truckee River, Little Truckee River and Pyramid Lake
These series of storm fronts pushing through the area aren’t hitting with the exact punch we were hoping for to start off the winter snowpack right, but it is precipitation, and it’s a turn in the right direction. Yesterday's snow, and last week’s storm laid down a dusting of snow in Truckee and Reno, with plenty of rain along with it. One can now say we’re going back to sunshine and albeit cold.
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
With the rain/snow mix over the last week we did see the river come up and get a bit off color for a short while. As of today the water has cleared back up and the flows have stabilized. Overall, for this time of year, the flows are incredibly good along the entire system. Just under 300 CFS in Glenshire, around 450 below Boca, 450 in West Reno, and just under 500 at Sparks. It’s very rare to see such consistency along the entire 100+ miles of this river.
The colder days have caused temps to plummet, making it a little harder to get the fish to move on your fly. This is the time of year where the later starts will be advantageous as things warm up later in the day.
This is also the time of year where your fly selection should consist of a few key bugs that remain active during the winter. Stoneflies, worms and eggs are all great attractor nymphs right now, and pairing these larger flies with the small bugs of winter, I.E. baetis and midges, is really all you need to focus on at this time. With the surge of rainwater pushed through the system this week, worms should be top of that list.
Recommended Flies for the Truckee River
Little Truckee Fishing Report
No changes on the Little Truckee this week means we would highly suggest to keep off this over pressured river system for the time being.
Pyramid Lake Fishing Report
While the shore bite is getting better daily, it is a bit temperamental still as the nicer days drive the fish out into deeper water. The stormy days will be what you will want to focus on right now, overcast all day, winds 10+ MPH, and cooler air temps are all important factors when looking at planning a day out here.
Most days the balanced leech is the ticket, but there have been a few reports on good fishing using midges. The depth will vary depending on the beach and a good policy would be to get near the bottom, around a foot or so. The strip bite has also been quite good, and while using the classic bugger/beetle combo is hard to beat, with the fish just coming off eating tui chub all fall, any olive over white streamer is another good option.
The bite does appear to be most consistent in the mornings, so get out early and don’t be afraid to call it early if the bite dies down in the afternoon, as it often doesn’t pick back up if the weather stays nice into the evening.
We would also like to note that there were talks of the southernmost beach, Popcorn closing due to increase the radius of the no fishing zone at the Truckee River mouth. We recently confirmed from an official that you can still fish here and the beach will NOT be closed this year to fishing. Thank you to all that sent an email to the tribal counsel about this for their consideration to revert this rule.
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 our most recent Truckee River Canyon Float on YouTube!
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