Truckee River Fishing Report & Forecast

We have seen the flows rise slowly and steadily on the Truckee over the past week, but with another stormy start to next week, we will see them drop once again. The biggest factor for this fluctuation right now is the air temps. If we get a few cold days in a row, they can drop as much as 100-200 CFS in that timeframe. These slow ramp ups and downs are great to see for the fishing. The cooler weather keeps snowpack on the hill for longer, helps the river run clear, flows at a reasonable rate and fishing is better for longer. The last thing we want to see is huge spikes in one direction or another.

Due to the water remaining clear, we haven’t seen the best “junk fly” bite just yet, and most of our fish are being caught on smaller flies such as rainbow warriors, perdigons, blowtorches, etc. The larger fly still has been playing an important role of acting as an attractor, adding weight and providing the option of the larger meal to the less-discerning fish. We are beginning to find fish in medium speed water consistently now, but it still must have the right features for a fish to want to sit in it. There must be at least a couple feet of depth, it should have some type of break from the main current, such as a boulder, log jam, or a change in depth or direction in the river. This diversion being just enough of something to create a cushion of softer water to hold fish in it. With flows at just under 700 CFS in Glenshire and over 1,000 CFS at Farad, the use of weight is vital for success, and not just one BB, we’re talking AB-SSG AND tungsten bead flies. It sounds a bit excessive, but this simple adjustment can make or break your day of fishing. Fish with a lot of weight and fish deep right now.

During these bigger flows the streamer bite has improved and using sink tip lines with weighted flies is a great way to get down to the fish quickly. Another great way to fish streamers right now would be using a euro nymph set up and high sticking them. At the shop we just received a good number of jigged streamers this spring and have some good options for both techniques, stop in and check them out!

Little Truckee River Fishing Report & Forecast

The flows on the Little Truckee continued to come up from last week, and are sitting at around 350-375 CFS as of today. These flows certainly change how one should approach the river in terms of presentation, fly selection, tippet diameter, and the weight used. Odds are you won’t see that great of dry fly fishing out here this week, except maybe just a couple of key runs. Your best bet would be using an indicator or euro rod and making sure you’re using ample weight to get those flies down.

With these flows, the fish will become a bit more spread out, and those runs that you normally pass up may very well be the ones that are stacked with fish. Being able to read water and identify good habitats will be important. Focus on deep runs, slower water, breaks in current and undercuts. These are all locations with high odds on the LT right now. You can also upsize your flies and tippet, using worms, eggs, and just flashier and buggy-er flies may get you on more fish. Don’t forget that this is still the Little Truckee, if in doubt, go small and use light tippet, but be ready if you hook a good one on a size 20 on 6x, you’ll be in for a ride. Another fun way to fish here right now would be to throw streamers. Don’t believe us? Give it a try and see for yourself!

Please be aware that the rainbows are actively spawning right now, and the spawning fish should be left alone, free of any interaction or harassment. By giving these fish their space during this time, you are ensuring future generations of wild trout in this special piece of water for all to enjoy and appreciate. As always, if you have any questions about how to identify a trout’s redd or the best practices for fishing around spawning fish, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We always appreciate the willingness to learn!