Fly Fishing the Truckee River in Fall and Early Summer
Fall and Early summer are prime times for Fly Fishing the Truckee River. In addition to BWO and midge hatches, this area is also a great place to catch Skwalas. A dry dropper set up with an adult Skwala can be a great way to fish the Truckee River. Below are some tips for fishing the Truckee River in fall. Enjoy! (And don’t forget to check out the article below for more fall and early summer tips.)
Fall
If you are looking for a unique fly fishing adventure, the Truckee River in California is the perfect place to get started. The Truckee River is a freestone river in the high Sierras that flows from Lake Tahoe to Reno through a beautiful canyon. The fish here average 12 inches and can grow to twenty or more inches. While Californians call the Truckee “technical,” the river offers plenty of excitement without being difficult to raft. Rafting and kayaking are popular activities along this section of the river.
Early summer
The truckee River’s early summer fishery is prime for fly fishing. During the morning, trout are usually found in tail outs of runs and will move upstream into riffles and stretches with whitewater. This type of water is more productive for fishing due to increased oxygen levels. Additionally, fish will feel more comfortable in this kind of water. Here are some tips to make your early summer fly fishing a success.
Fall on the Truckee River
Early fall on the Truckee River is a great time to get out and try your hand at fall on the Truckee River fly fishing. The LT and Truckee rivers are known to be red hot as fish are putting on weight for the winter. Casting a streamer in slower river bank water is the best way to lure these large predators to your fly. However, this season can be tricky because the water temperature can be very low. To help you locate them, look for winter stones in the river bed.
Deep nymphing
Fall is the perfect time to start deep nymphing when fly fishing Truckero River. Streamers, indicator nymphs, and even Czech nymphs are effective. Czech nymphs are often constructed with lead wire underneath the body and tungsten beads for weight. This technique can be deadly for spring and summer trout. Below Union Mills Bridge, you can find prime water downstream.
Access points
In the lower reaches of the Truckee River, you can find a catch and release section. Although this section is relatively wild and small, it is accessible by car, and has several public access points. However, you may want to be patient when getting to the water — it can be a steep hike, so be sure to have plenty of time to get to the river and find a spot for fishing.
Lightly weighted patterns
Flyfishers looking for trophy brown trout can use lightly weighted patterns in the Truckee River this fall. Tandem nymph rigs are working well in deeper pools, but the higher water flows require more weight to get flies to the fish. Hoppers are an excellent choice for warmer afternoons, but big fish are also attracted to terrestrials.
Carp
Effective flies for the Truckee River include nymphs, streamers, and dry flies. Choose flies in proven patterns or local variations. Nymphs in yellow, orange, and gray are effective. Streamers with bead chain eyes may also attract carp. The following are some tips for catching carp on the Truckee River. A good nymph rig includes a 9-foot leader tapered to 4X fluorocarbon, a 6 to 10-inch tippet, and a heavily weighted pattern.
Lahontan Cutthroat trout
For those who love angling for a challenging game, try your hand at fly fishing for Lahontan Cutthroat trout in the Truckee River. This fish is considered a subspecies of the cutthroat and has been stocked in Western lakes with high alkalinity. In fact, it is one of the most popular game fish in the world.
Truckee River Fly Fishing Gilligan’s Guide Service
Address: 10965 Floriston Ave, Truckee, CA 96161
Open 24 hours
Phone: (775) 351–6665
Appointments: gilligansguideservice.com
