Truckee River Fly Fishing Report
Updated: 9/6/2026
This week’s fly fishing report covers the Truckee River (CA), Little Truckee River, Truckee River (Nevada Side). Conditions are reported from the perspective of 20-year Truckee guide Matt Heron and his veteran guide staff. Focused on water temps, flows, and proven seasonal tactics.
Truckee River (California Side)
Flows CFS: In town: 299, Boca: 488, Farad 497: (Click map for more options)
Water Temp: 55-65°F
Clarity: Gin clear from Tahoe to Truckee. Clear near downtown Truckee to Boca. From Boca to the NV there’s a little bit of “greenish” tin from the Little Truckee. This is perfectly normal and perfect for this time of year.
Best Time to Fish: Pretty much all day with the current water temps. If you made me pick a time to avoid, evenings. But if that’s when you can sneak out, it’s still worth it!
Overall Report:
Boy things have changed since my last report. I know it’s been a while since my last report, busy summer…I’m trying haha! August saw normal, high temperatures and even some Hoot Owl closures along the way. Thankfully it only took a few days of rain, cloudy days and cool nights to put that in our rearview mirror.
Flows and water temps are absolutely perfect throughout the entire river right now. With temps in the high 50s most of the day, it’s go time and only going to get better!
The flows from town to Boca are slightly higher than normal for the second half of summer. I’ve been saying this all season and it’s still true. We’re fully expecting the Water Master to drop flows out of Tahoe soon, now that we’re out of the holiday weekend. But even if they do, flows will still be in great shape.
Dry fly fishing is basically non existent unless you get lucky and find the occasional fish eating caddis or some PMDs.
Fish are in every water type now, so don’t be afraid to fish the whole river. Fasts, slow and everything in between.
So surprise, we are in a bit of no-mans-land with bugs right now. Our summer bugs are pretty much ending or over, fall bugs are just getting going. What does this mean? Dry fly fishing is really limited at the moment, even with perfect conditions.
Bobber, Euro and hopper dropper are the way to go right now. See below.
Effective Techniques: How and Where
- Indicator nymphing: Like usual, we’re running into quite a fish with the bobber rigs. Above Boca 5-4x has been my go-to tippet size and in the canyon, 4-3x..maybe even 2X with all the weather we’ve had. Use split shot as needed and make sure you’re ticking the bottom. If there’s bugs hatching, you can lighten up a bit. Use a crayfish or rubberleg attractor.
- *Euro nymphing: The Euro game has been great recently with fish moving into your classic summer water. As you may know, this technique is great for bubbly, pocket water. The fish haven’t been particularly picky on fly patterns in the fast stuff. Just get it down with a heavy anchor fly and make sure you drift is slow. Set anything, not just when you feel it! We’ll be doing a lot of Euro this summer, drop us a note if you’re looking to learn more about this effective technique.
- Dry fly: The dry fly bite is really slow right now which is normal with the summer/fall transition. That said, there’s some caddis around throughout the day, good numbers of midges, BWOs and a few Mahogany Duns. Maybe even a few late stones, but we’re not seeing many.
- *Dry dropper: Now we’re talking my language. This technique continues to kick out lots of fish as we move into fall. As you know, it’s one of my favorite ways to get fish on the Truckee River. A bug bushy dry fly or hopper with one or two heavy nymphs below it. If I’m fishing 3 feet of water or less, this is by far my go-to. It’s been working all summer and will continue as day time temps stay worm. We are getting multiple hopper eats each day!
- Streamer/Trout Spey: Tis the season…finally! The streamer and swing bite really turned on the last week with daily clouds, wind and rain. Quite unusual weather for the first week of Sept, but anything is possible at 6,000′. We’ll be throwing the big stuff from now thought the fall. Some days are better than others, but it’s a great way stick a giant and swing for the fences!
*TOP TECHNIQUE
Top Fly Patterns:
- Stoneflies: Rubberlegs in brown, coffee or rusty colors, and any attractor stoneflies you like to fish, size 8-12.
- Perdigons/Euro: Anything black, brown, olive in size 14-18. No real secrets here. Don’t overlink flies you’re fishing in fast bubbles. All our guides fish different flies, they all work. Just get it in front of them!
- Midges: Although we love tossing bigger flies, there are a lot of midges around right now, especially early in the morning. It can never hurt putting them under a bobber or on a Euro rod. You don’t need to get to crazy, a size 18 zebra midge is all you need.
- Mayflies: Fish your favorite size 16 PMDs and 18 BWO/Baetis. There’s not a lot of anything hatching now, but these would be the two. Maybe some Mahogany Duns, too.
- Caddis: Tan caddis in 16-20s are hatching as we speak and will be into fall. Fish a mix of larve, pupe, emergers and adults depending on if you’re seeing a hatch. We should see more as we head into fall.
- Eggs and worms: With the weather “turning” the fish on a bit, eggs aren’t a bad idea. We haven’t fished worms much, but they always are worth a shot.
- Crayfish: Tis the season! Dead drift, swing or strip. It’s still time as we move though September.
- Streamers/Spey: My streamers don’t change a lot throughout the year. If it’s 2-4 inches long with natural brown, olive, black or grey color tones, it’s hard to beat. Also thing about some rusty brown/orange with all the crayfish around. Some of my trout Spey set ups include size 14 soft hackles too.
Truckee River Guide Tip:
Get the streamers ready for the next few months, if not more. Water temps have dropped, and that really kicks these fish into overdrive to chase and kill! Upside your tippet and hold on, especially if the weather is less than perfect.
A great, hopper-dropper Rainbow near downtown Truckee!
Our boy Jim A. with a nice bow near the NV border.
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Little Truckee River
Flow CFS: 45cfs
Water Temp: 50-57°F
Clarity: Clear
Best Time to Fish: It’s an all day game over there right now. You just have to pick and choose how many people you want around you. Mid day is pretty busy with anglers, especially at the top parking lot. No surprise there.
Overall Report:
Even though for many of 45 seems low, we’re 50% higher than the 100 year average on the LT right now. Seems crazy, but it’s true. That
Even at 45, flows are slow and gin clear. Bring your A-Game. You’ll find fish podded up the deeper runs as expected, with several fish in the deeper riffles, especially when there’s a few bugs around. They are moving in there during hatches to feed like they always do.
I would highly recommend fishing as light as tippet, even with nymphing as you feel comfortable with. With the current conditions, 5x is a good starting point.
I’ve mostly been on the Truckee, but the few times I’ve been over there the upper parking lot is a zoo, like usual. Don’t be afraid to explore other sections. The whole river has fish, walk a bit and you’ll find them.
Effective Techniques: How and Where
- Indicator nymphing: Most fish are coming on light indicator rigs with 5-6x tippet being my go-to. I know that sounds crazy for nymphing to big fish, but they are educated and have tons of time to inspect every drift.
- Euro nymphing: Light euro rigs have been kicking some really nice fish the last month for us. Fish 5-6x with small flies and you’re good to go. Be careful though, don’t get to close in the clear water, they will spook!
- Dry Fly: Peak dry fly fishing has slowed quite a bit the last month or so. But there are definitely opportunities if you keep walking. Have a good selection of BWO’s and midges. There are some PMDs, too.
- Dry dropper: I’m throwing dry droppers with my guests if I run into picky fish in shallow water. A small PMD you can see with a 6x dropper is hard to beat for these educated fish.
- Streamer/Trout Spey: I’m not using streamers at all right now on the LT. That may change in a month or so. The fish are keyed in on the small stuff. If you really want to chuck some meat around, shoot for low light conditions.
Top Fly Patterns:
- Stoneflies: I haven’t fished a lot of stoneflies recently on the LT, but a rugglerleg or golden stone attractor can’t hurt.
- Perdigons/Euro: Anything black, brown, olive in size 18-22. Go small or go home!
- Midges: Midges have been kicking out a lot fish recently with these condtions. Have a good seleciton of 18-24s…yes, 24s. Try to have larve and pupe!
- Mayflies: Although the hatches are a bit limited, sz 16 PMD duns and emergers are a great call for dries if it happens. 18-20s for BWOs/Baetis.
- Caddis: There’s a few caddis around, 16-20s, but not many. Larve, pupe, emergers and adults.
- Eggs and worms: It’s always a good idea this time of year to have a selection of both in a few different colors, but we’re really not fishing them much.
- Streamers: Small patterns like leeches and buggers. But again, I don’t throw many streamers in these conditions when I’m guiding.
Guide Insight:
Take your time, and stalk the banks. Sight fishing is really easy in these flows. But remember to be as stealthy has possible. They will spook, but not if you’re careful!
Mark J. and his crew have fished with us for years. How about that brown!?
Family fun on the LT!
Fly Fishing Classes:
Our summer classes schedule is finally in full swing at Everline Resort and we just restocked this week! Drop us a note if you’re looking to improve that cast, or give fly fishing a shot for the first time.
Our fun, easy, beginner friendly classes will run daily, not through the fall. Learn more HERE.
Cloudy days equals great fishing on our ponds!
Stoke level 100%!!
Final Guide Thoughts
I can’t lie, the water temps dropped sooner and faster than we all expected. I’d take advantage of September as much as you can can before the crowds of anglers show up this fall.
If you’re visiting Truckee or Lake Tahoe, a guided trip can dramatically shorten the learning curve. Guided trips, private lessons and winter specific clinics are available.
Did this Truckee River fly fishing report help? Have questions? Drop Lu and I a note HERE. We’re happy to point you in the right direction!
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