Truckee River Fly Fishing Report
Updated: 10/1/2026
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: 92, Boca: 483, Farad 491: (Click map for more options)
Water Temp: 52-58°F
Clarity: Gin clear from Tahoe to Truckee. Gin 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 and exactly what we like to see 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:
Things have changed slightly since my last report a few weeks ago. Mainly from Lake Tahoe to Boca/Little Truckee.
As expected, the Water Master dropped flows out of Lake Tahoe a few weeks ago. The stretch from Tahoe to Boca is low and clear with very few tributaries adding to flows. It’s normal for this time of year, but bring small flies and light tippet. And be sneaky! They will see you coming.
Dry fly fishing is basically non existent unless you get lucky and find the occasional fish eating caddis or some BWOs. It’s not impossible, but there’s just no consistency with the perfect weather we’ve had. Once the storms start, game on!
If you’re above Boca, really concentrate on the deep runs, in may places the fish are concentrated.
Fish are in every water type below Boca, so don’t be afraid to fish the whole river. Fasts, slow and everything in between.
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 5x has been my go-to tippet size and in the canyon, 4-3x…maybe even 2X once we get some nasty whether rolling in. 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 and keep the eggs handy, it’s about time for the egg bite to get going.
- Euro nymphing: The Euro game has been great recently like usual, especially in the canyon. 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 fall, 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 fall stones, but we’re not seeing many.
- Dry dropper: 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 big 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 earlier int he month with daily clouds, wind and rain. It slowed some the last few weeks but will definitely turn on again soon. We’ll be throwing the big stuff from now through the fall. Some days are better than others, but it’s a great way stick a giant and swing for the fences!
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 18-20 BWOs/Baetis. There’s not a lot of anything hatching now, but these would be the two. Maybe some Mahogany Duns, too, sz 16.
- Caddis: Tan caddis in 16-20s are hatching as we speak and will be into fall. Fish a mix of larve, pupe (top option this week), 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…still. 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 think 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:
Really downsize your set up above Boca like I mentioned earlier. Long leaders, 5x and small flies. Try to skip all the flash and crazy colors. It’s not worth it!
A lucky young angler lands a nice Rainbow on a half day trip this week!
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUIDE TRIPS.
———————-
Little Truckee River Fly Fishing Report
Flow CFS: 47cfs
Water Temp: 50-54°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 47 seems low, we’re 50% higher than the 100 year average on the LT right now. Seems crazy, but it’s true.
At 47, 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 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 light tippet, even when nymphing. 5, 5.5 or 6x? Sure, why not.
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. Maybe come Kakanee.
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 fall stones around that started this week, sz 16.
- Dry dropper: I’m throwing dry droppers with my guests if I run into picky fish in shallow water. A small dry 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 and small leeches and buggers.
Top Fly Patterns:
- Stoneflies: I haven’t fished a lot of stoneflies recently on the LT, but there are some sz 16 fall stones around. Definitely worth a shot.
- 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 conditions. Have a good selection of 18-24s…yes, 24s. Try to have larve and pupe!
- Mayflies: Although the hatches are a bit limited, 18-22s 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. But the Kokanee are starting to drop eggs. It could go off any day now.
- Streamers: Small patterns like leeches and buggers. But again, I don’t throw many streamers in these conditions when I’m guiding.
Guide Insight:
If you’re sight fishing and can’t get them to eat, so smaller with flies and tippet!
Long time regular Tom G. with a big bow on a tiny dry fly!
This lucky lady caught a nice, male Kokanee Salmon on the Little Truckee!
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.
Our fly fishing school is still cranking out classes for the fall. Fishing has been spectacular!
Final Guide Thoughts
The best fishing of the year is right around the corner. Now is the time to get on the books and let one of our experienced guides show you around. Fall can mean bigggg browns. Will this be your year?!
If you’re visiting Truckee or Lake Tahoe, a guided trip can dramatically shorten the learning curve. Guided trips, private lessons and fall 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!
Recent Comments