Truckee River Fly Fishing Report
Updated: 12/19/2025
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: 161, Boca: 430, Farad: 454 (Click map for more options)
Water Temp: 38- 42°F
Clarity: Clear
Best Time to Fish: Late Morning, mid afternoon
Overall Report:
The Truckee has been fishing well for the last few weeks, but we really need some weather to get the bugs going. The river is cold and clear from Lake Tahoe all the way to the NV state line. As you may know, there’s slightly more color in the canyon than up high (3x and 4x), but still very clear.
We’re still waiting for our first substantial snowfall of the season. Thankfully it looks like it might be right around the corner. We might have a white Christmas after all. Once that does happen it should really help our dry fly fishing, especially with Baetis on the Truckee. It should also help the streamer and Trout Spey bite too!
Effective Techniques: How & Where
- Indicator nymphing: Depending on my clients, this has been the name of the game recently. The water is as clear as you’d expect this time of year. Fish your rigs near the bottom and look for slow water that’s 2 feet deep or deeper.
- Euro nymphing: We are doing some Euro if we can get close to the fish without spooking them. Or fishing heavy anchor flies and chucking them at distance, in deep slow runs.
- Dry fly: There has been very little dry fly fishing in the last few weeks. But when we do see them, they are eating midges and Baetis.
- Dry dropper: We’re throwing very little dry dropper rigs this time of year on the Truckee.
- Streamer/Trout Spey: We have been doing quite a bit of trout spey the last few months. Depending on the run, Skagit heads with 10ft of T8 or 5/5 of T8 has been our go-t0. Slow deliberate presentations have been the ticket with cold, clear temps.
Top Fly Patterns:
- Stoneflies: Rubberlegs in various dark colors, size 8-12. Winter stones in black, size 14-16.
- Perdigons/Euro: Anything black, brown, olive in size 14-18. Purple Duracell’s in 16 are working well too.
- Midges: A mix of larve, pupe and adults in size 18-22 have been putting fish in the net, especially above Boca through downtown Truckee. The dry fly fishing has been slow with the perfect weather.
- Mayflies: A mix of Baetis nymphs, emergers and adults in sizes 16-22. Any black, olive or brown nymph has been working well all through the system. Same as above, slow dry fly fishing.
- Caddis: Not enough to put any time into.
- Eggs and worms: It’s always a good idea in the winter to have a selection of both in a few different colors.
- Streamers: My streamers don’t change a lot throughout the year. If it’s 2-4inchs long with natural brown, olive, black or grey color tones, it’s hard to beat. Some of my trout Spey set ups include size 14 soft hackles too.
Truckee River Guide Tip:
The Truckee is rewarding anglers who focus on depth and drift right now. Adjust weight often and slow everything down—most eats are soft and near the bottom.
A beautiful Truckee river rainbow fooled by a soft hackle using a trout spey set-up.
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Little Truckee River
Flow CFS: 43
Water Temp: 42-54°F
Clarity: Clear
Best Time to Fish: All day, peak is mid-day for hatches
Overall Report:
Flows and conditions are dead on schedule for this time of year. Consistent flows and slow, clear water. I’ve only guided the LT a few times here and there this fall. Fishing was good with a few slow days in the mix.
We were mostly nymphing and throwing dries when we saw noses. Mostly on cloudy days weeks ago. Get ready for more in a week!
At this point most browns are done spawning and off the redds but still keep an eye out for them as they are probably full of eggs.
Effective Techniques: How and Where
- Indicator nymphing: Most fish are coming on light indicator rigs with small indicators. 5 and 6X tippets are the norm.
- Euro nymphing: There are some guys doing the Euro thing out there. Just make sure you don’t spook the fish by getting too close. And make sure your anchor fly isn’t too heavy with all the slime and algae.
- Dry Fly: We have had some consistent hatches on the LT with baetis, midges and winter stones. Fish the longest leader you can cast with 6-7X. Make sure your presentation is perfect.
- Dry dropper: You can fish some light dry-dropper rigs if you see fish feeding in the riffles. It’s a great way to nymph and not spook them with a bobber.
- Streamer/Trout Spey: With winter flows, I’m doing very little streamer fishing. If I was, the smaller the better. I’d even give some leech patterns a try.
Top Fly Patterns:
- Stoneflies: Some guys are getting fish on your classic big stones, but smaller winter stones have been producing better. Have some size 14-16s with you, nymphs and adults.
- Perdigons/Euro: Anything black, brown, olive in size 14-18. Purple Duracell’s in 16 are working well too.
- Midges: A mix of larve, pupe and adults in size 18-22 have been putting fish in the net, especially above Boca through downtown Truckee. The dry fly fishing has been slow with the perfect weather.
- Mayflies: Like the Truckee, a mix of nymphs, emergers and adults in sizes 18-22. Any black, olive or brown nymph has been working well all through the system. Fish them in riffles, runs and pools. Everywhere!
- Caddis: Not enough to put any time into.
- Eggs and worms: It’s always a good idea in the winter to have a selection of both in a few different colors.
- Streamers: Small patters like leeches and buggers.
Guide Insight:
This is a technical spring creek-style fishery, especially with winter flows. Stealth, light tippet, and perfect drifts matter more than fly selection.
Adam A. with a nice, egg eating, Little Truckee brown trout.
Steve with a giant, Baetis eating, rainbow on the Little Truckee last week.
Final Guide Thoughts
Conditions are stable with the high-pressure system that doesn’t seem to want to go away. But like I said, fingers crossed for a Christmas miracle later this week!
Anglers who focus on depth & presentation are seeing the most success. No surprise there.
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.
Drop Lu and I a note HERE. We’re happy to point you in the right direction!
PS- Did you catch Part 1 of our Fly Fishing the Truckee Winter series?
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