If you’ve spent any time in Truckee the last few months, you’d know that not really much has changed.
It’s been an odd start to winter with very little snow to this point and the occasional sloppy rain, snow-mix system passing through town. Although it hasn’t done anything for snowpack yet, it has helped the bite if you’re timing is good.
Not surprisingly, those days have produced some of the better dry fly fishing so far this winter with baetis and midges being the main two bugs on top.
That said, in typical Truckee fashion, nymphing has been the go-to technique with some streamer fish in the mix.
The flows from town to Boca are average for this time of year, pretty low and pretty clear for the most part. As of today we’re looking at 124 cfs. We’re getting most fish on 4-6x tippet and small flies on average. 16s-20s are pretty good sizes to start with. There are even a few winter stones around, but not many…yet.
Below Boca the river is running at 348 cfs., the canyon is about the same, and has a perfect “steelhead green” color to it. Although the fish are eating the small stuff too, several fish are being caught on 12-16s as well. Don’t be afraid to use small leeches, rubberlegs, eggs and worms as an attractor. A baetis or midge dropper is a good idea too.
We’re getting most fish to eat 4x from Boca down through the canyon.
I had the privilege of joining one of our guests for his float trip on the NV side with our guide Mike Curtis. We had a great day catching smaller cutties, a bunch of adult bows and one really nice brown on a streamer.
If you haven’t taken advantage of the floating the NV side yet, you should! The river has a much different personality down there and you can have more shots at big browns. Although the water is cold for streamers right now, we did get three eats and several follows. You never know unless you try!
Drop Lu and I a tone if you’re looking to hop on a raft and fish down in NV. You won’t regret it.
See you on the water.
Matt
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