Truckee River & Little Truckee River Fly Fishing Report: December 23, 2025

Truckee River Fly Fishing Report

Updated: 12/23/2025

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:

What a difference 3 days makes! I’m going to step outside of my box and keep this short and sweet.

Turns out, the entire area got wayyyyy more rain that we expected before the snow started this week. The river blew out big time! It was up by 10 through most of the system. It was a much needed flush that no one saw coming…to this extent anyway.

The river wasn’t really fishable the last few days. I love fishing high, off color water, but this was chocolate milk. Not impossible to find fish, but it’s up there. The good news is, it’s dropping fast, already.

Since it’s dropping, I’ll give a quick report on fishing off color water with decent flow. But after January 1st, I’d refer back to this exact report from a few days ago. Click Here.

If you show up after Christmas and it’s not off color, resort back to that link too.

Effective Techniques: How & Where

• Indicator nymphing: Depending on my clients, this has been the name of the game recently. Fish 2-3x with big to medium flies against the bank in slower water. The fish can see the small bugs, but why not give yourself a better chance.
• 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: Nope!
• Dry dropper: If you want on the slow edges, but you can’t adjust the dry fly depth. Stick with the indicator.
• Streamer/Trout Spey: Yes and yes. Same…fish the edges and slower water.

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: Save them for clear water.
• Mayflies: It’s fish them in 14-16s only. Stay away from the small stuff.
• 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 with high water!
• 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:

Fisht the edges…have I said that enough? The high water will push the fish against the banks. It’s big fish time. Use heavy tippet and hold on! You could get your biggest fish of the year this week.

A muddy water streamer fish, last year on Dec 26th. Will history repeat itself?

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Little Truckee River

Flow CFS: 51
Water Temp: 42-54°F
Clarity: Clear
Best Time to Fish: All day, peak is mid-day for hatches

Overall Report:

It did get a little bump with the flows and dropped back to normal, almost immediately. It’s at 52 cfs and dropping. It’s clear and fishable. The only thing I’d add to the report below is to fish worms, worms and worms. The push of water yesterday really stirred up the bottom.

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.

 

Final Guide Thoughts

I would take advantage of the Truckee asap! This is the week to find a giant. I can’t stress it enough, heavy tippet, attractor flies against the bank and hold on!

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?