The past week has brought the Tahoe Basin its first snow of the season, and the weather’s getting colder! Our small winter stormfront has cooled things down significantly the past two weeks. Water temperatures have been in the low 40s and as high as the low 50s on a warmer day. Daytime temperatures have been averaging around 50 degrees, and nights have been no more than freezing.
Flows: cubic feet per second (cfs)
Tahoe City to Truckee: 75
Truckee to Boca: 147
Boca to Farad: 225
Farad to Stateline: 266
The colder temperatures may scare away some anglers, but the fish are used to it! The Truckee is on her regular schedule of producing solid fish for those who put their time in with the right gear. Our guides have been getting fish on indicator nymphing rigs, with smaller than usual flies. We recommend resorting to the usual winter flies that we put in the category of TBS: tiny black sh*t.
TBS means smaller, darker flies, often with a slimmer presentation in the water. Baetis and midges in sizes 18-22 are going to be the fish’s most reliable food source.
Because of the colder temps and smaller flies, fish won’t be as willing to move for your flies. This means you’ll want to put in extra time to really pick apart spots on the river. Just a one foot difference in casting length can be the difference between a fish and striking out. On slow days, downsizing tippet is never a bad idea.
Tight lines everyone!
Ryan Rintala | Social Media @mattheronflyfishing
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