Truckee River

 

 

If you have ever heard or read about the Truckee River then you know that it's a tough river to master, but also a river that not only fishes year round but it can produce some huge fish. This is why having an experienced Truckee River Fly Fishing Guide will make learning and fishing the Truckee an everlasting experience. It's the prefect river to walk and wade, and this is what most do, due to its many accessible points along its banks. But you can float the river as well, which can be a blast, and covering water that doesn't get fished often is a great treat. Not only is it easy to wade, but its by far one of the easiest accessible rivers in Northern California. The best time to fish the Truckee River is from early spring just before snow run off, or late spring/early summer just after snow run off, till the first major winter storm that really cools things down. The fishing does slow down in winter, but don't be discouraged, if you can bare the winter temps with me (coffee on tap of course), the treat waiting at the end of your line could be a fish of a lifetime. The species in charge are the browns and rainbows, with your average brown being 14-18"s, but browns in the double digits and over 30"s have been seen on occasions, so you never know what it will be. The rainbows on the Big T are awesome, and feisty, the average being 14-16", with many in the low to mid 20s and some pushing the double digits as well. It's best fished with a 9-9.5ft 5 or 6 wt rod, but don't be afraid to bring your 4wt too, you can really get taken back to the essence of fly fishing when throwing dries on 4wt to rising fish, it doesn't get any better than that. With summer temps and flows, it will bring out some great hatches, starting with Dark Stones in the early to late spring, followed by green drakes, crayfish and caddis with a mix of baetis, pmds and midges on a daily basis. Oh, and don't forget about your March Browns, October Caddis and Golden Stones too. These can be fished as dries, under an indicator, swung, high sticking or even a Dry/Hopper Dropper combo. All work great and all very deadly when used properly. For you swingers, they work well too, so don't forget your sculpins, crayfish, goblins, sex dungeons or your Truckee River specials, those big browns will be waiting. If fishing late into the evening/night or under the moonlight then chucking mouse patterns work great for those big browns too. The Truckee River is a great dry fly river, so don't come up here without some dries like elk hair caddis, hoppers, stimulators, pmds , bwos and midges. Some of the best dry fly action is in the summer just before dusk when the hatches start and the fish come out and play. There is nothing like seeing a 20"+ brown or rainbow coming up to the surface and slurping your dry. Make no mistake though, it is no picnic fooling these fish. These fish see it all so it’s all about being stealthy, matching the hatch and knowing where the fish are for that time of year. This is a river that will put your knowledge of fly fishing to the test as well as your patience. It’s all about adapting. If you can adapt, you can catch fish on the Truckee River. Whether you are tossing dries to rising fish, swinging streamers through deep pools for big browns, high sticking pocket water or nymphing seams, pools and runs with lots of shot for both, you name it, knowing when to use it is the key. This river can get complicated quickly but with the right Truckee River Fly Fishing Guide, we will explain what’s going on, how to fish it and why. Knowing when, where, why and how is the key with fishing the Truckee River. Once you know that, it all falls into place, and then the Truckee River will reveal some of the best fishing that you have only dreamed of.

-Brian