Fall is here

We had been enjoying a nice Indian summer with clear skies and sunny weather. The fishing has been decent. The main Truckee has produced more willing trout better than the Little Truckee.

 

The trout have been active and feeding and they've been fooled during late-mornings to mid-afternoon. Deep, sub-surface angling is the best method with an occassional fish taken at/near the surface with downwing patterns trailing size 16-18 droppers...imitating smallish caddis and mayflies or the large October caddis which is available, but in very sparse numbers.

Then Sunday night it started snowing and currently at my home at 6500' feet...thus far...11" of heavy, wet snow has accumulated on my "measurement rail". So, it is officially FALL; according to both the calendar and my personal progostication.

Geez, it sure looks like winter right now though.

...my back deck and the "measurement rail"

at 10"+...with a bit more due

 

This snow will burn-off in a couple of days and then we'll have a few weeks of fall fishing conditions...and hopefully big trout...It is that time of year.

...before the snow

A Sign of Fall

A sure sign of Fall is when one gets split-wood delivered into your drive-way. Then you laboriously move it..."moving da Pile"...and then stacking it neatly where it is easily accessible during the anticipated snows of winter. One has do do this early just in case there is an early snow-fall during October...such as 2010.

It is a slow process!

That eventually ends-up with a full wood-locker outside our front door.

 

E-QUICKIE REPORT #9

Some rain this morning,  mild winds have started-up starting at noon, waters are low & clear. There is a changing weather pattern, but not autumn...almost. Very few peope on the local waters so one has options to fly fishing numerous places; both lake inlets and moving waters...take your pick.

Here's are recent e-communication Q & A:

*10/12:

"Got any tips,
Best times; late morning to mid-afternoon.

 ...where and what?

Above Boca inflow; below is higher more difficult wading…most productive method this week has been indicator rigs, 2 BB-shot, San Juan trailing # 16-18 Flash-Back Pheasant-Tails or Hare’s Ears. Dry/dropper has produced fewer takes, hook-ups and lands. “Stick & Move” and cover the water methodically. There are few, if any rising fish right now on either BT or LT although progressively were seeing more Psuedocleons,  Mahogany duns (?) and smallish caddis with an occasional larger ones, Olive Stones and of course midges (LT) although I personally have not seen any October Caddis on either water. Largest trout thus far this week has been 18” RainBow. And yes, we’re starting to observe Browns migrating…in pairs…preparing for the spawn; but not on redds yet….if so LEAVE THEM ALONE!"

 OH, Sunday may not be a good day to be on the water. It is Truckee River Day on the 14^th....there will be 400-500 volunteers doing various projects on the watershed."

*10/8:

"Thanks for the report. Probably coming up next week. I’ll check with you then see what’s up.

OK, I’ll be guiding Monday- Thursday so I’ll have an idea what’s happening. Call, I’ll try to get back.

Little Truckee fishing well??
It has been tough...only 47 cfs. There are bugs ,but few risers.; even with the presence of adults of all four aqautics! Midges are dark and tiny at #20-24 (larva and pupae patterns are best options), PsuedoCleon mayflies sized 20, caddis from 20 to as big as 12's...personally have not seen the October Caddis (the "False-Fall caddis", yes) and #18-20 Olive stoneflies. Fished hooked have been sub-surface...with an occassional at the surface.

The Truckee is just starting to produce…sometimes we have to work for the fish. 

 Heard there are caddis hatches on the upper Sac.

Probably an early appearance of the October Caddis.

Does that occur this time of year up there as well???
There are October Caddis here but in sparse numbers compared to the upper Sac or McCloud."

 Nevertheless, fly fishing is now productive and will get even better during the next 8 weeks...before the snows fall in earnest...big trout time of year! Timely is critical, best to be at the start of the up-swing than later; it could really bust-out any day.

 

 

Nearing the "Second Season"...

The ground vegetation, alder, cottonwood and aspen, are changing colors; the leaves are progressively being blown free when we get the occcassional brisk wind. We are experiencing some early fall weather with mild winds and warm sun late-morning to mid-afternoon. Right now we're experiencing warm days and few clouds, but last week there were late-afternoon dark clouds with no precipitation..a precursor of autumn. Regardless, we're really not into the 'second season'...yet...as in a bit of wet weather; preferably drizzly and frosty mornings. Both we fly anglers and the trout love damp weather and clouds.

Overall fly fishing is definitely improving in the Truckee area. The waters are cooling, although low and clear, the trout  are progressively feeding more on the slowly increasing aquatic emergences we're starting to observe. Fall is in the air and the trout feel it. It is a great time to be in the mountains; few anglers, pleasant days and venturing-out mid-morning in lieu of early mornings and/or dusk fishing.

Per my recent magazine advertisements: 

"Solitude...long leaders...short days...stout tippets..."picking pockets"...and other opportunities"*

                                             

 "Fall

    Myriad Choices:

Tantalizing, Agressive Pre-Spawn Browns with Streamers

"Picking Pockets" with Dry/Droppers

Casting "Far & Fine" with Tiny

BWO's being Slurped by Sippers

 

Swing Ascending October

Caddis Pupae in Tail-Outs

 

...and other options"**

*  Sierra Fisherman...Fall 2012
**October 2012...California Fly Fisher