Late Fall

Well, still haven't used the eggs that I featured in my last post...

Both my targeted, egg-eating Browns & RainBows are not migrating upstream from the local reservoirs in good numbers...yet. HINT: fish the inlets where they are staging. In the interim were having some fun fishing for the local Kokanee. 

Stay clear of the Kokanee's needle-sharp teeth!

During the last few days, gusting winds have severely impacted our casting; whether angling local still-waters or streams. These strong winds occur early-afternoons. Seems like the weather is in a cusp period; late-fall into an early winter.

The past six weeks we've been blessed with classic Fall weather; soft-breezes, cirrus-laden clouds, blue sky and clear, cooling waters. During the period we've encountered surface feeders confidently ingesting the occasional hopper (...the remaining few are active during the warmth of mid-day) and "slurpers" sipping the minutest of BWO's, PsuedoCleons; spinners and emergers. Personally I've not observed the fabled, humongus October Caddis; locally very sparse, unlike the immense numbers on NorCal's McCloud and Upper Sacramento rivers.

BT dry/dropping the pockets...along "Glenshire"

Thus far were netting Browns and RainBows to 20"...waiting for the big guys to appear. As aforementioned, dry flies are working. The most effective tactics on the BT remain dry/dropper fishing in pocket-water and inflows at the head of pools, swinging streamers in the deeper runs or high-sticking, indo or Euro fishing. One will find solitude, in the BT's "canyon" waters below Hirschdale. Size 14-18 Generic nymph patterns are being used;  The exception being #20-22 Organza-Winged Spinners

BT above Hirschdale

Most of the BT Wild Trout are in the 10"-14" range 

The LT requires expert skills with its current low-flows and its mid-day bug hatches...very selective trout! Multiple bugs are there; midges, Mahogony Duns, BWO's 18-24, micro-caddis and Little 
Olive Stoneflies.

Egg-Time!

While many anglers are currently obsessed with the huge Lahontan Cutthroat at Pyramid Lake; now is the time some Truckee anglers start thinking about fishing for the big Browns of fall-time. Our "fly" of choice is that of an egg imitation.  Personally I do not "peg" a plastic ovum pattern. I use yarn, egg imitations; many anglers call them "Glo-Bugs". I will experiment fishing with different colors, in  light and dark shades; finding-out which produces best.

Tactically, we do not fish on/in spawning redds...unethical! We look for that first riffle and/or vertex of currents below the redds. I always trail a smallish fly pattern (midge larva or BWO nymph) behind my egg fly. You'll be surprised what may eat the trailer...could be a big brown. About 10 years ago I netted a 24" Brown which ate a #20 Black Midge emerger...a unique occurrence for inclusion into the "20-20" club.

ince I

...they do not always ingest the egg

     

Recently I received an egg-tying lesson from long-time Truckee guide and expert fly-tyer "JR" (John Roberts). I was enlightened as to how the circular, yarn patterns were made. I had envisioned the tyer meticulously scissor-cutting/trimming the yarn into a perfectly round globe...I was wrong.