TRUCKEE TRIVIA # 20

Question:

Who was newly incorporated Truckee's first mayor in 1993

Coloration

A few days ago we saw a noticeable orange slash below the lower-lip (I forget its Latin name) of a RainBow; suggesting a hybrid, wild trout. Then the next day we encounter  a unique Brown with both large, red and black spots...with silvery and blueish halos.

...click-on to view full image

 

Is this coloration common? Personally I do not see many like this.

And then in the same tail-out...a more common-colored brown eats.

 

 

 

TRUCKEE TRIVIA # 19

Question:

What year was the town of Truckee incorporated?

A REALLY Early Fly Fishing Report/ Seasonal Prognosis Report

OK, I'm projecting the season 6+- weeks ahead of a "normal" season.

 

Granted, March has brought us some desired precipitation, but, we'd surely like a lot more...to be even close to normal. As of today's date in the Truckee Basin watershed (8 measurement sites at elevations from 6456' to 8801') the numbers reflect 33% of average snow-pack and 54% of total precipitation for the year. So, what can we anticipate?

 

FOR SURE:

1---Summer Doldrums by early July?...yikes!

2---April and May angling conditions similar to "normal" June/July

3---Tailwaters throughout California will be a zoo!

...dotted lips (move the screen around to view exceptional colors)
We've been "head-hunting" on both sides of the border. Effective surface patterns have been  #20 Griffith's Gnat, #18 Baetis Hackle-Stacker and #16 Royal Wulffs; duping trout to 19". Adults seen on the water are BWO's (tons of 'em in Nevada!), an occasional Skwala Stonefly and midges.

 

In the absence of showing fish and wanting more tugs of bigger fish; go down, near the bottom, and use lead..."tight-lining" or using indicators. Water temps are still low on the BT, mid to high '40's, so feeders are not moving much. You have to hit them on their snouts while fishing "low & slow". Largest trout this week has been a 22"-23"  trout imaged below. Biggest Brown has been 19" with a larger one lost on a high aerial.

Effective patterns have been #18 FBPT, #16 March Brown nymphs,  and #10 Flesh Juans.

...a Cutt-Bow hybrid? (see above & below)

 

 

 

Remember, conditions on the Cali-side of the border, will be earlier than usual. And that should be considered when you plan your Sierra angling trip this season. The hope is that we get way above normal precipitation for the remainder of March and through April.   

Musing About Spring...

As of Sunday, February 16, 2014 the snowpack depth at Donner Summit was 37% of normal. Since the most recent snowfall has been wet and heavy; I'm going to guess... without consulting the charts... that we're in the the low 40 percentile of average water-content. We have a long way to go before we can put a dent in this year's lack of precipitation.

So, let's pray to the snow-flake talisman for a "Miracle March"...

I'm off to the Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show (2/21-23) this Wednesday. I'll be in the Truckee Guide NetWork booth

 and will be giving presentations all three days in the Destination Theater. Come-by and say hello.

The Dreaded "D" word

This is getting serious...we need snow. Three years of minimal precipitation makes for unhappy trout. This month we got all of about 2" at my place at 6500' elevation. The upside is we'll get some weather at the end of the week; hopefully it continues for the next three weeks, then stops. Reason being I have to leave the mountain near the end of the month for the Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show and I hate driving in the mountains during a blizzard...it has happened. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The weather has been mild enough so that we've done some fly fishing on local moving waters. It hasn't been torrid action but fish are being brought to the net; rainbows to 18 inches. Yesterday I fished Pyramid Lake. Fishing was very slow for us eight Tahoe-Truckee Fly Fishers' group-fish (in lieu of "fishout"). It was reeeeeally slow,  but one decent cutthroat in the 4-5 pound range was landed.

   ...Pyramid "line-up" (click-on for enhanced viewing)...Photo: Mike Brugh

Calm day at Pyramid...wind and clouds are preferred

Mike Grant's Cutt; best fish of the Pyramid "Group-Fish"

Yikes!!! mid-January...should be 2-3 feet of snow here

 ...Truckee RainBow

 

 

 

Wishing a Healthy & Prosperous 2014

OK...it HAS been awhile. I want everyone to know; I'm still breathing. Been an extremely busy 3+ months; half the time we've been away from Truckee, starting with our visit to the NorthWest in September (see I'm Still Alive #2, 9/23/13). My guiding season was shortened (late-October) because of all the traveling. Actually the last day I personally fly fished (first week of November) I did a "20/20"...a 20-1/2" Brown on a #20 Olive, WD-40 Flash-Back.

Well I did get a new camera and have tons of images; most non-fly fishing but mostly related to our mid-November to early December trip (11/13-12/5) to the east-coast, from central-Virginian on the Rappahannock River (eating home-grown oysters!) to Hanover, New Hampshire (had Thanksgiving there with extended family). Upon arrival back to Truckee we had our interior painted and added new carpeting. Then to Old GreenWood (12/9-12/20) where we partied a lot (6 different events with six different affinity groups)...finnishing with Karen's family in Auburn to 12/26...so we're finally settled-in our "new home" interior (had the exterior stained in September).

Maybe I'll post some images before the end of the year...maybe.

 In the interim...the trout need snow!!