Saturday, August 28, 2010

Quickie E-Fishing Report #1a

Per several requests in lieu of my preaching, rants and general B.S.--- below is another current, succinct fly fishing report. By far it is easier for me to merely relay reports I'm giving to inquiries from existing & prospective clients than attempting to write a esoteric, well-written & creative piece.

"...how’s the fishing?
Simply “FAIR"at best… The big Truckee is lowering, but still a
bit warm. Best times are in the AM, dry-droppers in the pocket-water
and indicator-nymphing the deep runs or pools…with lead. The Little Truckee has been ramped-up during the 10 days; shutting-off
bug emergences & rising trout or sight-fishing to them. The best
technique has been indicator nymphing and if you’re lucking you
may see a sipping trout in the AM and dusk in the slick water.
Been up a couple of times since we went out. Did pretty good on little ones.
That is what we’re seeing on both rivers. The largest trout during the last week was an 18” rainbow which ate a San Juan Worm, on the LT…few risers even in the evenings
...LT it is currently close to 200 cfs; about 2 weeks ago it was 40 cfs.

...What’s working?
Call...I’ll give you current info as to conditions and what is working. Things can change. I do know we’re expecting some cooler air temps, rain & thunderdstorms this week-end; that can change things for the better. Hopefully this week-end's weather will create a change from the tough"dog-days" we've been experiencing the last 4-5 weeks.

During the last two weeks the best on the LT has been is 6 hook-ups and four lands to 18". On the BT, at most, 5 small ones to 14”. As I've mention, I'd rate things fair at best.


HINT: Lake inlets are a good prospects right now."

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Quickie E-Fishing Report #2

Here is my e-reply report to an inquiry from a fella in Chicago who wanted to do some golfing & fly fishing (...and escape the heat in the mid-west) in the area:

"The Truckee River is lowering but still too warm...AM fly fishing is best. The Little Truckee is rising (releases from the dam)...few fish rising and few bugs emerging...so there is limited dry fly fishing. Most productive fly fishing on both rivers is indicator nymphing.

Best possibility of consistent dry fly angling is on the North Fork of the Yuba; an hour north of Truckee. It is a beautiful mountain, freestone stream. The stream-bred rainbows are smallish; 6"-11".

The weather in the Tahoe area has been in the 75-85 range with clear skies and at times gusty winds. These conditions are forecasted for minimally the next week. We’re awaiting cooler nights as a precursor to the start of Fall…hence cooler water temps and less crowds."

Photo Essay...North Fork of Yuba

As I promised, below are images of my favorite "north of Truckee" water that I visit with clients during the "dog days" when the water on the BT is too warm and the LT is too crowded in addition is getting pounded by TOO MANY GUIDES (most being "takers" & not 'givers"...see my post of 10/17/09). I've had clients tell me that the North Fork reminds them of streams they have fly-fished in New Zealand...excepting the size of the trout. I wouldn't know but NZ is on my agenda; possibley during 2012.



Saturday, August 21, 2010

Road Kill

If you spend anytime on the mountain highways and small roads you will undoubtedly see a lot of road kill. Most road-kill is ubiquitous; deer, coyote, raccoon & numerous small varmints such as squirrels & chipmunks. The rarer sightings are of bear and porcupine; the latter seen last Wednesday. I've never seen a mountain lion or bobcat splattered and smeared on the asphalt.

Early in my fly fishing addiction I'd carry a "road-kill kit" entailing a very sharp blade, desiccate powder and plastic bags. There was a point in time when my freezer section had an abundance of bird carcasses, deer and varmint sections...mostly tails.

Eventually, I quit. Mostly because I never really did of lot of fly tying having worked lot with my hands at the family craft business at San Francisco's Telegraph Hill ...so I didn't need the catharsis.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Like Thunder & Lightening...

Both this last Saturday & Sunday we experienced late afternoon, booming thunder, faint lightening bolts & drizzle. This climatic change was welcomed since we have had an extended period of hot weather & cloudless skies.

If this weather pattern continues it bodes well for the fly angler to adjust their tactical thinking. Specifically, there may be 1) cooler flows because of more cloud-cover 2) more extended periods of bug emergences instead of those of short duration and 3) less wary trout because less bright sunshine will encourage longer stays in feeding lies; in lieu of protective holds and cover. Hence, more chance at opportuntinistic drift feeders.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Yo-Yo Flows & "Other Hatch" Report

Since my last fly fishing "prime-time" report of late June, regulated flows have played an important part as to WHERE, WHEN, WHAT and HOW to fly fish the local Truckee waters. In addition to being aware of the inflows from Lake Tahoe, Prosser and Boca, other seasonal phenomena have to be accounted for; specifically water temperatures and the summer-time "raft hatch" on the Truckee river.
Throughout the month of July flows were unpredicatable. Initially the BT out of Lake Tahoe was at 70 cfs then progressively ramped-up to its current 331 cfs. The increase was welcomed because the flows were receding, but, the increase in water temps was not welcomed because the lake was inflowing from the surface.

We've been on the BT are early as 7 AM and leave around 1 PM. At the latter time water temperatures are subject to your location. I've recorded a 62 near Bronco creek & at the NV/CA border (image below), 64 at the "loop" and 66 along Glenshire at "Cat-House Hole". The other opportune time is to be on the water during the last hour of light. Then you'll see various-sized Caddis and Little Yellow Stones. Unfortunately there has not been a lot of rising trout. Lead is required. Below Grey's Creek Pancho briefly had on a very large Brown that effortlessly topedoed through a whitwater chute...breaking off a Crawfish pattern. Typically for the BT, the catch is small Rainbows & Browns in the 7"-11" range. One can get complacent; then you get a grab & solid hook-up for the bigger guys in the 16" plus range...be ready.

About the "raft-hatch"...it is all about timing it; assuming you want to MISS IT. The upper river from below the dam to the River Ranch Lodge is quite a scene. It is almost like bumper-cars (...not to mention a lot of eye-candy); especially on week-ends. Times to avoid this hatch are from 11AM-6PM.
If venturing into the Canyon; the permited (50 rafts), "guided" whitewater trips' only ingress point is at the Boca (Little Truckee inflow) ; no earlier than 10 AM. The only egress point is at Floristan; no later than 5PM. Also, the rafters are NOT ALLOWED TO DISEMBARK. If you see such report them to Nevada county. Here's the earliest arrival timing; 10:30 AM the pocket-water above the Hirschdale bridge and 11:30 AM at Grey's Creek.
After Labor day week-end the "hatch" will subside substanially.
The yo-yo flows have also influenced the fly fishing on the LT. It had been at a low of 40 cfs for about a month. Then it was ramped up to as high as 240 cfs...then quickly down again to...you guessed it, 40 cfs. Talk about an adjustment in tactics; from sight-fishing to use of lead and back to a spring-creek game of sight fishing. Nevertheless some quality trout have been netted. The range has been two Browns to 22"* and two Rainbows to 20"**. There are no numbers though; a good session with a client being 10 hook-ups and 5 lands. Most sessions are 1-3 landed. Unlike spring & early summer we're starting to see smallish 8"-12" Browns & Rainbows.


As far as bugs to anticpate; PMD, surpringly BWO's, Midges, smallish Caddis.
We are also anticipating the appearance of the Flavelina (Little Western Green Drake...sized 10-12)

*#16 CDC Biot PMD Comparadun and #20 Purple Coppper John

**#18 CDC Biot BWO Comparadun

August is a great time to venture to the North Fork of the Yuba. Here you will find cool mountain springs that generally provide the NFY with 10 degrees less water temps than the BT. The trout aren't huge, but, very willing. This is a classic "quick-action" river. Use of attractor dries in the #14-16 range and droppers in sized 16-20 will produce good numbers of wild rainbows. A large trout is 12-14"; most are 6"-9".

More of "north of Truckee" in future posts; mostly in the form of an "eye-candy" photo essay of opprotunities in this uncrowded area.