TRUCKEE TRIVIA # 8

Question # 8:
What do these "snow" hieroglyphics mean?

Belated Fall 2011 & Early 2012 Fishing Report.

Back deck of my place during the front-end of the recent snows

Well, finally after 3  weeks into 2012 we finally have received significant snow! The fish need it. Now I'm into my winter-hibernation mode and I don't mind it because the local economy and the trout needed the percipitation.

As for the 49ers...the old ABC Wide World of Sports program said it well in its intro:

"The Exhileration of Victory and the Agony of Defeat!" Enough said from this life long '9er fan.

"White gold" is what fuels the  Lake Tahoe economy...winter, spring, summer and fall. December to the 3rd week of Janurary we witnessed  blue skies, scattered clouds and normally light breezes. Air temperatures had been in the high 40's to mid-50's in the Truckee area. So, winter outdoor activities were a bit limited. Prior to the most recent snowfall, a ski patrol buddy says that skiers had to ski to on the "snow islands".  Locals adjusted and participated in an extended period of biking, hiking, jogging duck-hunting and...fly fishing.

BT near the CA/NV border

We experienced one of the better Fall fly fishing seasons in quite a few years on both the BT and LT . I’m speculating it was the result of the bountiful water we received during the previous winter.
About the 3nd  week of December the fly fishing in the Truckee area definitely sloooed-down. Granted, access to the waters was still open, but the really cold weather and early AM air-temps were in the high-single-digits to teens afforded optimum fly fishing times a very narrow window; 10:30 am - 2:30 pm. Hoped-for preferred conditions were scattered clouds as opposed to clear azure skies without…and this was a key…very little wind. When the winds started, the wind-chill factor came into play. If, even during sunny days, the winds appeared,  it became very uncomfortable. Obviously proper winter clothing helped, but it still wasn’t pleasant.

The BT produced RB’s to 17”; most were wild in the 8”-11” range. I'm talking in the upper river above the Boca inflow to Trout Creek; having received "grapevine" reports of heftier 2-5 pounders in the "canyon" to the stateline. The water was really cold(and remains); 38-42 degrees. The fish were/are not moving and you had to hit them on the head. Productive flies are #18 Olive Micro-Mays and BHFBPT, #16 Rubber-Legged Copper John and Olive Bird's Nests trailing a # 14 Flesh Juan....under an indicator with 5-6 # 4 shot. Only dry fly hooked fish was on a #14 Elk Hair, in the upper stretches via  dry/drop rig. There were /are few bugs in flight and an absence of consistently rising trout.

The LT had the most consistent, rising trout during noon to 2:30. There were sippers that moved to sized 22-24 Organza Spinners, #20 Olive,Thorax-No-Hackles and FlashBack WD-40's. The water was really low at 40-44 cfs so nymphing was limited to a few selcted runs. Late December into January we were hooking and netting both Browns and Rainbows to 20 inches. In Fall, Browns to 23" and RainBows in the 12"-20" range were encountered; mostly indicator-nymphing and eating various-colored San Juans, Eggs and sized 20-22 dark midge larva and pupa.

The LT...upper Meadow...

...a "20-20"

TRUCKEE TRIVIA #7

Question #7:
What Truckee River Watershed body of water has been nominated
to Congress for "Wild & Scenic" status?

Pet Peeve #2: Stream Etiquette

My opinion is that proper stream manners amongst anglers should simply be "...do unto others as you would have them do unto you."...the Golden Rule. I'm often amazed at the lack of stream etiquette displayed on a trout stream. I'm speaking wade-fishing; that is what I mostly do. Yes, I do drift-fish; but that is generally with guides that I hire...that is another topic entirely.
Here are are some consensus generalities:

1-The angler facing/casting upstream has the right-of-way relative to a downstream fishing angler. The downstream fishing angler should stop fishing a sufficient distance above the upstream fishing angler. IMO, a minimum of 50 yards is reasonable distance; then loop around to below the upstream facing angler and continue fishing.

2-If two anglers are fishing in the same direction and side of the stream and one of them is moving faster than the other; the faster angler should loop around the slower angler and proceed fishing a reasonable distance away. IMO, 50 yards is a minimum, but, ideally out-of-sight of the other is better; providing it is at the minimum distance.

3-If someone sitting aside the stream and not actively fly fishing; DO NOT assume they are not fishing. They can be changing flies, observing a rising trout or untangling their leader. Also, it is poor manners to assume that you can fish on an opposite bank. If in doubt merely ask.

Here's my take:

1-I believe that 90% of anglers who display poor stream etiquette are unaware of stream manners. If appropriate and there is an opportunity, diplomatically educate. The remaining 10% are consciously violating good stream manners; they're trying to beat you to a fish or crowd you because they want to fish the area you're fishing; they are "gaming" you. It is your decision how you deal with these jerks you will occasionally meet on the water.

2-Etiquette is subject to the venue. For instance, California's special regulation waters on both Hot Creek and Hat Creek have different standards relative to spacing amongst the anglers than the Little Truckee. At the former two creeks; it is generally accepted to be just outside the casting-range of others. At the Little Truckee a minimum of 50 yards spacing is the established distance between anglers amongst the regular visitors.

Welcome 2012 & Unreported Fall 2011 Happenings

Well, here's hoping everyone had pleasant memories of 2011. I'm looking forward to 2012.

...Christmas ice-skating, some played hockey, on an unnamed lake with family in northern California, to be specific Weed CA.  This actually is a video wishing everyone Merry Christmas & Happy New Year..but I'm so techno-challenged I can't get it to download & play via the blog.

Fall of 2012 awarded us with great fly fishing...thanks to the previous year's tremendous snowfall. There were other non-ffing events I didn't report. Here are some...

Truckee River Day*, Ocober 16...the Little Truckee's Meadow section; one of the day's varied volunteer water-related projects throughout the Truckee area that day....

Planting willows for bank stabilization at the tail-out of Papa's Pool

The 3rd annual Gilligan's Rib BBQ competition; October 15. This year's winner was from Texas! In 2012 it will probably go international...good-time had by all.

    The first annual "give us back our rivers" Tahoe-Truckee Fly Fishers' FISH-IN...mid-November

Early November....pursuing Steelhead on the Trinity.

....and visiting friends in Redding

          Splitting Firewood for the winter...which hasn't arrived yet!!

*A personal gauge to see who helps out with "hands-on" projects on the local waters One of the three (3) prerequistes for being a fully commited GIVER...as opposed to being a total TAKER

ThanksGiving...on the Wrong Coast?

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Virginia with "extended family" at their second home on the shores of the Rappahannock river in the "Northern Neck" of Chesapeake Bay. Suffice it to says we ate lots of food, read books & magazines, hiked, watched lots of football, both college and the pros...overwhelmingly, did a lot of nothing......it was a perfect holiday.

Since we were surprise visitors for our friends' children, I did not have an option to check-out fly fishing opportunities available. I wanted to surprise my fly-fishng-fool "adopted" nephew with a guided trip on local waters...hoping we had a chance at in-shore Stripers.For sure, next year I'll bring some gear. This Large Mouth Bass was caught and released by Morgan Wells, a neighbor, it was encountered in a 10-12 acre pond a mile from where we stayed. The next day he got another one a bit smaller.

Here's a view from the back-deck, here we BBQ'd, had cocktails, read, relaxed and witnessed beautiful sunsets. The weather was perfect, in the 70's with mild breezes. We roasted hot-dogs and ate "smores" by the fire-pit in the evenings.

...of course we had to sample the local bounty; fresh oysters purchased from the local "waterman".

The "connection"; Karen and her long-time good buddy, Alston.

Our nephew (Alston's son), Ryan Johnson, Ally and their two children, Sage and Drake. The enclave  is called "Little Florida" because of similarities to the more southerly state.

Overdue Post...I'm Still Alive

Plus, I inadvertently deleted my post of October 16, 2011*....an E-Quickie Fishing Update.

Well, I'm still back in Virginia having had a wonderful extended Thanksgiving with close friends. We're right on the Rappahannock River...beachfront...one of the four (4) rivers of the "Northern Neck" of Chesapeake Bay. I was going to download some images, but, time is an issue since I'm using a computer that is being used constantly. When I get to California I may post some images of interest.

As for the fly fishing in the Truckee area, it remained productive prior to my departure. The flows on both the BT and LT were very friendly; all the way to the CA/NV stateline. Both the Browns & RainBows continued eating; sensing that winter is approaching so they are bulking-up and feeding aggressively. Streamers are duping the big guys and nymphing has been the most consistent method; producing Browns to 26" and RB's to 20". On the BT the lower flows above the Boca inflow, dry/droppers were fooling mostly RB's in the 8"-12" range with an occassional brown to 13".

.
Bugs being observed are BWO's, Little Olive Stones, October Caddisand micro-caddis. Producing flies have been attractor down-wings(#6-10), #14-18, "generics" (BHFBPT, HaresEars, Princes), David Foster's original Copper Jacket, size 12 and #18-22 midge larva & pupae (dark...as in black) or Flask-Back WD-40's trailing #14 Flesh Juans. Swinging October Caddis Pupae  some got tugs.

PLEASE, do not harass the Browns that are ON redds. Let them do their thing without being harassed. Some anglers don't seem to get that message. It remains the old "It is legal, but is it ethical?" question. I'm of the opinion there has to be a very high-profile discussion by fishery conservation groups about the ethics of fishing on, through and immediately below redds.

* an excerpt from the deleted post entitled "...the seasons, they are changing":

Yes indeed, the weather has changed and we're now starting to wear some of our winter clothing...or at least thinking about it.

We're experiencing progressinvely cooool mornings; as in  ice-in-the-guides...such as a friend just experienced if you get on the water tooooo early. And the fishing has been really pretty good and progressively gets even better.

Flies:  #20-22 Black Midge Pupa and Olive WD-40 Flashbacks, #18 FBPT, #18 Olive ParaDuns, #16 BHFBPT,  #14-16 Flesh Juans,#6-8 Orange Caddis Pupa

Netted Trout: RB's to 19" and Browns to 23". higher proportion of RB's on the BT, with an even mix between Browns & RB's on the LT.  The larger trout are more predictable on the LT.  The BT water produces better numbers, but smaller fish...thus far.

Most Consistant Method: Without question...from my first-hand experience with both clients & myself..indicator nymphing. Use two-fly rigs; big/small with the latter trailing. Anglers using streamers also, but "NetWork" reports seem to reinforce that the deep nymphing is producung the heavier tugs.