The Reno and Lake Tahoe area is one of the most underrated regions for fly fishing in the Country, with little fishing pressure compared to other fly fishing destinations. California waters include freestone streams such as the Truckee River and several tail waters like the East Walker. Mountain lakes are abundant with a short distance. Popular lake destinations include Davis Lake, Frenchman’s Lake and Eagle Lake and all have above average sized trout. Nevada waters, with no closed season, are some of the most overlooked fishing opportunities anywhere. High desert lakes, numerous streams and rivers, and Pyramid Lake, home of the world's largest cutthroat trout. We are truly blessed living in this area. Within 3 hours of us, there’s more water than can be fished in a lifetime.
Species found in the region:
Cold Water Species:
Rainbow Trout Brown Trout
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Tiger Trout
Colorado Cutthroat Trout Golden Trout (several species)
Brown Trout Brook Trout
Kokanee Salmon Paiute Cutthroat Trout
Mountain Whitefish Lake Trout/Mackinaw
RainbowXCutthroat Cutthroat (several species)
Warm Water Species:
Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass
Wiper Bass White Bass
Crappie Carp
Northern Pike Walleye
Catfish Perch
Target Sea Run Species:
Striped Bass Shad
Steelhead King Salmon
Fish Food:
Lahontan Red Side Shiner Dace
Sculpin Shad
Chub Leeches
Damsels Water Boatman
Snails Midges
Ants Grass Hoppers
Cicada Caddis
Mayflies Crickets
Scuds Stoneflies
Aquatic Beetles Crayfish
Dragonflies Aquatic Worms
Angling Destinations
Truckee River ( California) - 20 miles from the store
Season: All Year (check CA DFG Website for specifics http://www.fgc.ca.gov/html/regs.html)
Gear: 3-6 weight rods – Floating Lines – Waders (Spring, Fall and Winter).
Type of Fishing: Wade fishing due to fluctuating flows and limited boat access. Nymphs 50% Streamers 30% Dries 20%
General Information: Lake Tahoe downstream to the town of Truckee is mainly slow deep runs and long riffles with a good population of Rainbows and Browns in the 10”-18” range. The upper section can be the best fishing in the early season during the snow melt. After the first weekend of June this section becomes extremely populated with rafters and campers. From the town of Truckee downstream to the Nevada state line it is probably the most dependable section. Some of the best fishing on the river can be right in the town of Truckee. It pays to be over prepared when fishing this section. Anglers can count on deep runs, long riffles, pocket water, undercut banks, and fast moving broken water. Nymphing is the most productive approach, but fish are caught in the evenings on the surface.
Access: Access is easy along most of the river with only a 2 mile stretch that remains private. From Lake Tahoe downstream - highway 89. From Truckee downstream to the subdivision of Glenshire – Glenshire Drive, From Glenshire to Farad exit – Several pullouts are available directly off Interstate 80 traveling in both East and Westbound. Please use caution exiting and entering the interstate. Farad Exit to Floristan Exit – Access can be obtained from both exits. Anglers can use railroad tracks to access both upstream and downstream to Nevada state line.
Aquatic life: BWO (All Season), Little Yellow Stone (April-June), Green Drake (May-June), Golden Stone(All Season), March Browns(March-May), PMD(All Season), Caddis of every shape, size, and color including Oct. Caddis(June-Oct), Midges(All Season), Sculpins(All Season), Crayfish(All Season)
Flies: Drys - E/C Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Cahill, Parachute Adams, Gunnison Green Drake, Stimulators, Sparkle Duns.
Nymphs - Caddis Pupa, Pheasant Tails, Prince, Hares Ear, Bird Nest, Peacock Terminator, Kaufmann Stone, Polyfitus, Micro Mayfly
Streamers – Buggers, Crayfish, Nutcracker, Muddler, Zonker
Truckee River ( Nevada) – 5miles from the store
Season: Year-round
Gear: 4-7 weight rod – Floating line – Sinking line – Waders (Spring, Fall and Winter)
Type of Fishing: Wade fishing – Dry 10% Nymph 50% Streamer 40%
General Information: in its upper stretches the Truckee River in Nevada is very similar to the California section. Although it is seldom fished, the Truckee river in downtown fishes great year-round. There are several public parks that are stocked heavily. As the river reaches Reno it takes on far different characteristics. Downstream from Reno the river slows down considerably. Majority of the river is long deep runs with a few riffle sections that can be nymphed effectively. Streamer fishing is key to this area. Shooting heads are the most effective line due to the depth of the water. 90% of the large trout caught on the river are from Reno down stream to McCarran Ranch. The lower stretches of the Truckee are also becoming well known for its Carp on a fly.
Access: At the California state line there are several pullouts heading East on interstate 80. The town of Verdi offers a park and several other access points. Through Reno there is more then ten public parks dedicated to fishing access. Below Reno access gets to be a little difficult. Lockwood exit off of interstate 80 has approximately a mile of fishable water. Downstream of Lockwood has scattered private ranch property and care has to be taken when accessing. It’s a shame to because this stretch holds a great population of large fish.
Aquatic life: BWO (All Season), Little Yellow Stone (April-June), Green Drake (May-June), Golden Stone(All Season), March Browns(March-May), PMD(All Season), Caddis of every shape, size, and color including Oct. Caddis(June-Oct), Midges(All Season), Sculpins(All Season), Crayfish(All Season)
Flies: Drys - E/C Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Cahill, Parachute Adams, Gunnison Green Drake, Stimulators, Sparkle Duns.
Nymphs - Caddis Pupa, Pheasant Tails, Prince, Hares Ear, Bird Nest, Peacock Terminator, Kaufmann Stone, Polyfitus, Micro Mayfly
Streamers – Buggers, Crayfish, Nutcracker, Muddler, Zonker, Zoo Cougar, Clousers, Double Bunnys, Bandit Leech, Chuck and Duck
Little Truckee River ( California) – 35 miles from the store
Season: All Year (check CA DFG Website for specifics http://www.fgc.ca.gov/html/regs.html)
Gear: 2-5 weight rod – Floating line
Type of Fishing: Wade fishing – Dry 50% Nymph 40% Streamer 10%
General Information: The Upper Little Truckee from Parazzo Meadows to Highway 89 is a picture perfect Western trout stream. Through Parazzo meadows the river resembles a spring creek. Downstream of 89 gets fished fairly hard due to several campgrounds right on the river. The stretch between Boca and Stampede Reservoir has become one of the most popular rivers in the area. By far the best dry fly fishing in the area. Special regulation where put on this portion 6 years ago and it has gotten better every year. The average size fish climbing from 8” to 16” in that time frame. PMD’s are the key to success but BWO’s and Gray Drakes inhabit the water. Spring fishing at the Boca inlet can be very exciting on drys, nymphs, or streamers. The most effective method I have found is a dry dropper rig at 18-24”. In summer the only thing that can slow fishing is fluctuating water levels. Even in the heat of the summer the water temperature remains prime do to the water release at the bottom of Stampede Reservoir. Fall fishing in the inlet at Boca produces some of the largest browns in the area. Big streamers, Big Fish.
Access: The Upper Little Truckee can be reached from Henness Pass Road Directly off Highway 89. The stretch between Boca and Stampede Reservoirs has several pullouts available for anglers. This section is reached off of Interstate 80 at Hirschdale exit.
Aquatic Life: PMD (all season), BWO (all season), Gray Drake (May-September), Aquatic Worms (all season), Roe (spring and Fall), Midges (all season)
Flies: Drys - PMD Sparkle Dun, PMD Emergers, Para-Light Orange, BWO Sparkle Dun, BWO Para-emerger, Gray Drake Emerger, Para-Cahill
Nymphs – Midge Pupa, Micro Mayfly, Pheasant Tail, Brassie, HBI, Copper John, San Juan Worm, Prince, Rojo Midge
Streamers – Zonker, Bugger, Clouser, Leech
Pyramid Lake ( Nevada) – 40 miles from the store
Season: October-June
Gear: 7-9 weight October to March Depth Charge Line
5-7 weight rod March-June – Floating Line – 3X-1X Tippet
Type of Fishing: Wade fishing from shore – Float tubes not advised due to rapid changes of weather
General Information: Pyramid Lake is located 30 miles north of Reno on the Paiute Indian Reservation. A special permit to fish has to be purchased on the reservation. The lake is comparable to the size of Lake Tahoe and is home to the 120,000,000 year old Lahontan Cutthroat. In the 1800’s before diversion dams were placed on the Truckee River the Cutthroat’s exceeded 50 pounds. Generally a 10 pound fish is common these days. Winter fishing can be miserable with temperatures often below freezing. Depth Charge lines or Shooting heads are used in the Fall and Spring with Wooly Worms dredging the bottom. Starting around the first of March, the Cutthroats move to the shallows and are eager to take large Midge Pupa under an indicator or stripped slowly. Due to the high alkaline level of the lake aquatic life is limited, and dry fly fishing really doesn’t exist. Pyramid Lake is the only trout lake I know of that the average size fish is 22-24”
Access: Most of the shore fishing is done at the nets were the hatchery is located. Good fishing can be found with easy access directly off the highway using several dirt roads. Consistent fishing is always found on the entire West shore.
Aquatic Life: Midges, Sacramento Perch, Cui-ui Sucker, Tui Chub, Aquatic Beetles
Flies: Wooly Worms, Wooly Buggers, Foam Beetles (fished subsurface), Large Midge Pupa, Copper John
Desolation Wilderness (California) – 50 miles from the store
Gear: 2-5 weight rod – Floating lines – Sinking lines - Float tubes – Waders year round – Camping equipment for multiple day trips.
Type of Fishing: Float Tubes and Wade Fishing – Drys 75% Streamers 15% Nymphs 10%
General Information: The Desolation Wilderness is a 100 square mile federal wilderness area just west of Lake Tahoe. Within these 100 square miles there are more then 100 lakes. Between these lakes there are hundreds of streams that hold a variety of species eager to take dry flies. Desolation is best known for the Golden Trout but also holds Brooks, Browns, Rainbows, and Lake Trout. A few rules for the area are; the further the walk the better the fishing, and The larger the lake the larger the fish.
Access: Almost all access is by foot, some of the lower lakes can be accessed by mountain bike. Well marked trails lead to almost all of the fishable water, maps can also be obtained from the Forest Service.
Aquatic Life Includes: Red Side Shiners Scuds
Damsels Midges
Mayflies Caddis
Frogs Leeches
Flies: Drys - Royal Wulff, Humpy, Adams, Midges, Griffiths Gnat, Ants
Nymphs – Brassie, Zug Bug, Prince, Damsels, Pheasant Tail
Streamers – Leeches, Buggers
Other Waters of Interest
Kirman Lake CA – Huge Brooks Crowley Lake CA– Large Browns and Rainbows
Knott Creek Reservoir NV – Large Browns and Rainbows
Hot Creek CA– Dry fly fishing year round
Owens River CA – Beautiful surroundings. Beautiful Fish
Yosemite area lakes and streams – Not a soul for miles
Lake Almanor CA – Prolific Hexgenia hatch
American River CA – Sea Run Shad, King Salmon, Stripers, Steelhead
Yuba River CA – Sea Run Shad, King Salmon, Stripers, Steelhead
Feather River CA- Sea Run Shad, King Salmon, Stripers, Steelhead
Sacramento Delta CA – Stripers and Largemouth on the surface
Lake Lahontan NV – Walleye, Trout, Carp, Bass
Walker Lake NV - Walleye, Trout, Carp, Bass
Onion Valley Reservoir NV – Classic High Desert Lake
Spooner and Marlette Lakes NV – Catch and release lakes with 6-26” trout
Ruby Mountain area Lakes and Streams NV – Breath taking alpine streams and lakes
East and West Carson Rivers NV and CA – Picture perfect surroundings. Picture perfect rainbows, browns, and brooks
East and West Walker Rivers NV and CA 24 hour dry fly fishing. Hoppers during the day and Whitlock’s Mouserat at night.
Davis Lake CA Large Trout and Large Pike
Frenchmans Lake CA Prolific Damsel migration and Blood Midges a half an inch long.
Mason Valley Wildlife Area NV Larger ponds packed with trout and smaller ponds with Bass
Sacramento River CA Sea Run Shad, King Salmon, Stripers, Steelhead
Recommended Reading Material and Maps
Sierra Trout Guide (Cutter)
Nevada Angler’s Guide (Dickerson)
Fly Fisher’s Guide to Northern California ( Norman)
Plumas National Forest Trout Fishing Guide (Harris)
Fish Food (Cutter)
Fly Fishing the Tahoe Region (Haggard)
Guide to Fly Fishing Pyramid Lake (Barron)
Fly Fishing California Stillwaters ( Sunderland)
Fly Fishing the West’s Best Trophy Lakes (Rickards)
High Sierra Fly Fishing (Van Loek)
Fly Fishing Yosemite (Beck)
Maps
California ’s Best Fishing Waters (Wilderness Press)
Northern California Atlas and Gazetteer (DeLorme)
Nevada Atlas and Gazetteer (DeLorme)
Web Sites
Brian Slusser Orvis Endorsed Guide: His Orvis Endorsed Guide Page
Jimmie Morales Orvis Endorsed Guide: http://www.sierraflyfisher.com/
Ralph Cutter: http://www.flyline.com/
Fly Fish NorCal: http://www.flyfishnorcal.org/php-nuke/
California Water Flows: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/rt
Nevada Water Flows: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nv/nwis/rt
Nevada Department of Wildlife: http://www.ndow.org/
California Department of Fish and Game: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ |
