Current Water Conditions

Flows measuring 291 CFS out of Tahoe City, 314 CFS through the town of Truckee, 461 CFS by the Boca Bridge, and 497 CFS near Farad. Flows are still really great for this time of the year and the watermaster is still releasing a good bit of water from Lake Tahoe into the Upper Truckee River. Rising water temperatures make fishing mid-day stressful for the fish, so the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are suggesting anglers to fish during the “hoot owl” periods of the day when water temperatures are their lowest. The appropriate times to fish are early in the mornings from 5:30am to 11:00am. With the cooler temperatures the area is expected to receive over the next two weeks, water temperatures could decrease to a more tolerable temperature.                              

Water Temperatures

Expect water temps to be in the high 50s°F at first light and ending up in the low 70s°F during the afternoon. Most of the colder water is below Boca reservoir. Always test water temperatures before fishing or check the gauges online.

Hatches

Mostly nymphing in the mornings with stoneflies, tan and green caddis, pale morning dun nymphs, and small mayfly nymphs. Crawdads are still on the menu for the fish as well.

Effective Tactics

Nymphing in the mornings continues to be the most effective tactic this time of year. For anglers nymphing, focus on the faster pocket water and riffles and use a decent amount of weight to fish deep. This is where you fill find the most fish. With crawdads in their molting stage, anglers can also get some bites imitating various crawdad patterns. Grasshoppers are noticeable around the river as well, so a dry dropper setup could produce results too. Use something like a cubby chernobyl to float on top of the water and a small black nymph like a zebra midge for a dry dropper setup.

Catch Report

The bite is best from the Glenshire area through the canyon. Most of the colder water is below Boca. Almost all of the fish are done feeding by mid-morning with the high water temperatures. Small rainbows are the most common catch.

Fly Box Must-Haves

• Hares Ear Soft Hackle
• Haddon’s Dead Drift Crayfish Brown (#8)
• T.J. Hooker
• Chubby Chernobyl
• OCD Caddis
• Pale Morning Duns (#16-18)
• Zebra Midge
• Biot Epoxy Stone Golden (#10-14)
• Stone Daddy Light Golden (#10-12)
• Iron Sally
• Z-Wing Caddis
• Hogan’s Short Shank Caddis
• Missing Link Caddis
• E/C Caddis Tan (#14-16)
• Cutter’s E/C Caddis Tan (#16)
• Net Builder Caddis Green (#14)