Current Water Conditions

Flows on the Little Truckee River are low between Stampede and Boca and are currently running around 39 CFS. With flows this low, fishing can be inconsistent throughout the day, making early mornings and evenings the best windows to get on the water. Anglers should also be aware of reports of algae beginning to show up in certain sections of the river. This can make fishing a little more challenging and may require regularly checking and cleaning flies to keep them fishing effectively. The lower flows also mean fish can be more concentrated and potentially more wary, so a careful approach and lighter presentations may help improve success. As the area’s only tailwater fishery, the Little Truckee continues to see plenty of fishing pressure and foot traffic. Be mindful of other anglers, give everyone plenty of space, and spread out along the river whenever possible.

Water Temperatures

With the tailwater release, the water temps don’t change much and are averaging in the mid 50s°F. Because the water is low though, water temperatures in certain sections that are shallow or slow could reach 58 to 60 degrees.

Hatches

Anglers will see a mix of pale morning duns and midges hatching in the mornings, along with some Caddis late in the evenings. Midges are the primary hatch in the early morning and should be the go-to bug for anglers fishing at that time. Pale Morning Duns start hatching around mid-morning and in the evening. Anglers should try to imitate all stages of life for Pale Morning Duns - nymphs, emergers, and duns.

Effective Tactics

Anglers can find success with both indicator nymphing and dry fly fishing on the Little Truckee River right now. Nymphing through the deeper pools continues to be a productive approach, while rising fish in the early morning and periodically throughout the day are creating opportunities for dry fly fishing as well. A dry-dropper setup can be a good way to cover both options when fish are actively feeding near the surface. Pale Morning Dun patterns in various life stages, along with midges and caddis, are all working well, with smaller flies in the size 18–20 range producing the best results. With the river running low and clear, presentation is especially important. Long leaders paired with 6X tippet will help create a more natural drift and reduce the chances of spooking wary fish, increasing your odds of getting a bite.

Catch Report

With the lower water levels, a lot of the fish are hanging around the inlet to Boca Reservoir. This is so they can hide in the deeper water away from predators.

Fly Box Must-Haves

• Midges (#18-22)
• Pale Morning Duns in Pink and Yellow (#14-20)
• RS2 in Olive
• RS2 PMD Emerger
• Hare's Ear
• Para Pink
• Cutter’s E/C Caddis
• Net Builder Caddis
• Small San Juan Worms in Purple or Pink
• Flossy Worms
• T.J. Soft Spot in Pink
• Bird’s Nest (#16)
• Zebra Midges Black (#20)