Main Truckee River -(between Little Truckee confluence and downtown Reno)
The Big T has settled into it’s summer pattern with predictable bugs, reliable flows and great weather. While this week has been a bit windy and cool, that is forecast to change in the next few days and the fly fishing will be great. One of our favorite times of year is the Green Drake (Ephemera guttulata) hatch and now is prime time! We saw some Drakes all the way down into Verdi this past week (while not unique it hasn’t been very common) if you can make it out mid day and enjoy these beautiful bugs as much as the trout do.
Fly fishing the Truckee River has not been this good in years. Our guides are reporting double digit fish days, and are catching fish throughout the main river and the tributaries.
High sticking (with or without an indicator) has been really effective for pockets and seams. Streamer action has increased as well, just remember to cover ground quickly with this method as fish will seldom take a fly that presented to them more than once or twice
Green Drake (Ephemera guttulata). Photo by Mike Lindberg
CURRENT TRUCKEE RIVER FLOWS AT FARAD GAGE
(NEAR FLORISTON)
Little yellow sally’s, golden stones, PMD, BWO, and speckled caddis all have been spotted hatching with fish beginning to respond. This should change as water continues to warm up and fish become more active.
Flies: Flying Ant, Floss Worm, Pheasant Tail #12 and #14, Biot Epoxy Stone, Copper Johns # 18 and 16, E/C Caddis, Missing Link #12 and #14, Bellyache Minnow, Bead Head Olive Wooly Bugger
Mike Curtis, RFS Head Guide, with a recent client.
Lake Davis and Frenchman’s Reservoir
The cool and windy weather has made it tough this week, but the bugs and fish are ready to party when the weather stabilizes.
Jon Baiocchi, Baiocchi Troutfitters, has reported good fly fishing when the conditions cooperate. Jon eagerly awaits the Hex hatch each year and it should be primed to go. These are a late night affair with nymphs most productive late afternoon and the adults out at ‘dark-thirty’. We have brought in some great Hex patterns and the Sexy Hex is newest pattern to check out.
Damsels baby!! The damsel fly hatch has been exceptional recently. Retrieving damsel patterns from a float tube or from the shore has been very effective. Fish are also keying in on midges they ascend the water column all day and are easy prey for trout. Using midge patterns with slip indicators will get you into the foraging fish. Top water action has increased as well, typically towards the end of the day, but reports have come in with mid-day hatches as well.
Sexy Hex (Solitude Fly Company)
Flies: Sexy Hex, Foam Hex, Balanced Leech Canadian Olive and Diablo, Draggin Nymph olive, Wiggle Tail, Red Eye Damsel, Sheep Creek Special, CDC Comparadun Callibaetis, Flying Ant, SST Leech, Blood Midge, Patient Midge and the Red Eye Midge.
Hobart Reservoir
Hobart has been a ton of fun. Tiger trout, brooke trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout can all be caught at the same body of water with a little bit of effort. A float tube, like the Outcast Fish Cat 4 ($229), is the best way to make this happen but fishing from shore is very easy.
Outcast Fish Cat 4 ($229)
The fishing at Hobart can be pretty straight forward with these trout eagerly taking a fly. Dries, nymphs and streamers all work. Often the most difficult part is to choose which one to start with. If the wind stays down dries seem to work along the southern and eastern shores. Nymphs and streamers tend to produce a bit more along the deep western shore and around the dam. Of note, as the meadows continue to dry out as summer progresses, the Hoppers will hatch and become a great food source. Have some ready!
Flies: Royal Humpy red, Royal Trude lime, Para Adams, Copper John black and red, Para Ant, Mini Chernobyl, Soft Spot, Poxyback Hare’s Ear, Wiggle Tail, and Red Eye Damsel
Summer Class Schedule
Introduction to Fly Fishing | June 18 | $100
Introduction to Fly Fishing is designed to learn and improve upon the basics. It is our opinion this is a great place for beginners to start and is where even experienced anglers should spend some time. This one day class is designed to cover all of the topics to get you on the water and ready for a great trout season on the Truckee River and beyond.
The class schedule follows the following topics, gear/equipment, casting, knots and rigging, stream side approach and casting in moving water. This class will begin in the Reno Fly Shop or a local park and then finish with some time on the water.
Casting – We will cover the basics of casting a fly rod to show beginners and seasoned anglers the best way to get the most out of each cast. We will show you all of the casts we use on our area waters. We will cover overhead casts, roll casts, single and double hauls, etc.
Knots and Rigging– We will cover the knots needed to keep you fishing and the best ways to rig your rod for the different styles of fly fishing our area waters. We will show you how to tie knots like; the improved clinch, triple surgeons, blood knot and the perfection loop. Some of the rigging you will improve on is the dry/dropper, indo nymphing and high sticking.
Stream Side Approach – One of the most fun classes of the summer series. Stream side approach is where we begin to put it all together. We will put on our waders, head down to the river and discuss fish habitat, fish behavior, bug behavior and will sample what bugs are in the water that evening. We will also cover the best way to stalk fish in the river, safety in and around the river as well as some basics on etiquette when there are other river users out there with us.
These classes are taught by our staff and guides and we are available before and after the class to answer any questions or provide detailed information.
This class is limited to 4-6 students. If you have your own gear bring it. If not, we will provide everything.
The cost of the class is $100.
Please reserve your spot today this class fills up fast.
Advanced Nymphing and Dry Fly Fishing Class
June 18th | $150
The Advanced Nymphing and Dry Fly Fishing is designed to take your intermediate skills to the next level. The class, taught by Mike Curtis (head guide at the Reno Fly Shop), will show you how to fly fish with nymphs and dry flies. Mike will walk you through advanced techniques for using an indicator, high sticking with an indicator, dry/dropper and then fishing strictly with dry flies.
This one day class schedule, which will be about 4.5 hours) follows the following topics, leader setup, casting, streamside approaches from different directions (downstream, 45 degree and upstream) and fly line mending (distance, close, stack, etc.). This class will begin at a local park and then finish with some time on the water.
This class is limited to 4-6 students that have taken the Introduction to Fly Fishing class from us or have basic of knowledge of fly fishing independently.
If you have your own gear bring it. If not, we will provide everything.
The cost of the class is $150. Please reserve your spot today this class will fill up fast.