FISHING REPORT | MAY 15, 2015
Truckee River
Upper Section from Little Truckee Confluence to the Reno Fly Shop
The Upper Truckee River is in good shape. Flows are low but stable and the temps are good. Fish are spread out and willing to eat especially on cloudy days. Still waiting for the ants to poke their heads out of the trees and start their thing. We will need a few days of warm weather and it should be on. Fish seem to lose a lot of their discretion when the ants show up so be ready for some great surface action. Nymphing is still the game day in and day out. Dry/dropper rigs have been working well for us and our guided clients, high sticking when the wind stays down.
Nymphs: Copper Johns Black #14 and #16, Pandemic May #16, Zebra Midge #16 and 18, Peaches and Cream #14 and #16, Dead Drift Crayfish
Dry Flies: Bionic Ant #12, Parachute Adams #14 and #16, Parachute Madam X #12 and #14
Lower Section from the Reno Fly Shop downstream of the Truckee Meadows
The lower section of the Truckee River will be the most impacted by our lower water conditions. The water between the McCarran Blvd bridges will be low and difficult to fish. Pay attention to flows and temps.
The section below town is picking up water from the ditches and other sources and is in pretty good shape. We were down their earlier this week and saw quite a few fish working. Cloudy days should be your best bet.
Nymphs: Copper Johns Black #14 and #16, Sweet Pea #14, Military Mayfly #16, Restless Stone #8
Dry Flies: Parachute Madam X #10 and #12, Parachute Adams #12 and #14,
Terrestrials: Thunder Thighs #12, Baby Boys #16, Dead Drift Crayfish
Here is a Rainbow from David caught on the Truckee last week.
Lake Davis
Jon Baiocchi provided this update on Lake Davis. Look for Jon’s presentation on Lake Davis soon here at the shop.
Current conditions are quite strange, in some aspects conditions are way ahead and other factors about the same for this time of year. Water temps are ranging from 53-55 degrees, there is going to be some colder overnight temperatures next week which will help keep the temps stable. Water is a tad off color but not too bad. Water levels are at 56%, not scary low by any means and it only creates more habitat for the trout stalker fishing off the bank. Boat ramps; Lightning Tree is way above the water line, Camp 5 is ok only for very small boats, and Honker cover is in good shape for now.
Fish behavior is about normal for this time of year with a few exceptions. Right now fish are scattered throughout the lake, and they are roaming around looking for a good neighborhood to live in for the next few months. Most of the rainbows are in the upper water column, and a few are down on the bottom as well. I did see some rising fish in certain coves for a few hours, and then they were gone. Where to is a mystery. I even saw a few fish still in the coves of the east side in full spawn mode. Rainbows are ranging in size of 17 to 22”.
Flies: Sheep Creek Specials #8, #10 and #12, Twin Lake Special #10, Ice Cream Cones Red #12, Copper John Red #14, Hare’s Ear #16, Foam Flying Ant #16
Pyramid Lake
The Lake is fishing pretty typical for this time of year. The bite can be really good one day and slow the next. Fish are still being caught. Wind in your face helps a lot. The bite seems to be later in the day and will switch between stripping flies and nymphs. The Boobie is still the must have fly regardless. The black/purple seems to be the hot color right now.
Flies: Boobies Black/Purple and Chartreuse/White, Midnight Cowboys, Purple Cowboys, Bloody Marys
Frenchman Lake
The fishing at Frenchman’s has been great. Mid day the fish are eating midge and terrestrials. Fish have been moving into the shallow water through out the day. Damsels will be moving around really soon.
Flies: Sheep Creek Specials #8, #10 and #12, Twin Lake Special #10, Ice Cream Cones Red #12, Copper John Red #14, Hale Bopp Leech #8, Foam Flying Ant #16