Winter storms have impacted our region with water and wind. Short term impacts will play into long term benefits. Luckily weather is moving out for the next week or so and we anticipate fishing conditions will improve quickly. The lake has been fishing well during the storms giving up quite a few big fish.
Pyramid Lake
What a change a few weeks can make. The lake surface temperatures have come up 5 degrees, and the midge bite is on! Indicator fishing has proven to be the best technique as of late, with a few fish coming on the strip on overcast days. I think the water needs to warm up just a little more to really kick on the strip bite. We’re fishing indicators anywhere from 6-9 feet deep. Darker colors are working best, (black brown wine) bit on days with some sun red and flashy have worked as well. The fish are getting nice and close to the drop off too. One thing that I have noticed while watching other anglers fish is that they cast every time they strip into their hang marker, or to the head of their line, instead of fishing all the way to the drop off. This week alone I would estimate that 60% of our fish were within 5 feet of the drop off.
If you are going to strip flies, slow retrieves from shallow beaches with a beetle, boobie fly and/or Mopcorn are the combinations to use. Make sure that your line is on the bottom and keep the foam flies on short leaders and tags to make sure your flies are presenting just a few inches off the bottom. We recommend keeping stripping leaders in the 24-60” total length. With a two fly rig this would be 24” to first fly (6” tag) and 36” to second (point/terminal) fly.
I believe we’re in store for an amazing late winter early spring out at the lake. We have a few available dates for both February and March. Don’t wait, call and book today!!
Flies we suggest for Pyramid Lake: Holo Midge (brown/red, albino wino, black/copper), TB Balanced Leech (peacock and midnight) Popcorn Beetle (black/black), Booby Fly (white/chartreuse), Mopcorn (black/pink), Pyramid Lake Bugger (midnight and white/chartreuse)
Truckee River
A series of storms have increased flows (link here) and decreased clarity on the Truckee River this past week. While flows haven’t been limiting the clarity have slowed down bugs and fish feedback. The flows have already dropped back to accessible levels and we anticipate the clarity to improve quickly. While it is transitioning back to clearer water we encourage all to try fishing worm patterns (BH Squirmy Worm and Squirminator). The fish will be looking for these terrestrial worms to be moving with increased turbidity. Conditions, both weather and water, should improve this weekend. Follow temps at the Sparks gauge (link here) and watch for the temps to be above 40F for things to start to become active, both bugs and fish.
You will see in our recommended flies we are suggesting you to focus on flies that have strong UV qualities. We believe this reflective light can provide more opportunity for the fish to find your fly in turbid waters.
Flies we suggest for the Truckee River: BH Squirmy Worm, Squirminator, CDC Red Tag, Fire Starter, Carot, Hot Cheek, Thin Mint Bugger