Both Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River have benefitted from the big storm we received at the end of last week! Fish are moving in shallower at Pyramid Lake- making the typical early spring locations and techniques effective. The Truckee River has come up in flow since the storm and fish are fired up!
We will be holding IF4 this Saturday, March 9th at Revision Brewing. The event is sold out and tickets will not be available at the door. Please provide your tickets and an I.D. upon entry. We will be closing the shop at 3pm on Saturday, March 9th to prepare for the event.
Truckee River– composed by RFS Guide Aden Breckner
The Truckee River has experienced significant changes in flow, clarity, and water temperature over the last few weeks. Luckily these changes have really turned on the fishing throughout the system. Fish activity has increased quite a bit as compared to only a few weeks ago.
Bug life has changed a bit with the addition of our early spring hatch of Skwala stoneflies! These stoneflies are making a daily appearance in mid-late morning continuing throughout the afternoon. Skwala stoneflies don’t hatch through the water column- instead they crawl to the bank and hatch along the bank. Usually Skwalas will congregate along rock points, bridge pilings, and other hard structures. These can be great places to run a Skwala presentation by as fish feed on them.
The most productive method of fishing currently has been nymphing. Both ESN and indicator styles are in play on any of the warmer weather days. When targeting the bank fishing Skwalas, ESN can be a great method using a stonefly imitation such as the TJ Hooker or a Tunghead Stone. On the indicator, a standard Pat’s Rubber Legs will do the trick.
If you find fish rising- there are three primary insects they may be feeding on. Skwalas, Blue Winged Olives, and midges are the three likely suspects. If you see aggressive takes along the bank- there’s a good chance fish are keyed on Skwalas. Try the Bullet Head Skwala, Chernobyl Super Hopper, or Para Madam X all around a size 8-12. Our Blue Winged Olive and midge hatches should continue for some time and deliver the most reliable dry fly fishing. This season, the Baetis Cripple and the Griffiths Gnat have done a terrific job on the surface.
Streamer fishing should pick up nicely as water temperatures rise. It looks like we’re in for some warmer weather for the next week or so; bringing water temperatures up. Wait for the water temperatures to rise into the afternoon and you should be good to go. In water clarity of 1-2 feet, try a black Cheech Leech fished along bank structure. In water clarity of 2 feet or more, anything in white or yellow can produce. Try the Barely Legal or the Bangtail.
Flies we Suggest: TJ Hooker, Tunghead Stone, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Bullet Head Skwala, Chernobyl Super Hopper, Para Madam X Micro Mayfly, Quill Jig, Spanish Bullet, Perdigon, Baetis Cripple, Pull Over BWO, Zebra Midge, Griffiths Gnat, Cheech Leech, Barely Legal, Bangtail
Pyramid Lake– composed by RFS Guide Mike Anderson
Storms this past week have really put the LCT on the bite. Larger fish have been caught in 8-11 feet on the indicator primarily with midges. The balanced leech bite has been waning recently but I would not count it out just yet. We have a week left of unsettled weather before we hit a high pressure system that looks to be here for a while. The midge bite will persist, but the trout will begin to move into shallower and shallower water as the surface temps go up and the cutthroat get closer to their spawn in April. The strip bite will pick up too as the spawn gets closer and the trout become more irritable and aggressive. Buggers beetles and boobies , as always are the preferred fly, but I would focus on a faster paced retrieve as that has already proven itself to be the preferred presentation for the LCT.
Midge color has been a combination of red brown and black, but I believe we will start to see prolonged hatches mid month in which case I will be switching to midges with white beads and some flash like the wino and the ASB. As for the retrieve fly selection, I always start out with high contrasting flies white and chartreuse and black and purple. After a while if those are not producing, I’ll start trying different color combinations to hone in what they are really looking for.
We are booking the last week in March through April at the moment. I usually end my Pyramid season around mid May so we are in the home stretch of the season. If you’ve been waiting to book a trip out there this is the time!
Flies We Suggest: Pyramid Lake Beetle, Booby, Pyramid Lake Bugger, Holo Midge, Micro Midge, Balanced Leech, Pyramid Lake Beetle, Booby, Pyramid Lake Bugger
Tight Lines IPA- Reno Fly Shop x Revision Brewing
We are pleased to announce Tight Lines IPA is now available and will be served this Saturday, March 9th at IF4. This brew from Revision Brewing is West-Coast Style IPA available in-house at Revision Brewing. In addition, it will be distributed through the Western United Stated and three total countries. Look for Tight Lines IPA at IF4 this Saturday! We will be closing the shop at 3pm on Saturday, March 9th to prepare for the event.
NOT for sale at the Reno Fly Shop.