Spring runoff has begun with the arrival of warmer temps. As of the writing of this report it appears as if the low and mid elevation snow has melted. This should taper runoff in the Truckee Meadows a bit the snow melt will take longer to arrive. Not that runoff is over it just should be a bit less dramatic day to day. Water clarity in the Truckee River has remained okay and the fishing should get more predictable.
We are excited to announce our summer class schedule. New offerings that are built to introduce fly fishing to beginners and build skills in intermediate anglers. We will also have tactic/discipline specific classes offered by mid summer.
Truckee River
Nymph fishing and streamer fishing will be your best bet. Nymphs in brighter colors have worked in the off color water. Squirmy Worms and Firestarters have been some of the most purchased patterns over the last few weeks. Anglers are finding success with these in certain spots. Additionally, anchor flies such as the Emma Stone and Cray-Z Emma get the rig down quickly.
Nymph fishing and streamer fishing will be your best bet. Nymphs in brighter colors have worked in the off color water. Squirmy Worms and Firestarters have been some of the most purchased patterns over the last few weeks. Anglers are finding success with these in certain spots. Additionally, anchor flies such as the Emma Stone and Cray-Z Emma get the rig down quickly.
Streamer fishing is also a good bet. Flies such as the Articulated Trout Slider and the Barely Legal are weighted and bright so they get the attention of fish. With higher flows- fish are not likely to hold in fast water towards the center of the channel. This pushes trout towards the banks. Focus on water that is within 5-10’ of the bank. This area may increase on inside bends and eddies but it’s a great place to start. Water temperatures have come up, so faster retrieves should be most effective.
The following articles discuss high water tactics relating to the Truckee River but can be applied to most of our regional streams.
5 Tips for Fly Fishing High Water
Spring High Water and Your Best Approach to Big Trout
Flies we Suggest: Squirmy Worm, Squirminator, TJ Hooker, Firestarter, Carot, Jigged CDC PT, Articulated Trout Slider, Sparkle Minnow, Barely Legal
SUMMER CLASS SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
Here at the Reno Fly Shop we are an Orvis Endorsed Fly Shop/Outfitter, this allows us to build a summer instructional series based upon the historic and very successful Orvis Fly Fishing Education Program. We have taken this curriculum and modified it to fit customer feedback and our fly fishing opportunities.
Our classes, Fly Fishing 101 (FF-101), Fly Fishing 201 (FF-201) and Fly Fishing 301 (FF-301) are group lessons offered by our in-house guide/instructors. Reasonably priced and information dense these date specific courses allow the students to get themselves ready for a fun day on the water. These classes are space limited so registration is required.
FLY FISHING 101 (FF101)
Fly Fishing 101 – Introduction to the basics in about 60 minutes (limited to 5 students). You will be introduced to rods & reels, basic knots & rigging, fly selection and basic casting.
There is a $25 deposit taken when you sign up. At the completion of the class you will be given a $25 gift certificate that can be used in the Reno Fly Shop. Making this class FREE!!!
Dates for our 101 Classes are always being added. Currently you can register for May 28, June 8 or June 22
Sign Up and Pick your date for Fly Fishing 101 here
FLY FISHING 201 (FF201)
Fly Fishing 201 – Building on the same areas as the 101 this 2.5 hour course will go into greater detail and additional topics that the longer class time allows. Completion of FF101 is required unless signed off by a RFS instructor. All necessary gear is provided by RFS instructors. (limited to 5 students)
Dates for our 201 Classes are always being added. Currently you can register for June 8 or June 22
You will cover the following topics in our FF201 class:
-Introduction to fly rods, reels and lines and their different applications
-Essential knots and rigging – with the opportunity to tie your own and which knot to use when.
-Fly selection and how these change seasonally and even through the day.
-Basic casting at a local park on the grass.
There is a $100 fee for participation in the FF201 class. At completion of the class the student will be given a $25 gift certificate that can be used in the Reno Fly Shop.
Sign Up and Pick your date for Fly Fishing 201 here
FLY FISHING 301.#
Each class will be a unique discipline
These are the on-the-water courses where it all starts to come together. These are tactic specific classes that are 4 hours in a low instructor/student ratio. Completion of FF201 is required unless signed off by RFS staff. All necessary gear is provided by RFS instructors but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have it. Choose among a unique catalog of classes to allow a tailored experience to what you are interested in and what you want to explore.
FF301.Nymph – a general nymphing class that will focus on the different approaches to fishing subsurface flies in moving water. Categories of nymphing that will be covered are, indicator, tightline, etc.
FF301.Euro – a dive into the world of European Style Nymphing. You will be introduced to rod/reels/lines, leader setup and construction and on-the-water techniques for this very effective nymphing style. There is a reason this is the preferred technique of competitive fly anglers. When you have to put fish in the net this is the tactic to utilize.
FF301.Dry – The quintessential fly fishing style and one of the most sought after. Casting a dry fly at a rising trout has to be experienced to fully understand. You will be shown the how, when and why we do what we do when we pursue trout rising to adult insects. We will cover the rod/reel/lines used, when we use them and how to approach fish to tilt the scale towards success.