Not much has changed since last weeks Truckee River Report, but it’s still worth a look.

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It was hard to imagine that winter fishing on the Truckee could get any better after an amazing January. But it did. The first week of February brought us low pressure, rain, snow, sleet and anything else you can imagine. And boy did it pay off.

Although the mountains above 7500ft. got a lot of much needed snow, Truckee stayed relatively wet with lots of rain and very little snow as far as accumulation goes. Not ideal, but after two months of the region being dry, anything helps.

The Truckee River even got a huge push of water, a much needed “flush” if you will. The river peaked between 1,000 and 1,700 cfs last week and got pretty muddy for a day or two. As it should, it dropped and cleared to “fishable” visibility pretty quickly. Just the way we like it.

A few rainy-day rainbows for a couple of our regulars!

Here are a few more details on conditions…

Flows: Water levels have stayed up from downtown Truckee to Boca and have hovered around 600-500 most of the week. We’re at 482 as we speak. Normal winter flows, pre storm were 100-250 most of the winter. So bring your high water rigs the rest of this week.

Flows in the canyon are slightly higher at 624. They have been a bit higher than that most of the week leading up today. Flows prior to this week were around 400 or so. So, in reality, the canyon has only come up a bit and is in great shape.

Flies: We’ve gotten fish on just about everything this week, not unusual for water that has been slightly off color. Baetis 18-20s, rubberlegs 10-12s, leeches (any size), midges 18-20s, eggs and worms.

TECHNIQUES:

Nymphing: Not secrets here, bobber and Euro techniques are putting the most fish in the net this time of year. If the water has any color, you don’t need to fish anything lighter than 4X. Go heavy or go home.

Gordy with a great, sunny morning bow!

Dry Fly: There was some scattered dry fly fishing before the storm, but that mostly went away. That said the midge hatches were really good and should come back into shape. Keep an eye on BWOs and maybe an early skwala or two.

Trout Spey: Swinging was a bit slow this week, the water was cold, and the fish didn’t want to move much to eat. That said I recently left town for a bit, and I can guarantee it turned on a bit with the water color. I’d be tossing small streamers and hold on!

Streamers: Again, cold water had the streamer bite on the slow side, but don’t overlook big meals in the winter months. Use 10 or 12 pound and fish the edges, drop offs, or even dead drift one. Trust me.

What’s Next?: March and skwalas will be here before we know it. One of my favorite times of year to get a big fish on a dry. Don’t miss out!

Looking for a Truckee River guide this winter or spring? Drop Lu and I a message. We’d love to set you up for an unforgettable day on the river.

-Matt

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FLOWS: Flows throughout the entire system are perfect for this time of year. From Truckee to Boca, we saw a nice little push of water this week giving the Truckee River a much needed flush. It’s holding steady around 137cfs as of today.

The same in the canyon section of the Truckee River, below Boca to the NV border. Down in Farad, flows are 444cfs, again, perfect in my opinion. Fishing in the canyon this time of year can be a great excuse to get away from people too. Generally, most winter tourists stay up near town. Don’t be afraid to hike a bit to get away from the crowds.

FLIES: Although I was up north for most of the weather, our guides reported good baetis hatches on both rivers once the clouds rolled in earlier this week. This isn’t surprising if you’ve ever read any of my winter reports.

Always have a good selection of sz 18-22 baetis patterns in nymphs, emergers, cripples and duns. You simply can’t go wrong even if there’s no hatch.

Midges are always a good bet too. No secrets here, have a bunch of 18-24s (smaller flies for up higher on the river where it’s low and clear), larve, pupe and adults. Any variations of zebra midges and adults will be fine.

Slightly bigger bugs may include winter stones, worms, eggs and rubberlegs. Have a good mix with these options will put you in a position to catch any fish on the river right now.

And don’t overlook the streamer thing too. I’m a big fan of dead drifting them anytime during the winter, or even slow stripping them on cloudy, or “crappy” days. The fish will chase occasionally even with cold water.

TECHNIQUES: It’s a bit of everything right now, but we’re getting a lot of fish on indicator or Euro rigs. No surprise there. Really fucus your attention on deeper, slower runs. Fish the bottom and add weight and adjust that indicator as needed.

As you’d assume, if any winter noses show themselves with baeits or midges, it’s game on! There are very few anglers tossing dries right now and it’s always good to be prepared for the winter hatch.

If you really want to “swing for the fences” don’t be afraid to strip or swing streamers. I typically downsize them to three inches or less when the water is clear and cold. This can be an underutilized technique in the winter to try and get a big fish.

Other Local Options-

LITTLE TRUCKEE RIVER: I’ll keep this short and sweet. Flows are up for this time of year and the fish don’t mind at all. There’s no question that the Little Truckee has seen the best dry fly fishing in the area. To those in the know, that’s not a surprise. Baetis, midges, worms and eggs are the ticket. Sound familiar?

The only negative is the number of people. It’s great fishing, but you’ll more than likely be dealing with some crowds. Remember, the road back there doesn’t get plowed. Be prepared if you get stuck, or don’t risk it at all.

TRUCKEE RIVER NV SIDE: We’re still cranking out floats consistently on the NV side and man has the fishing been good! If you hit it right, it can be a mix of size and numbers with the conditions we’re looking at right now. Walk and wade trips are going well too, but don’t overlook a float this time of year.

Lastly, it’s not to late to get that last minute gift certificate for the angler in your life that has everything!

Drop us a note HERE and we’ll get you set up for the holidays.

If you’re looking to get our with one of our amazing guides, let us know, we’d love to show you around!

The post Truckee River Fly Fishing Report- December 16, 2024 appeared first on Truckee River Fly Fishing Guide | Matt Heron Fly Fishing.

And as good as this report is, the outlook for fall is looking even better. We should get a bump in flows, just as the weather starts to turn. Fingers crossed, it could go off!!

FLOWS AND CONDITIONS:

From Lake Tahoe, downstream to Boca, it’s low and clear. To be honest it’s like winter conditions, except with perfect water temps.

The watermaster shut the flows off a few weeks ago more than we expected. Thankfully, conditions are still good, just a bit lower than what we’re used to seeing in September.

Our guides have been downsizing everything since the drop. 5x and 4x are the norm up there and fluorocarbon if you have it!

Fish are still in everything from the deep runs, to fast pocket water. There’s even some sight fishing to be had if you want to try.

Below Boca, through the canyon, to Nevada, flows are absolutely perfect. Even a little higher than what we’re used to because of releases out of Boca. Although they did drop a sliver this week as you can see.

This stretch is where we’re seeing bigger fish on average being caught…and missed. Damn we missed some giants the last few weeks!

Higher up stream, the fish are in all kinds of water; fast, slow, deep, shallow. But, the big ones are still parked in the fastest water you can image, or on the seams next to it.

TECHNIQUES & FLIES:

We’re fishing similar techniques on the Truckee River, top to bottom. It’s been a mix of bobbers, Euro and hopper dropper.

If you made me pick one technique to produce the most fish, it would be Euro; the hopper dropper, 2nd.

Point and anchor flies have been a mix of crayfish, stoneflies and small streamers. Fish are trying to pack the pounds on as the temps drop. Both are big caloric sources this time of year.

Tag end and dropper flies have been a mix of sz 14-18 tan and olive caddis, sz 16 mahogany duns, 18-20 baetis, sz 18 midges and some sz 12 October caddis.

I’d fully expect the baetis to starting going off on both Truckee and Little Truckee Rivers as soon as we starting getting fall rain and snow storms. Hopefully by mid October.

OTHER LOCAL OPTIONS:

NV Side Truckee- The NV side has been fishing really well the last few weeks, especially with the pre spawn browns. The flies will be about the same as the CA side, only difference being you can fish heavier tippet. 3x and 4x is the go-to for most of our guides right now.

MF Feather River- Our guides are reporting great fishing conditions up north if you want to get away from the crowds. It’s hard to beat the small stream atmosphere that the Middle Fork gives off.

Hopper droppers are working but slowing down some. The guys are reporting most fish being caught on Euro gear in the fast water, and bobbers in the slow. Don’t be afraid to try some leeches too.

DAILY CLASSES- Fishing is about as good as it gets right now on the pond. Don’t hesitate jumping in a class before the weather changes for good!

Shoot us a call anytime to get you set up this fall, or just to ask questions about our programs. We’ll make sure you have an unforgettable day on the water!

-Matt and Lu

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Well, in short, it’s a tough answer. And if any guide tells you they have the full answer, I’d take it with a grain of salt.

That said, part of the secret IS throwing streamers, on the NV side, in June and July. That we do know. Especially when we have the water that we have this season. That said fall isn’t bad either, but that’s for another post.

Our guides have put me on multiple, big browns over the years on guided raft trips, not to mention endless happy clients. This is the time to try your luck and give it a go!

But remember, chucking big bugs all day isn’t for the faint of heart, or even the “never ever” beginner angler. It takes some skill, patience, a bit of luck, even with “prime” conditions. But like my dad used to always say, “You can’t catch them on the couch!”

Drop Lu and I a note, we’d love to set you up with one of our amazing streamer guides this summer!

One of my best streamer fish a few summers back!

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While I was gone, I chatted with our guides quite a bit, keeping up with conditions and our clients fish stories. But what I wasn’t prepared for was how clear the river was going to be when I got back. 

Although the Truckee is running high, it’s really clear, especially above the Boca confluence in the mornings. 

If it wasn’t so high, you could damn near sight fish!

With the clarity, the usual attractors of eggs and worms for mid May haven’t really produced this week, but mayflies have. 

Nymphs in 14, 16 & 18s will catch about any fish in the River right now…above Boca. There are Baetis and March Browns hatching, and tons of pre season PMD Nymphs around. And with the clean water, almost all our fish have been on 4x. 

Below Boca things are a little more “normal” for mid may. The Little Truckee is cranking in water, and a decent amount of color in the canyon. 

We were getting fish a bit more regularly on eggs and worms w 3x, and the same nymphs listed above. Rubberlegs aren’t a bad idea either.

Things are only going to get better from here out and Carpenter Ants should be just around the corner. 

And for what it’s worth, afternoon water temps are 46 just after lunch. 

If you’re looking to unlock a few secrets on the Truckee this year, drop us a note. Our guides would love to show you around our backyard. 

-Matt

PS- If you’re looking to get out, or have questions, drop Lu and I a note HERE.

A few gorgeous rainbows from this week!

The post Truckee River Fly Fishing Report- May 8th, 2024 appeared first on Truckee River Fly Fishing Guide | Matt Heron Fly Fishing.

The good news is, it’s been in the 40’s almost every day, the river is in perfect shape, and we’re getting more access back by the day, if not hour!

Why is this one of my favorite times of year on the Truckee? One answer, Skwala stoneflies. This has to be my favorite stonefly hatch of the season. Although it’s hard to hit it just right, when you do, you could run into your best dry fly fish of the season. I know, because I’ve seen it happen with me personally, and clients.

You all know me, I’m pretty damn honest when it comes to the Truckee and these reports. We won’t be throwing dries at noses all day, but we can blind cast if we aren’t seeing anything. But these big bugs will bring fish off the bottom, even when they aren’t looking up.

That said, if you’re looking for numbers, here’s some information for you.

Most of our fish this week were on Skwala nymphs, rubberlegs, eggs and worms as our attractor fly. The fish were eating baetis, midges and some winter stones as the dropper. No real seasonal surprises there. You could even try some March Browns in 14s and 16s.

If I had to pick one all around size and fly to fish, it’d be by far a sz. 18 Baetis. Have a good selection of nymphs, emergers and even dries. Tis the season for Baetis on top too!

Also, it’s almost prime streamer time too. Eventually the water is going to come up a bit, and then a whole lot. Be ready with 0x and a selection of 3-4″ bugs with natural colors. Speaking of big fish!

Drop Lu and I a note HERE if you’re looking to get in on the action. We’ll have a lot of water this spring again, and you won’t want to miss out!

-Matt and Lu

Matt W’s PB dry fly fish, Sz. 20 Baetis emerger. Congrats!

The post Truckee River Fly Fishing Report- March 13, 2024 appeared first on Truckee River Fly Fishing Guide | Matt Heron Fly Fishing.

We’re still waiting on winter to show up in Truckee this season. There’s very little snow in town and the the river conditions are as consistent as they’ve ever been in December and January as I’ve ever seen.

Although it’s been in the 50s the last few days, water temps have stayed in the high 30s to low 40s, pretty typical for this time of year.

We’re getting most of our fish on the classic winter bugs…baetis and midges. Like the last report, there’s a few winter stones around, a small rubberlegs in black is a great option, eggs and even some small streamers dead drifted under an indicator are doing the trick.

There are some dry fly opportunities around if you hit it right, but nothing you can put you watch to. Again, midges and baetis.

Flows are pretty much perfect from town through the canyon but there’s a chance that may change next week.

It will be interesting to see what California’s next Atmospheric River brings to the area, snow or rain. Only time will tell, but next week we’ll definitely be a little wet!

Drop Lu and I a note on our Contact page if you’re looking to get out. As you can see there’s some really nice fish around right now!

Our boy Pat G. with a stunner!

The post Truckee River Fishing Report, January 29th, 2024 appeared first on Truckee River Fly Fishing Guide | Matt Heron Fly Fishing.

It’s been an odd start to winter with very little snow to this point and the occasional sloppy rain, snow-mix system passing through town. Although it hasn’t done anything for snowpack yet, it has helped the bite if you’re timing is good.

Not surprisingly, those days have produced some of the better dry fly fishing so far this winter with baetis and midges being the main two bugs on top.

That said, in typical Truckee fashion, nymphing has been the go-to technique with some streamer fish in the mix.

The flows from town to Boca are average for this time of year, pretty low and pretty clear for the most part. As of today we’re looking at 124 cfs. We’re getting most fish on 4-6x tippet and small flies on average. 16s-20s are pretty good sizes to start with. There are even a few winter stones around, but not many…yet.

Below Boca the river is running at 348 cfs., the canyon is about the same, and has a perfect “steelhead green” color to it. Although the fish are eating the small stuff too, several fish are being caught on 12-16s as well. Don’t be afraid to use small leeches, rubberlegs, eggs and worms as an attractor. A baetis or midge dropper is a good idea too.

We’re getting most fish to eat 4x from Boca down through the canyon.

I had the privilege of joining one of our guests for his float trip on the NV side with our guide Mike Curtis. We had a great day catching smaller cutties, a bunch of adult bows and one really nice brown on a streamer.

If you haven’t taken advantage of the floating the NV side yet, you should! The river has a much different personality down there and you can have more shots at big browns. Although the water is cold for streamers right now, we did get three eats and several follows. You never know unless you try!

Drop Lu and I a tone if you’re looking to hop on a raft and fish down in NV. You won’t regret it.

See you on the water.

Matt

The post Truckee River Fly Fishing Report- January 1st, 2024 appeared first on Truckee River Fly Fishing Guide | Matt Heron Fly Fishing.

It’s a bittersweet time for me, fall is one of my favorite times of the year to hit the Truckee, but winter has
some advantages that can’t be overlooked.

Here’s a few pros and cons to consider if you’re looking to book a winter trip with myself, or one of our
awesome guides this season.

CONS:

-It can be cold. However, on a normal day, you can expect to see highs in the 40s though. Totally doable with the right clothing and layers.

-Although there are exceptions, it’s typically not a numbers game. The smaller fish disappear for the most part which keeps catch rates lower than usual.

PROS:

-Between the skiing community hitting the slopes, and fair-weather fishermen, it’s usually not crowded on the Truckee from mid-December on. Life is good.

-The average fish can be much bigger than in the summer, and it’s not even close!

-The colors of the post spawn brown, and pre spawn rainbows can be off the charts. We’ll find some of the best-looking fish of the year.

-Because we can run into low, clear conditions, sight fishing can be really, really, good. And if you know me well, this is my game!

In the end, it’s hard to beat big fish and less people. Grab your warm socks and give us a call!

Enjoy a few images from winters past. 

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