Lost Coast Outfitters Fishing Report 12/14/22

Upper Sacramento: It’s winter, who knew?! Access is tough on upper river just due to snow. If you’re sniffing around the Upper Sac, stay below Conant for less snow and easier parking/walking. Anglers fishing the McCartle area have reported decent catching. Stick to small mayfly nymphs #16-18, Rubber Legs #8-10 and small yellow egg patterns to boot. Nothing unusual to report, fair fishing if you are willing to put in some time. The water is a little lower than normal, but that’s largely due to the cold temps and no snowmelt/rain.

Pop in or Call Ted Fay Fly Shop for up to the minute reports. 

Lower Sacramento: Fishing well, as it often does in winter. Strong BWO hatches and good nymphing, S&M, Psycho May. Small Pheasant Tails #16-18 mayflies, anything olive baetis looking. Attach a bobber, and just add water. While strong hatches don’t always translate to good dry fly fishing on the Lower Sac, it’s certainly possible and it pays to keep an eye out for heads sipping adult mayflies. Releases out of the dam are on the low side for this time of year hover around 3000cfs.

Call Dustin Revel for a day on the Lower Sac: 530-921-1563

Putah Creek: We are under a voluntary spawning closure right now. It runs December 1 st through March 1 st every year. Yes, the creek is technically open to fish, but please give these wild trout a break and venture elsewhere. If you want to watch some spawning activity, take a walk along the trails next to the creek and look for big fish in pairs or pods over clean gravel in moving water. Super cool and educational.

The Delta: Beautiful conditions post storm. Clean water through much of the Delta, but a fairly tough bite. It’s between season out there, and the fishing is marginal as expected. Water temperatures are below 50 degrees and fish are in their winter pattern. Look for flats where the water will warm a bit through the day. Sometimes it only takes a couple degrees to turn on the bite. 10-20 fish/day for the boat is a good day right now and you need work for them. This isn’t big fish time, but still some decent fish reported, in the 5 pound range. Nothing to get super excited about currently, but well worth fishing on decent weather days. Not much pressure out there either, so if you want to have a pleasant day without any competition winter is where it’s at!

Call Bryce Tedford for trips on the Delta year-round: 206-696-2437

The Bay/Beach: It’s perch time on the Bay Area beaches. In between storms, look for calm days without a big swell. Sinking lines with an array of small brown/tan/orange crab patterns will net you a few of our palm sized native beach dwellers. Stop by the shop and pick up a couple of our custom perch patterns and we’ll line you out on a good stretch of beach to check out.

Eastern Sierra:

The East Walker is closed for the season. Opens again on the last Saturday in April.

Upper Owens: Snow and more snow on the upper river. This is good, but makes access tough. The river is accessible by snowmobile, skis or walking in on snow machine tracks. The water and conditions are COLD. However, it’s worth the effort, because trophy trout swim up from Crowley Lake in winter and hang in the river. The drought has affected the river as it enters the lake and made it tough for fish to get up into the river, but the fish want to get out of the lake as it freezes over and they will make it up eventually. The big fish are parked in the deeper pools and cut banks. To find them you need to be systematic and fish each spot thoroughly. They won’t move far to eat a fly. They are lethargic due to cold temps, but just keep casting and you’ll find them. San Juan worm in pink and red is the number one pattern. Eggs, tiny Pheasant Tails and other small mayfly nymphs under a small indicator are the way to go. Be patient, fish hard.

Lower Owens: The lower river, near Bishop, is much warmer and fishing well. Bonus: no snow on the ground. Air temps are in the 50’s and water temps only a little lower. BWO’s are showing in the late morning and the window is short, but if you want to get fish on dry flies in December, this is one of your best opportunities. Fish a #18 parachute BWO, Quigley Cripple or Sparkle Flag on a long leader. Drift the foam lines, the fish are there. On the nymphing side, fish the deeper buckets with #16-20 Pheasant Tails, midges, Hares Ears and other standard nymphs under a bobber or tightline.

Report From Jim Stimson

Truckee:

As expected, the water is low and cold. Anywhere on the California side is hard to access right now just due to snow. Much-needed recent storms have dumped feet of powder on the Tahoe region and most of the locals are skiing. However, if you cruise on down to the NV side, east past Sparks, you’ll find no snow and some decent fishing (remember to buy a Nevada fishing license). The Nature Conservancy section is a good option, with more flow and access. Not much in the dry fly category right now, but streamers and nymphs will put you in the money. If you’re chucking streamers, concentrate on the slower water and pools and throw standard patterns, like black leeches and various Bugger patterns. Nymphing with Zebra Midges and egg patterns under a bobber is the ticket if you want to go that route. Or, do both, and fish all the water. Find yourself a two-footer for Christmas.

Call Matt “Gilligan” Koles to fish the Truckee, year-round: 775-351-6665

Lower Yuba: The last storm blew out Deer Creek, and therefore most of the lower river. Good news is it’s already clearing up and fishable. It will keep dropping and clearing as conditions dry out. Anytime you see a high water event, strap on a Rubberlegs and a worm and throw it under a bobber. That’s a foolproof recipe. You may still see a few salmon spawning and various egg patterns are still in the mix. Mostly the trout are keyed on small baetis and midges, as is standard for winter. Small Pheasant Tails, Zebra Midges, S&M BWO or anything small and olive/brown will take fish. Anglers are catching a few steelhead here and there so stay cool if you set the hook on something substantial that rips some line off your reel. Dry fly action is possible 365 days a year on the Lower Yuba. It’s a little inconsistent right now but if you’re patient and keep your eyes open you’ll find fish sipping BWO’s here and there. Tie on a #18 Parachute Adams on a long leader and make an accurate cast. Streamer fishing produces throughout the winter too. Buggers, Zonkers, soft hackles will all produce, stripped or swung.

Call Ben Thompson to get out on the Lower Yuba: 916-743-8290

Trinity River: Good days and tough days mixed in. When a good rain storm hits and freshens up the water, anglers are getting good numbers of fish, but when it’s cold and dry most folks are only getting a handful of hook-ups a day. Still, 2-4 fish a day doesn’t suck and if you play your calendar right with the water conditions, you can hook triple that number. Still a few spawning salmon around so a glo bug or bead will take fish. Most folks have been fishing smaller nymphs like Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Dark Lord and of course stoneflies like black/brown Rubber Legs. Flows out of the dam are spot on normal for this time of year at 297cfs.

Call Dustin Revel for year-round trips on the Trinity: 530-921-1563

Klamath River: Fishing is fair to good depending on the day and time of day. The upper 30 miles are sporting excellent water conditions, albeit a bit low compared to the long-term median flow. All the recent precipitation has come in the form of snow, so the water clarity is good and stable. Water temps are solid, in the high 40s to low 50s. The bite is kind of tough mid-day just because of cold weather. Both swinging and nymphing are producing fish. If you’re swinging think sink tip and smaller wet flies. If you’re nymphing stick to stoneflies and egg patterns. Fish the water appropriately, meaning, swing the riffles and runs and nymph the seams and pockets. Cover all the holding water you can find and you’ll find fish.

Call Chuck at Wild Waters Fly Fishing for Klamath River trips: 530-859-3474

Napa River: Clean water mid 50s temps with good fishing before the before the rain blew it out and muddied up the water. The Napa is often off-color, but if it’s too brown it can be unfishable. As soon as we get a few dry days in a row it will be game on. Watch the tides and don’t get stuck in the mud.

Call Patrick Mackinzie year-round for guided trips on the Napa River: 707-721-6700

Truckee Fishing Report 7/31/2021

Click on any fly described in this report to be directed to purchase them on our website. 

This report was submitted by Jeremy Wright a Truckee based guide.

To be guided by Jeremy please call Matt Heron Fly Fishing at 518-225-6587

If you’re on the water by 5:30/6 a.m. and off by 11 the Truckee is still fishing rather well.  After 11 the water temps really skyrocket with the sun so high in the sky.  The smoke from the Dixie and Tamarack fires helped keep the temps cooler in the day, but our incredible firefighters and some much needed rain the last few days have put the fires down so we’ve got blue skies again.  Fortunately it’s been a little cloudy as well so temps haven’t been nuclear and the nights have been in the mid 40’s, giving the water a chance to cool off.

The upper river from Tahoe City to River Ranch can be fun in the morning.  Walk the bike path, throw some #8-#12 orange/yellow Stimulators near the willows or tightline/dry-dropper the runs.  Fish are eating pretty good sized Stimis so don’t be shy. Hang a #18 Brassie, or a red Copper John about 18” under the Stimi and good things should happen.  If you can handle it, put the Copper John first and tie a Brassie/Zebra midge onto the Copper John.  Roll casts help!!

USFS Campgrounds from River Ranch to Truckee are productive. Same techniques as the upper river, just less access due to private property.  Don’t trespass, stay in the campgrounds.

Glenshire area has been pretty good lately.  The key is fishing fast water!! Pocket water is your friend, tight-lining and dry-dropper are the way to go.  Don’t need to be super deep, the fish are in the fastwater, at the very beginning of the runs, right behind or in front of larger rocks and anywhere 2 runs/bubble lines converge.  Get out of the pools and walk upstream.  Midge hatch when the sun hits, then PMD’s and small white Caddis, #18-#22’s should get the job done.

The Canyon from Hirschdale down to stateline is great right now. 500 CFS.  Access to Hirschdale is basically non-existent right now (ask Sam at the shop) so go farther down the canyon and explore the other exits/pullovers.  Crawdads are molting, Summer Stones are everywhere.  Go big with one of your nymphs and don’t be afraid to try a Chernobyl Chubby dry. They’ll eat them.  And as always add more weight when nymphing!!

Please carry a thermometer, I clip mine on my wading boot and get off the water when it’s 66 degrees.  It’s 8 a.m. I just got off the river and the water temp was 60ish when I left.  Get out there early, stick a few, go home and take a nap. 

Sam from the shop here.  
You can also go to our Lost Coast Outfitters River Specific Fly packs, link here, and select the Truckee river.  The box will reflect Jeremey's suggestions! 
We recommend the Fishpond Swift Current Thermometer- right now we have them in stock in blue.  

Matt "Gilligan" Koles Report on 9.2.2020

Summer hanging on.

Record heat for the weekend. Though it does feel like summer is running out of gas. Mornings are cool, afternoons are hot, but that’ll change soon.

Not much change since last week's report. We’ve been smoke-free for the last few days. Been very Smokey in Tahoe and the Truckee Meadows. Smoke is good for fishing, much like cloud cover. Mornings have been good on the nymphing front.

Trouts are still in the faster water. Maybe not so much early, but the majority of the day.

It’s just about that time. Fall is around the corner. Then I’ll get more serious on the streamers.

Matt Gilligan Koles Reports on 6.8.20

Crazy weather.

80 the other day, snowing yesterday. Been a weird spring weather wise. We haven’t really seen the heat yet, and looking to stay somewhat mild to the end of the month. Good fishing weather.

The Truckee River is just starting to fire off. I’ve had back to back to back, solid days. Lots of grabs with the tight line nymph rigs. Pretty much anywhere you go up and down the river it’s good. She’s still big, lots of water coming down the pipe. Probably mellow out in a few more weeks. It’s always really good these first few weeks of June before the heat of summer. Then you gotta get out in the mornings and ditch the afternoons.

On the CA side of things…I’ve seen a few drakes, so one of these evenings this week, it will go nutso. Caddis should make a showing this week if it gets warm. So the dry fly fishing in the evening will be good.

Of course, nymphing with the said patterns will produce. Pretty much anything will all work right now, if its the right size and has a bead on it.

Matt "Gilligan" Koles Reports on 5.27.20

Heating up on the Truckee River.

It will get hot this week. When it’s 90 in the Hirsch, it’s hot. Upper 90’s in Reno. There’s about 10 miles between us and the desert, it gets hot. Water’s still cold. Fishing all day is good. About low 50’s, water temps, during the day. That’s perfect water temps. Trouts are waking up and moving around.

Flows are still up. I’m guessing they’ll drop in a few weeks. It’ll make the wading a lot easier.

So, nymph up on them. That’s your best bet, at least here on the lower river. Lots of bugs out, but those big fish don’t budge. They stay on the bottom and look for the easiest available food source. Good news; the smaller fish are very active as well with the warming water temps. This is a good time for higher numbers of fish, if you get in the right sections of river. They’re sill tight though. When the flows drop, they will move out into the mid-river slots. All of that water is still too fast.

Yes, the Truckee River is open. No, you will not get pulled over by the police if you’re out of town.

I’ve been very busy. All of my full days are filled up in June. I do have half days open, especially the last few weeks of June. Once summer rolls in, the best fishing is, morning-mid-morning, and again very late in the evening.

Matt Heron Reports on 3.10.2020

We actually got some weather this past week. Saturday and Sunday a storm rolled in and gave us 3-6 inches of the white stuff in Truckee. It isn’t much but we’ll take it!

The water is still low and clear, temps are in the low 40s or so. Like past reports, very normal for this time of year.

The bug thing also hasn’t changed. We’re nymphing with baetis, midges, winter stones, eggs and skwalas.

Although we’re mostly fishing the bottom this time of year, don’t be afraid to fish midge pupa suspended mid day. We’re running into pods of fish suspended off the bottom when the mid day midge hatch pops.

Not much as far as dries go unfortunately.

Don’t forget to check out our new podcast too!

Give us a call, we have guides available everyday and good luck out there! 

Matt "Gilligan" Koles Reports on 3.10.2020

Coming into Spring on the Truckee River. It’s already about mid-March, and from now into Summer is the time to be on this river. Spring is my favorite time for big fish.

Finally, a change on the river. Flows have been bumped up out of Boca. The river is about 480 cfs here in the Hirsch. Near the same down the length of the river as well into Reno. Almost 600 out East. That’s a signifiant change, flows have nearly doubled. Good change.

I haven’t been that exited about fishing the river on the CA side, but now, yes, she’ll be good. I’ll probably start doing some trips around home here soon. I’ve still been down on the lower Truckee River in Nevada. We’ve had our good days, we’ve had our bad days, we’ve had our wind days. When it’s good, man, ain’t too much better. When the trouts have lockjaw, it’s a long day.

Excited about Spring, and the higher flows, and the skwalas, and streamer fishing and the longer days. We still need more snow, and I don’t think winter is over just yet.

Matt Heron Reports on 3.4.20

We actually got some weather this past week. Saturday and Sunday a storm rolled in and gave us 3-6 inches of the white stuff in Truckee. It isn’t much but we’ll take it!

The water is still low and clear, temps are in the low 40s or so. Like past reports, very normal for this time of year.

The bug thing also hasn’t changed. We’re nymphing with baetis, midges, winter stones, eggs and skwalas.

Although we’re mostly fishing the bottom this time of year, don’t be afraid to fish midge pupa suspended mid day. We’re running into pods of fish suspended off the bottom when the mid day midge hatch pops.

Not much as far as dries go unfortunately.

Don’t forget to check out our new podcast too!

Give us a call, we have guides available everyday and good luck out there!

Matt Gilligan Koles Reports on 2.27.20

Mild weather for the Truckee River. 

Having a long, mild, dry streak here in Tahoe/ Reno. This is very typical to get prolonged dry spells in the Sierra’s, but this is an exceptional one. The snow we have is melting. Will we get more snow? Looks like the long range models are coming into agreement on a pattern change. How much rain/ snow is the question. Anything will be better than nothing.

Not much change since last week on the fishing front. Weather and flows have remained the same for the last month. If you like fishing in a t-shirt in February, this is your chance. It’s still cold at night, and the water is cold, so don’t go busting through the pocket water yet.