I'm Alive #4 & Angling Report

Yes, been awhile. Getting busy now with clinics, guiding, responsibilities as president of Tahoe-Truckee Fly Fishers and a 1 week "busman's holiday" trip to the Green River in Utah (eventually I'll do a report on the Green).

FISHING REPORT:

Fly angling in the Truckee area has been decent for several weeks. Better fish NOW and during the next 6-8 weeks. True, it is only May, but we're currently experiencing summer conditions with low, clear waters and progressively higher water temps. Last week I got a 60 degree flow temp at 6 PM on the main Truckee....not good!

Thus far there hasn't been any intense bug emergences. If looking for heads, the best times have been 11AM-2PM. The rise can last for 45 minutes to 1-1/2 hours. BWO's, a smattering of micro-caddis and late-blooming March Browns are on the surface menu. But the reality remain,...as usual...if you consistently want to be in the game, go down.
Producing surface patterns for the surface have been #16-#18 BWO Pull-Overs or Quigley Cripples and a traditional up-wing Adams, sized 14. For tandem-rig sub-surface rigs, trail #16-20 a FBPT or Disco Midge in red or black behind a larger Floss-
Worm, Hare's Ear or rubber-legged stonefly nymph.

Because of this prolonged drought there will be little water to fish come July; whether fishing moving or stillwaters...not to mention water temperatures. The trout will be very stressed and in a survival mode....Believe me, this is not a Chicken Little "da sky is falling" scenario...it is real.

Here's my May TTFF president's message Intro:

"Well we experienced a nice “dump” the evening/morning of “Opening Day”; Friday/Saturday April 24/25. We also were in awe of the previous evening’s a fabulous thunder and lightning display; seemingly directly above my home for two hours.  Both weather events are what we anticipate during a “normal” year. For this year; better late than never. Right now the trout appreciate any water they can get.

Explore our local waters…now.  By July we have no idea what angling conditions we will experience.   Do consider voluntary Hoot-Howl Closures as we did last year. No need to wait for an official mandate; use common sense. People know my mantra: "Health of the fishery comes first, public angling second and commercial guiding a distant third and last" 
 

Carry a thermometer.  Leave the water and quit fishing when the temps get to 67-68. Such occurred last year on the big Truckee about 10:30-11:00 AM. Last year my voluntary HO closures occurred around mid-July. This year it should occur earlier; assuming there is water in the river".