Please still carry a thermometer if you are going to be doing any Catch and Release.

Have you looked closely at the trees around the Valley? See those bits of yellow? Wondering each day if Fall is going to arrive a bit sooner this year. It would be great to see some cooler temps for a few weeks, and then after the throngs of tourists leave, the locals will have a Fall Fishing Festivus for the Rest of Us, first time in 4 years!

Let's talk a little about hooks on a C & R water, as in the East Walker in CA & NV and the East Carson below Hangman's bridge. The CA regs read, artificial, barbless hooks. Well, this means that even TREBLE hooks can be used there. BUT: they MUST be barbless. This is according to CDW, Law Enforcement, in Sacramento.. Now, all that aside, we do ask anyone spin fishing, that they either remove the treble and replace with a single barbless hook, OR cut off 2 the hooks and pinch down the remainder. Studies with treble hooks are 50/50 on the survival of a released fish on treble. And really, in a 'wild trout' water, I'd say that most fishermen, since they can't take the fish home anyway, would prefer the 50 % on the survivability side. (the East Walker, CA, C & R area, does have a special regulation during the Summer/standard season)

So while we were out taking temps on the local waters this past weekend, we came across an 8 beaded Rattle snake... A reminder to keep your eyes out for them. Also, the dang mosquitoes.. are not burning off!! Be sure to use your DEET/mosquito repellent.

E. CARSON: CA: Last week (as I wrote the report) there was a storm cell that came over the area and blew the river out, muddying it up, looking pretty clear again this today. Flows: average 95 cfs this week, just 20 cfs below median flow. above Hangman's (along hwy 89/4) Not much has changed since last week, Rumors and hearsay, say they're going to stock it next week. Buggers in olive or black, Caddis are hatching, PMD's and BWO's of course the hoppers are all over the place and also the ants. I'd certainly skate a stimulator in yellow or orange. Para-madam X in yellow or chartreuse. Nymphing: micro mayfly, EC caddis, PT, hare's ear, little yellow stone, caddis pupa, San Juan's. Catch & Release section (downstream at Hangman's Bridge), Like the water above, nice flows. The reports that we've gotten is that it's still a bit slow.. Walk away from the parking lot. Go further down stream. Start watching for the snakes trying to cool off in the water Same bug patterns as above.

E. CARSON: NV: Flows average: 90 cfs, about 50 cfs below median. NDOW stocked it last week and there are certainly fish left. In the early morning go for a dry dropper set up of a caddis (Elk Hair) with a zebra midge (black) drop. Mid day, if the fish will play, throw a bugger in a size 8 – size 12 Being clearer, start being a little more sneaky (yes, this is a fishing terminology :) Dead Drift Red Copper Johns, Golden stones, little yellow stones, zebra midges, or San Juans. Dry fly action should always include a dropper of a zebra midge, hare's ear, caddis pupa, make it a stimulator or grasshopper a cripple caddis or ant. It's almost time to start venturing up the further reaches, they'll hit s dry nicely early in the morning and late in the evening. Remember to release wilds (par marks, God's thumbprints along lateral line) and the brown trout to keep the populations going!

W. CARSON: Flows 31 cfs, running about 10 cfs below normal, and it received a bump in flows from storage above about 2 days ago.. The Carson Rivers are at this time of year, considered 'irrigation canals. One week for watering for the CA side, the next week for the NV side.. with these lower flows, it certainly looks like the CA side. This should be stocked next week, depending upon flows and water temps. Walk away from your vehicle to get into some of the left-overs that haven't been taken out. Maybe even a wild or two on an ant pattern.. those little wilds are FAST! A note, if you pick up a wild trout, please let it go, If using bait, just cut the line, no longer are viable trout being stocked. Dries: Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator , Stone, adams in a 16, Pale Morning Dun mayfly size 14. Nymphs: Hare's ear, PT, Prince nymph (always a go-to!), zebra midges, WD-40.

E. WALKER: NV (Rosaschi Ranch): Flows 90 cfs: flows about 50cfs below median. CATCH & RELEASE, NO BAIT, BARBLESS NO KILL. TAKE TEMPS after 9 am... off at 69 degrees. You know, maybe this time of year, have a little fun, use a pair of dykes and cut the hook off completely.. go out see what will hit your fly.. pull it out of their mouth,, no harm, no foul and they won't be stressed from fighting in warm water! Guides available for EARLY, EARLY morning ½ day trips. Dead drift light colored buggers (light olive, white),natural zonkers, clousers, copper johns, hare's ear, rubber legged stones, little yellow stones, red or black zebra midges, bubbleback midges, Hot Pink bugger, Tequila twist.

E. WALKER: CA Flows 88 cfs, about 50 cfs below median: TAKE TEMPS after 9 am... off at 69 degrees. CATCH & RELEASE NO BAIT, BARBLESS (Special Regulations)Flows have been steady. The head wall did have some nice fish in it, again, pick your side. Buggers, PT,s Chrino's , and midge on a heavy rig. Damsels are coming off with this heat and a damsel nymph is a good one to have on your rig. A good idea is to get the CLEAR glow in the dark Thingamabobbers, you'll get use to finding it. The fish won't move off it as easily. Nymphs they weren't too picky about, ADD, ADHD, black brassies, nitro caddis, bubble back, hare's ear.

E. WALKER: NV ELBOW AREA Flows 90 cfs. If doing C & R in that area: TAKE TEMPS after 9 am... off at 69 degrees. PT's Hare's ear, stone, Micro Mayfly, san juans. Dries: Stimi's in yellow, hoppers, PMD's.

WEST WALKER : CA: Flows average: 116 It's looking very nice. Stocked by Mono County late last week ago for the How Big Is Big contest in Mono County with pretty nice trout. Pickel Meadows is still pretty busy, perhaps hit aht area with a dinner picnic when everyone else goes home for the evening. (REMINDER: Release the Browns, if you want to see one in the future!) Yellow Crystal bugger is a go to on this water, (Walker Bugger), red/black or green copper johns, hare's ears, Flashback Pheasant tail and rubber legged stones. Dries: Stimulator, Royal Wulff, Caddis, Adams, EHC.

WEST WALKER NV (Hoye Canyon): Hoye Canyon is NO LONGER open to the public. Only fishing on the West Walker Nevada access is Wilson Canyon on 208 south of Yerington.

HOBART Closes September 30th. It is slowing down just a bit, fish are going a bit deeper due to the heat. Damsels, PT's zebra midges, red or black, mosquito's, black ants. For Directions for a 4 x 4 vehicle: http://www.ndow.org/Bodies_Of_Water/Hobart_Reservoir/

PYRAMID LAKE We have guides for Pyramid Lake. Make your reservations NOW for the opening weeks, slots will fill up FAST!!! Opens in 57 days, start thinking of getting your boxes filled with patterns to emulate the Tui Chub and streamers for opener, for about the first 3 weeks they are heavy on the bait fish!

TOPAZ: Topaz Lake is still good. Reports from Float Tubers at the inlet area had great reports of trout all over 2 pounds. The bass are starting to show up,'big uglies', buggers, dead drift cray fish. THE CARP are still in the shallows, not in the high numbers a few weeks ago, but can still be targeted in that area. (if you haven't done carp fishing, come in and ask.. it's a hoot!) Olive buggers, damsel nymphs, Carp flies, crayfish patterns and a very stout 8 weight rod. FYI the canal temps were at 78 degrees coming out of the lake. Not good for C & R.
If fishing the LAKE of Topaz, a CA (OR) an NV.. if you turn to do the outlet (Topaz Canal) you must have a NV license. As is, turning to the inlet, you would have to have a CA license. Be informed the Canal area is now marked NO Trespassing about 2 miles from head wall (It is private property).

SPOONER: A PERSONAL NOTE: catch a chub, KILL IT.. This lake has become so over populated with chub, that the trout there are competing for food. Damsels, zebra midges, copper johns, PT's buggers in white, olive, zug bugs, princes. If you see lips: Para Adams, Trico. Just want to catch ANY fish (chub) use a zug bug... it's a guarenteed take.

DESERT CREEK: A bit cooler water at this little creek, since it doesn't get the hot afternoon sun. Buggers, hoppers, ants, caddis, little yellow stones.

HEENAN: Opens on September 2nd!!! Catch and Release Only, No bait, No Kill, Barbless. Open September – October, only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Sunrise to Sunset (Specified).

INDIAN CREEK: It's slowed down. Fish are going a bit deep, if fishing from shore, I'd throw a damsel early in the morning. If in a float tube, you'll do better, and start using an intermediate or sink tip. Finger crawl your nymphs. Buggers in olive, black and white. Red zebra midges, Blood midges, small Maholo's, hares' ear, damsels, sheep creek specials. (PRO HINT: Strip to the tune of the theme to Bonanza, to vary the movement of the streamers).

BURNSIDE: no report

KIRMAN: It's warm, best to leave it until a few weeks, and we'll get a COLD snap up there. We may have lost fish due to last year's low water and then a Winter kill. A few fish have been caught. Watch for rattle snakes on the way up and out. Scuds, zugs, damsels, olive buggers, chrino's to the weed beds.

TRUCKEE: Flows in Mogul are about 270, Previously this week, we put out a chart of the temperatures out of Sparks (yes, a different location, but a good place to start) Watch those temps on the river, start looking around 11 am, and check every 30 minutes. (take a break, drink some water) Fishing pretty well on the California side. And up higher on the NV side, lots of the LCT's stocked by USFWS are STILL being caught. Stones, Green Drake nymphs (Olive hare's ear, in a pinch) San Juans , Rainbow warriors. If you're adventurous, throw a big ugly Rabbit strip fly to clean up a run or hole. It was hit pretty hard with 2 years of hard drought and really warm water temps. There are some survivors and that's good. If we want the repopulation of brown trout to be there, let them go (tell your spin or bait buddies) FWS dumped in a big load of Little LCT's.. good fodder for the browns and big 'bows.

O'BANION'S ASPEN LAKE: Closed Due to summer Algae bloom.. will announce when reopening.