The Little Truckee is still seeing excellent fall flows and is fishing very well. While we are seeing fewer spawning fish this week, there are still some fish doing the dance, and a lot of trout redds along the river. Please be very aware of where you’re fishing or wading out here and give these fish plenty of space right now. Trout often spawn in a lot of the same spot we as anglers use to cross the river or wade out to. To fish a run, please familiarize yourself with what a trout’s redd looks like if you wish to fish out here this time of year. The health of the fishery depends on it.

The access out here currently remains open to all vehicles as the snow level during this last storm remained high in altitude. However, due to the road not receiving maintenance in the winter, be aware of patches of ice or rocks in the road right now. Drive slowly, the fish aren’t going anywhere! The dry fly bite has been good. But, as is normal for the Little Truckee, the fish have been very picky. Without an accurate fly selection, long leaders, light tippet and a good presentation, then your success may be minimal.

The main two hatches remain BWO’s and midges, both coming off daily. The baetis are likely what the fish are keying in on any given day, and they mostly prefer the emerger stage out here. They are typically found hatching around midday. The dry fishing will also mostly happen on a short section of river just below the Stampede dam, leaving nymph or streamer anglers with a lot of good fishable water. The fish in the lower sections of river (meadow and down) are a bit more spread out. This water is really great for people that prefer the stick and move style of fishing. Cover water efficiently and keep moving. The populations aren’t as dense, but they are also far less pressured!