Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3822 Oct 11-25 | Page 16

14 FRESHWATER Oct 11 - 25, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 22 Catch & Release Fishing! Hook More & Bigger Fish With Flies... Sponsored by Kiene’s Fly Shop 916-483-1222 • www.Kienesflyshop.com By Cal Kellogg If you want a chance to catch quality trout in a scenic big river setting, the Truckee River is a superb prospect. “I advise you to go down to the Truckee if you ever think you know it all,” quipped Steve Soulan, an experienced fly fisherman at Mountain Hardware in Truckee. “Fishing there can be good, but it can also be a very humbling experience.” The Truckee offers fly tossers, lure fishermen and bait anglers a chance to battle large German browns, rainbows, and mountain whitefish. The rainbows and browns hooked on the Truckee average 14 inches and go up to above 20 inches. The section of river from the mouth of Trout Creek to the Nevada border is now restricted to barbless single hooks, artificial lures only, while only the section from below Lake Tahoe to Trout Creek is open to the bait angler desiring to take some fish home. “Day in and day out, the Hirschdale section of river produces the most consistent fishing,” Soulan stated. “However, anywhere off the beaten track where there is less fishing pressure is a good place to try. The Truckee is technically a free stone river, but the Truckee is so regulated by dams that it functions more like a tail water fishery.” For most of its length the Truckee is for all practical purposes is what you would call a wild trout water. Trout plants of hatchery fish (Rainbows and Lahontan Cutthroat) are limited to the upper ten mile stretch which runs from its outlet from Lake Tahoe to its confluence While big trout are always possible on the Truckee there are with Trout plenty of small trout around to keep things exciting. Photo by CAL KELLOGG, Fish Sniffer Staff. Creek located at the lower end of the town of Truckee where the special regulation (wild trout) section begins. The twenty miles between Trout Creek and the Nevada state line the special regulations limit tackle to artificial lures with barbless hooks. There is also a size and bag limit of two trout with a minimum size of 14 inches from the last Saturday in April through November 15th. For the winter season which runs from November 16th through the Friday before the last Saturday in April, no fish may be kept. The wild trout water is home to Rainbows and Browns, some that get very large. I This rainbow blitzed an Elk Hair caddis during a late summer fly fishing adventure. While the best fishing on the Truckee is had by guys working subsurface flies, dry flies can produce results too. Photo by CAL KELLOGG, Fish Sniffer Staff. Access points are easy and numerous along the Truckee. Though there is some private water (San Francisco Casting Club) along its length, there is plenty of U.S. Forest property in between so that you can always find a way to get to the water. The upper section begins at the outlet from Lake Tahoe and is some of the most beautiful water one can fish, but unfortunately its beauty also has made this a very popular rafting run. With the arrival of summer the flows settle down and all of the bugs that we know and love show their faces. Caddis, Golden Stones, Little Yellow Stones and Pale Morning Duns are the most common. Also of mention are terrestrials such as hoppers and very importantly the huge Carpenter Ants that blow up slope from the valleys below. Fall means fewer fishermen, particularly on weekdays, and cooler water temperatures. Cooler water temperatures mean fishing will remain good all day and as with other waters located where there is a harsh winter environment, the trout’s feeding habits change from selective to opportunistic as they bulk up for winter. The Baetis are beginning to show again and the October Medium to large size nymphs like these are the Caddis are preparing to leave the comfort of their pine needle most effective offerings on the Truckee on a daily basis all season long. If you are looking homes to pupate into huge moth specifically for a trophy trout, big streamers may like creatures. be your best option. Photo by CAL KELLOGG, Fish Sniffer Staff. Explore Pyramid Lake With Deep Water Guide Service! f you want to fish Pyramid Lake, but don’t know anything about the lake it would be wise to hire a guide and Captain Sam Shallow is a top choice. Sam runs Deep Water Guide Service and he plans on spending the fall winter and early spring months, trolling, jigging, casting and fly fishing for Pyramid Lake trout. Sam has a new 24 foot Regulator center console boat teamed with a pair of 150 horse Yamaha motors. For more information or to book your trip, give Captain Sam a call at (530) 277-0288. DELTA STRIPERS! Now Booking Fall and Winter Trips! Specializing in Light Tackle Live Bait Drifting, Spooning and More! (Flyfishing available) Learn these techniques from Jeff Soo Hoo - Professional Guide PYRAMID LAKE MOBILE HOME FOR RENT! 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