Nevada:
The beautiful thing about living on the Nevada side of the
California/Nevada border is that our rivers and streams, unlike most in California and other
states, are legal to fish year-round. Of course, this can mean freezing your glo-bugs while
you stand waist deep in frigid water but hey, this is what sporting is all about.
I recently spent about a week of early mornings before work with icesycles dangling from
my guides while I cast to aparently, nothing. I know that around 45ºf is a magic temperature for trout and
all the bugs skittering about the streambed. But, I have caught fish even at times when it's
been seriously cold so I go from time to time anyway.
It seems to be a little known fact that Nevada has great trout fishing. At least, that's what I hear.
Personally, the Truckee River, from the border to about the McCarren overpass is about all
I fish in the state. Usually, right at Mayberry Park because it's about 5 minutes from home.
The fishing ranges from okay to great there. There are Browns, Rainbows and Mountain Whitefish. I hate to admit
it but the Whitefish, to me, are the most fun to catch. They fight like mad and look sort of
like bonefish. In late summer when the river's really low you can sight fish 'em like bones.
It's a blast.
There is no magic bullet for the Truckee. I have caught fish
on everything from PT nymphs to BWOs, Zug Bugs, Glo Bugs, even wire midges and Brassies.
The streamer action can be downright violent at times. Reading the conditions and understanding
the ecology of the river can be key to your success.
The key for me is to simply get my fly
to where the fish are. Since the river can move pretty fast at times, usually this means going deep.
I use a lot of heavily weighted patterns and long leaders. I also do very well casting directly upstream
into riffles and runs. Usually, I will lay the fly just to the fast edge of a seam. Trout will often
camp out in the slower water and ambush whatever drifts by. Since the fly's moving pretty fast, fish don't
have long to inspect it.
California:
California is the same and different. I fish in CA most of the time and pretty evenly split it up
between lakes and rivers. If you've never fished the Eastern Sierra, it is beautiful.
Fishing here takes place amid truly spectacular scenery and the catching
can be off the hook (well, on the hook, really).
The following is an overview of some of my favorite places to fish. There is quite a bit
of general information about most of these places on the web so I am going to try to be
very specific about exact spots by providing good descriptions and GPS coordinates when
possible. Basically, this whole site is just a journal of my personal fly fishing experience.
You may or may not agree with me about what's good or bad. I don't mind.
Boca Reservior: Well, Boca just hasn't been what it used to be. I still get out and fish it because I like it there.
It used to be great at the inlet of the Little Truckee. I would camp out in a float tube and hammer away at fish all day.
There are a couple of resident Bald Eagles there that are worth seeing, but the fishing hasn't been so hot the last
few years. Maybe 2006 will be better?
Stampede Reservior: Stampede's only on my list because it is a great place to take the boat and becuase in the
summer, it is a blast to catch bass on a fly rod by the dam. I am going to make a point of getting to Stampede more this year
to learn more about it.
Little Truckee River: This is my absolute favorite river in the area. I have caught more large, wild browns here than anywhere
else. I had my best early season there ever in 2005, but when the crowds got out of had, I headed elsewhere until fall.
Frenchman Reservior:
Davis Lake
Little Last Chance Creek
Truckee River
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