Truckee: Fall in the Sierra

October 3-7, 2020

Made our way up to the Truckee for the fall.  Forest fires completely wrecked havoc throughout the state.  On multiple occasions the fires ruined our chances to visit and fish Yosemite.  With covid the park began restricting visitors to a certain number and required a reservation to enter.  I thought this an excellent opportunity to finally see the park without massive crowds.  This would never be though as every time we had a reservation the smoke was so heavy we wouldn't be able to see any of the landmark sites.  

 

This weekend we had reservation for the park but decided to forgo it as the haze was too great.  Instead on the way up we fished the upper for the morning before reaching Chul's timeshare in Truckee.  The next couple days we fished the main river and the Little Truckee.  None were fishing great.  I don't recall much from the trip and any fish caught were unmemorable.  

On the way south we'd camp near Bridgeport to check fall colors.  On the way home we'd decide whether or not to enter the park but since the haze hadn't let up we decided to fish McGee instead.  It seemed like all the fish in the system were dinks.  Micro dinks.  It was pathetic so we didn't stay long and went straight home.

Last Fishing Day: Pyramid

February 19, 2018

Ill prepared for Pyramid we spent the previous night scrambling.  We spent the night running from shop to shop gathering info, a step stool and tying material.  We spent much of the evening tying flies and luckily my buddy had a spare sinking line in his gear bag.  I swapped my 6 weight floating line with an outbound short 230 grain head.  The line was cracked and not in good condition but I had left my appropriate lines and rods at home thinking we wouldn't be fishing the lake.

Scene reminiscent of the end of Terminator

Woke up early and miscalculated the driving time.  We wanted to be set up just before sunrise.  We were going to miss that window.

It took us longer than we anticipated and when we got to the water we decided to try a beach we were told would be a good area for stripping streamers.  It was COLD.  I don't think I've ever been so cold.  With every strip of the flyline, frost would accumulate at your finger Which was a first for me.  With that of course your guides would also ice over.

Haven't never been there I had no clue of I was even far enough into the lake to be reaching the drop off.  I didn't want to go any further than where the handle of my step stool be submerged in water.  If that happened that would mean I'd have to put my hands in water to retrieve it which I did not want to do.  After a hour or so here at this beach it was time to hit the most productive part of the lake, Pelican Point.  It definitely was popular, it seemed all the anglers were here.  Fishermen from my left and right were getting on fish.  Of course they were properly rigged with heavy rods.  All I had was a 6 weight and some fives.  My fishing partner managed one in the 20 inch class while I was at the truck re-rigging my five weight with an indicator set up as I was watching everyone catching using this method.  This was pointless with this rod and eventually went back to the sinking line.

I had enough around lunch.  Without being properly outfitted and the fact it was beyond cold I was over it.  We moved toward town and spent the remaining day fishing the Truckee without any better luck.

Day Three: Decisions, Decisions

February 18, 2018

Serious winds blew all the emerging BWOs onto the banks.

Weather reports indicated a serious storm coming in with winds up to 29mph.  With such conditions, fly fishing was going to be next to impossible.   The debate was to hit up the river or the lake.  The lake fishes well in nasty conditions but, my thinking was with 29mph winds whats the point?  You won't be able to cast.  On top of that we didn't come prepared.  Wrong rod, lines, indicators, and no ladders.  Of course any decisions we made would likely be the wrong one.  We didn't bother setting the alarm and when we woke we took our time before heading into town to get some intel from sporting goods stores.

Scheel's, World's Largest Sporting Goods Store

We made our rounds to every shop we could think of: Sierra Trading Post, Sportsman's Warehouse, and Scheel's.  It was after lunch and we debating even bothering if we should even be fishing this day.  Perhaps this would simply be a recon trip of the river but after think about it if we were on the water we'd want to fish so he bought our Nevada licenses.  We got some info and decided to fish the river in hopes of finding some shelter from the wind.  I can say about the people in Reno, they are open with information unlike California where anglers, fly shops guard their fishing spots like its their daughter's virginity.   I guess with this many anglers it maybe wise.  Reno on the otherhand it seemed even random people overhearing us would give use such useful information including driving directions.  It was quite a shock to the system.

We fished the river but had no luck whatsoever.  The storm was making it way to us and hit us while fishing.  It was time to give up and call it a day.

We stopped by the Reno Fly Shop and Orvis to get info on any recent reports.  Of course they told us the Lake fished well this day.  We looked at each other and said that figures.  So we extended this trip one day to fish the Lake.  Again both shops were extremely helpful and generous with info.  We headed to Walmart to buy a couple step stools and headed home.  After a quick meal at In 'N' Out we tied a few flies with material bought at both shops.

Day Two: California Side

February 17, 2018

We decided to fish the California side on the first day.  It was cold and weather was starting to come in.  After taking the scenic route around Lake Tahoe, we headed to Ace Hardware for some intel and for my buddy to buy his fishing license.  It would not be not long before we were heading to the water.  There we would be met with rising fish.  Hampered by a slight breeze causing difficult casts and drifts, we were unable to entice any fish to take our offerings in the slow featureless water.

At around noon we headed back to the truck for lunch.  After which we rerigged with nymphs and tried our luck upstream towards more turbulent waters.  First to hook up was my buddy with fish in the 18-20 inch class but lost him at the hands while he was fumbling to get his net.  In no time I was hooked up as well but with a much smaller fish.  I would lose another one as well that was similar in size.  After fishing several hours with no fish we moved onto another section.  With light falling fast I managed my second fish of the day, a mountain whitefish, before calling it for the day.

Truckee Trip Day One: Travel Day

February 16, 2018

This Truckee trip has been booked for a few months now.  As we counted down to start of our trip we anxiously tied flies and kept up on fishing reports.  Springlike conditions were the norm and reports of skwala hatches were becoming commonplace.  We began filling our fly boxes with appropriate imitations.  As time approached the weather changed and a storm was coming in.

First day was for the most part a travel day.  We did manage a quick session on the Owens just before we ran out of light.  It was more of a casting sessions than a fishing outing.  I was able to try out my new Orvis Superfine Carbon 8 foot 4 weight.  Once we ran out of light we were back on the road towards Reno.

We made it to our timeshare in Genoa and after unpacking and settling down I whipped up a simple steak salad for dinner before heading to bed.