Last year at this time, we were talking about the dire consequences of several years of below-average winters. The Truckee River between Tahoe City and River Ranch had little water in it due to Lake Tahoe being below its rim.
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“Recent reports up and down the Truckee River from Truckee into Nevada by local guides indicate that our Truckee River Rainbow and Brown Trout are resilient.”
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Now, after a near-normal year and a fairly moist spring, Lake Tahoe is above its natural rim and is expected to stay there and to keep water flowing into the river all season.
While we are by no means out of the woods when it comes to the drought, our local fisheries seemed to have dodged a bullet. While aquatic invertebrates and fish will be fewer in numbers during the coming year, there has been enough survival to be optimistic about the future if we continue to get decent winters.
Recent reports up and down the Truckee River from Truckee into Nevada by local guides indicate that our Truckee River Rainbow and Brown Trout are resilient. While not a lot of fish are being caught, the number and size of the fish are encouraging considering the past season.
Now that flows are up, fish will move up into previously inhospitable waters. An early season walk made us smile. Water that was so low last season now had great flows in them once again. On a more recent walk, just rolling a few rocks along the edge of the river, we found good numbers of caddis and mayflies.
After previous drought, hatches came back fairly quickly. The fish took a little longer, but should recover nicely by the third year. Mother Nature has a way of healing herself and, given time, the Truckee River will be as good as ever.
Our reservoirs are also looking good. Stampede is slowly coming up, but only, as of this writing, at 46 percent. Boca and Prosser are at 64 and 49 percent of capacity. All lakes are still filling, too. Check local water levels by visiting troa.net.
Now, as long as we have some good winters in the future, water levels will continue to remain good and our local fisheries will once again be great places to visit. Get out there and wet a line.
FISHING REPORT
Boca Reservoir | Inflow is at 96 cfs and the outflow is 95 cfs. Powerbait, nightcrawlers and lures are all working. Fly-fishers have been catching some fish near the inlet with nymphs, streamers and dries.
Donner Lake | Fishing has been fair to good. Kokanee fishing has been good although the fish are small. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait seem to be the main baits. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Fly-fishers are catching some fish with streamers.
Lake Tahoe | All tributaries are open to fishing July 1-Sept. 30 only. Fishing has been fair to good for mackinaw. A guide is highly recommended if you are fishing for mackinaw for the first time. Toplining and shore fishing is fair. Most shore fishers use inflated nightcrawlers.
Little Truckee River| The flow is at 96 cfs. Be prepared to share the water with a lot of anglers. The LT has been busy so far this season. While the flow is still low, fishing should be good. Think small flies and long leaders on this water. Hatches similar to the main Truckee River.
Martis Lake| Zero kill. Catch and release only with barbless artificial lures or flies. Fishing is the best early in the season and again the fall. There are still a few nice fish in this lake that has severely declined. It was once a premier fishery, but no longer has that status. Warming temperatures and invasive species, such as the Eurasian Milfoil have doomed the once productive fishery. Small-mouth bass are now also part of the fishery, as well.
Prosser Reservoir | Fishing has been fair to good. Anglers using bait, lures and flies have all caught fish. Fly-fishers have done well near the inlet areas. Bass fishing has been fair.
Stampede Reservoir | Fishing has been fair to good from shore. The ramp is just getting enough water to launch larger boats now. Nightcrawlers, Powerbait and lures have all produced from shore. Fly-fishers have been doing well near the inlets with nymphs and streamers. The Kokanee fishing has been fair to good for those getting out. Small-mouth bass fishing has been fair.
Truckee River | Not flowing out of the lake at Tahoe City. Fishing has been fairly good. Baetis, March Brown, Caddis imitations and streamers are your best bet. This is special regulation artificial only with barbless hook water. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged in this section, but an angler may keep two fish with a minimum size of 14 inches during the regular trout season from the last Saturday in April to Nov. 15.
Other waters | Davis and Frenchman lakes are in full swing. Boat, shore and fly anglers are catching fish. Reports from Davis are only fair. Blood midge and Callibaetis are the main insects presently. Frenchman fishing has been good. Try the same hatches as in Davis.
