Much has been written about the big bugs of the early season. One of the first that typically appear is the carpenter ant (camponotus). These are the large ants that appear as winged adults often reaching an inch in length that fly in the spring by the thousands.
They seem to fly during the first 80-degree Fahrenheit day in the Tahoe Sierra. It was 78 degrees F and there was a winged adult on our deck recently. But, this has been a cool spring and as a result, not many have appeared yet.
While the main event of ants flying usually only lasts a couple of days, fish will continue to look for these insects for quite awhile. They seem to key in on them and will move quite a ways to take one presented on the surface.
This year because of the high water, anglers should look to present this fly as a drowned ant. You will be much more successful using this technique than trying to entice one up to the surface.
Fishing ants wet is no different from nymph fishing. Ants are poor swimmers and will sink into the water column and will be readily eaten by hungry fish. For some reason, ants in any form, large or small, seem to entice trout. Some experts liken them to candy for fish.
Ants are also present in just about any water from spring creeks, big rivers, small creeks and still water. As a result, one should have ant imitations that cover the size range and color of any ants available in the waters that you fish.
Getting back to the carpenter ants, once you see them in flight, prepare to get yourself on the water as soon as you can. It may take a day or two for the fish to lock into them, but once they do, the fishing can be outstanding.
Are winged adult imitations necessary to match the hatch? Normally if you have an ant imitation of the proper size, fish will eat your offering readily. However, they have been known to be selective at times. We always carry a few winged imitations, but our go-to pattern is wingless.
While this year is certainly no normal year, the cycle of insects hatching will continue to go on. As with any cycle, it can be earlier or later in the season because of conditions. This year, the high water and cooler spring have pushed the carpenter ant hatch back. Make no mistake, it will occur and when it does the fish will react accordingly.
However, do not neglect the smaller ants during the rest of the year. While carpenter ants get lots of attention due to their size, smaller ants can catch large fish, as well. We have caught large trout in the fall on a tiny size #20 cinnamon ant imitation and #22 ants in spring creeks.
FISHING REPORT
Boca Reservoir | The road over the dam is closed until further notice. 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 fair. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait seem to be the main bait. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Fly-fishers are catching some fish with streamers.
Lake Tahoe | (All tributaries are closed to all fishing until July 1.) 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 anglers use inflated nightcrawlers.
Little Truckee River | The flows have come down again. Fishing at this level can be productive. Nymphing is your best bet at these flows. Hatches are similar to the main Truckee.
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. Smallmouth bass are a part of the fishery here.
Prosser Reservoir | Fishing has been fair. 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 | The road is closed over the dam for construction and will remain so this season and next. Access to the boat ramp will be through the Hobart Mills side. Fishing has been fair from shore. Nightcrawlers, Powerbait and lures have all produced from shore. Fly-fishers have been doing well near the inlets with nymphs and streamers. Kokanee fishing has been fair to good. Smallmouth bass fishing has been fair.
Truckee River | The flow out of the dam in Tahoe City is at 1,020 cfs. The flows through Truckee are at 3,260 cfs. We have not seen flows like this in sometime. Fishing has been good for those working hard. Most anglers are using San Juan worms, egg patterns and large stonefly imitations. Baetis, March Brown, Caddis imitations and streamers are also good this time of year. This is water is special regulation, artificial only with barbless hook. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged, but an angler may keep two fish with a minimum size of 14 inches during the regular trout season.
Davis and Frenchman lakes | Both are both full and spilling. Boat, shore and fly anglers are catching fish. Reports from Davis are only fair. Blood midge, Callibaetis and small midges are the main insects to imitate subsurface. Frenchman fishing has been fair.
