By Bruce Ajari ·
Damage caused by Hurricane Odile ·
Editor’s Note: Part I may be found at TheTahoeWeekly.com.
The winds gradually increased through Sunday evening. We were looking at winds of around 56 mph. We turned in for the night when the power went out around 8:30 p.m.
At 1:30 a.m. Monday, we awoke to a deafening roar. The wind was howling and the storm windows were banging loudly. It was a sound like nothing I had heard before and one that I will certainly never forget. Depending on whom you talked to, the winds that hit us were around 115 to 125 mph.
The next morning after Odile had passed and the winds were down in the 40 mph range we began the process of cleaning up the rental house. Several of the windows and the front door had leaked and we had a fair amount of water inside.
We had a back-up generator, but there was no gasoline. So we found ourselves without power, water and no communication with the outside world.
Later that morning, one of our party took a hike to take a look at the road going to town. He came walking back a while later with the caretaker and his daughter who had waded through a raging Arroyo to bring us gas.
Our house and those around us appeared to have sustained pretty minimal damage compared to Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo.
FISHING REPORT
(See Sightseeing for water levels)
Boca | Inflow is at 64 cfs and the outflow is 16 cfs. Powerbait, nightcrawlers and lures are all working. Fly-fishers have been catching some fish near the inlet with nymphs, streamers and dries.
Donner | Fishing has been fair to good. Kokanee fishing has been good although the fish are small. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait are the main bait. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Fly-fishermen are catching some fish with streamers.
Lake Tahoe | Fishing in tributaries from July 1 to Sept. 30 only. Fishing has been fair to good for mackinaw. A guide is recommended if you are fishing for mackinaw for the first time. Toplining and shore fishing is fair. Most shore fishermen use inflated nightcrawlers.
Little Truckee River | The flow is at 64 cfs. The LT is running low for this time of year. Think small flies and long leaders on this water. Hatches 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 the fall. There are still a few nice fish in this lake that has severely declined. Smallmouth bass are also part of the fishery.
Prosser | Fishing has been fair to good. Anglers using bait, lures and flies have all caught fish. Fly-fishermen have done well near the inlet areas. Bass fishing has been slow.
Stampede | Fishing has been fair to good from shore. The ramp is not usable for larger boats. Nightcrawlers, Powerbait and lures have all produced from shore. Fly-fishermen have been doing well near the inlets with nymphs and streamers. The Kokanee fishing has been fair to good. Smallmouth bass fishing has been fair.
Truckee River | Not flowing out of the lake at Tahoe City. The flows through Truckee are at 45 cfs and at 106 cfs at Boca. The fish are stressed in both sections, so give them a break and leave them alone. This is special regulation, artificial only with barbless hook water. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged, but an angler may keep two fish with a minimum size of 14” during trout season (last Saturday in April to Nov. 15). Hatches coming off include Baetis, March Browns PMDs, caddis and midges. Green Drakes should be popping with some regularity. Keep in mind everything hatching will be early this season, so look for other bugs such as caddis. Streamers are also good.
Other Waters | Davis and Frenchman are now in full swing. Boat, shore and fly-anglers are catching a fish. The damsel migration is now in full swing and Hexagenia Mayflies are showing at Davis. Get there now.
Bruce is a long-time area fly-fisherman and past president of Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to read more.
