By Bruce Ajari
A fly-tying class. | Courtesy Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers
The Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers have been sponsoring a program called the Cliff Frazier Memorial Youth Fly Fishing Class since 2006. The class introduces a group of local kids to fly-fishing.
It was named after the late Cliff Frazier, a long-time member of the Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers and an individual that gave much of his time to help newcomers to the sport. Frazier would go out of his way to help people new to fly-fishing. He met many an angler on the water and as a result, many joined the club to become great members. As a result, the Youth Fly Fishing Class fittingly bears his name.
Two years ago, the San Francisco Fly Casting Club’s John Jones approached Dick Gander to offer their private facility on the Truckee River downstream of the Glenshire bridge. As Mike Brugh, chairman of the Youth Casting Program put it, “It was a no brainer to take them up on their offer.”
The San Francisco club had been looking for a way to provide some community outreach and this looked to be a perfect opportunity for them. The collaboration has been wonderful, according to everyone that has been involved.
Catching trout on the San Francisco Fly Caster’s water on the Truckee River.
| Courtesy Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers
The San Francisco club provides their facility, have provided lunch for both days of classes, and allow the kids to fish their private section of the Truckee River.
“They have been wonderful hosts and we look forward to our continued collaboration,” says Brugh.
The kids learn about tackle, knot tying, fly-casting, streamside entomology, trout, the primary quarry in our area, and stream ecology. Kids are also paired with an experience angler/guide and fish the waters.
The kids get a pretty thorough education that was obvious during the fishing portion of the class. All had a great time, and caught fish and released them.
The list of volunteers is lengthy. John Marcacci leads the fly-tying and casting sessions, Larry Donnenwirth leads the tackle session, and Jon Biaochi did a session on bugs. Key leadership for Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers are Gander and Brugh, and for Jones for the San Francisco Club.
Classes are through the Truckee Donner Recreation Department and are for kids in grades five through nine. For information on next year’s classes, check Youth Programs at tdrpd.com.
Congratulations to both clubs. This is a wonderful program to introduce youth to the sport of fly-fishing.
FISHING REPORT (troa.net)
Boca | Inflow is at 47 cfs and the outflow is 71 cfs. Fishing has been fair. 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. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait seem to be the main bait for shore anglers. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Fly-fishermen are catching some fish with streamers.
Lake Tahoe | 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 fishermen use inflated nightcrawlers.
Little Truckee River | The flow has been lowered to 47 cfs. While this is a fishable flow, I am suggesting that you give the fish a rest. It will be lowered to 15 cfs for habitat improvement work any time. With this being the only fishable stream around it will likely get too much pressure. Consider fishing in alternative waters.
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. With the warming water, the fishing here is slow. Try fishing it again in the fall.
Prosser | Fishing has been fair. Anglers using bait, lures and flies have all caught fish. Fly-fishermen have done well near the inlet areas. Bass fishing has been fair.
Stampede | Fishing has been fair. 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 for those getting out. Smallmouth bass fishing has been fair.
Truckee River | Not flowing out of the lake at Tahoe City. The flows through Truckee are at 9 cfs. The flow from Boca downstream to the state line is running between 94 and 104 cfs. Flows are too low for this river now. Please target alternative water and other species such as bass or carp.
Davis and Frenchman | Fishing has slowed. It will improve in about a few weeks when waters cool.
Bruce is a long-time area fly-fisherman and past president of Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to read more.
