I have been fly-fishing for a long time, since I began when I was only 10-years-old. During this time, I have learned a few things that I have been able to pass along to my children and some of my friends. Some of these lessons were learned when I experienced some of the most frustrating days on the water.
One of the first things that I discovered as I became more accomplished in the sport, is that the fly was extremely important. Knowing this, it became obvious that it was important to match the size, the shape and the color of the insect that the fish were eating.
All anglers agree that the size and shape are the two most important elements in matching a hatching insect. Color is probably the least important of the three. Generally, if the size and shape are correct, the color does not need to be correct. If it is a light-colored insect, any light color shade will generally work. The same holds true for a dark insect.
That said, there are times when the fish will get more exacting about the color. I have experienced this on a number of occasions. Having flies that match every color spectrum is impossible. As a result, I carry a selection of marking pens in my vest.
I really cannot recall the first time that I was frustrated by rising fish that would not take any of my offerings. Even though I matched the size and shape and I was getting good presentations, the fished refused to eat my fly. I must have spent the whole afternoon working over the fish that were rising. After taking a closer look at the naturals, I found that they were more of a black color. I was using a dark green thinking that would be close enough. In most cases, this would have been fine.
I did not have anything in black, but I did find a black sharpie in my car at camp. That night, I put it in my vest in the hopes of having the same hatch the next day. The hatch the next day came off a little later in the day than the previous one, but I had gotten there earlier just to be ready. Once the fish began feeding on a regular basis, I waded out and gave my altered fly a try. It did not take long to see that I had the right combination.
Without the Sharpie, I would have not caught those fish. There are times, though rare, when the fish are key on a particular color. A selection of marking pens may be just the ticket on those occasions to allow you to more closely match the hatch coloration.
My most recent Sharpie experience was this past winter down on Hot Creek. I worked over fish for nearly an hour or more without getting results with the flies that typically worked well for me on that water. I really should have tried something different, but I was so convinced that the fish would eat the flies I was using, I stubbornly kept throwing them out there.
After finally observing an insect or two, I came to the conclusion that I needed to be smaller and the fly needed to be black. I tried the smaller fly without coloring it first. The fish ignored it. Then I colored the underside of one black with the Sharpie. Almost immediately, I was into my first fish. After the first one, they came pretty fast and furious.
Try carrying a few permanent markers with you and giving this a try if you are ever faced with a situation such as this. While it does not always work, I have been abundantly more successful than if I had not had these permanent markers with me.
FISHING REPORT
Boca | Inflow is at 215 cfs and the outflow is 195 cfs. Try powerbait or nightcrawlers. Throwing lures from shore also has been working. Fly fishers have been catching some fish near the inlet mostly nymphing.
Donner | Fishing has been good. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait seems to be the main bait. Mackinaw and Kokanee fishing has been fair. 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 is now at 215 cfs. This is a much more manageable flow for this water. Small flies are generally the rule on the Little Truckee. Baetis and PMD imitations are doing well. Try PMD and Baetis nymph imitations and midge patterns as trailers. Green Drakes should appear soon, as well. Keep an eye out for surface activity.
Martis Lake | Zero kill. Catch and Release only with barbless artificial lures or flies. Some small cutthroats and an occasional large brown are rainbow can still be caught here. Smallmouth bass have been introduced in this water. Try fishing here before mid June when the water typically warms up for trout.
Prosser | The lake is fishing fair to good. Powerbait and nightcrawlers are the best bait. Lure and fly-fishermen are taking some fish from shore and near the inlets.
Stampede | Fishing has been fair to good from shore. Kokanee fishing has been fair. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Fly fishermen have been doing well near the inlets with nymphs and streamers.
Truckee River | Flowing out of the lake at 306 cfs at Tahoe City. These flows have increases over the past week. The flow through Truckee is at 356 cfs as of June 17. Fish have been caught on nymphs, emergers, dries and streamers. The main hatches now are Caddis, PMD and Little Yellow Stones. Green Drakes are showing, as well. Nymphs and dries imitating these hatches have been the most productive. Streamers have also been productive.
Other Waters | Davis and Frenchman have been fair to good. Damselflies are now beginning to show is good numbers with the recent warm weather. Fish also are being caught on blood midge patterns and Callibaetis imitations.
