Fall Fishing on the truckee river
The changing of the seasons and the fly fishing opportunities those changes bring.
Cool Temperatures
As the heat of summer fades the cooler temperatures of fall move in. Here in the Reno area the fall is an excellent time of year, the weather is usually sunny and day time air temps are anywhere from 60-80 degrees with night time temps cooling off to 30-50 degrees. This drop in temp also cools the water in the Truckee river.
The Fish
The star of fall fly fishing is, without a doubt, the brown trout. as September gives way to October and into November brown trout begin to enter their spawn. They take on a new look with a change in their color to deeper more vibrant shades of red and orange. Males take on an hook shaped lower jaw referred to as a kype.
The brown trout become more aggressive with other fish as they move into areas ideal for spawning. They become much more willing to grab a streamer when presented correctly.
The Redds
When trout of all kind go to spawn they seek areas of a consistent size and shape gravel to lay their eggs. The eggs require a specific mix of gravel size, oxygen and current flow to mature properly. They are few areas that meet this requirement on the Truckee River and the lack of spawning grounds is a theory as to why population densities are lower than a lot of other western rivers.
Redds can be thought of like the fishes nest where they lay their eggs. The trout will turn their body sideways and slap their tail against the bottom of the river. this action moves gravel aside and creates a divot in the stream-bed. This process also exposes gravel thats free of any moss of algae, as a result the redd appears to be cleaner and brighter than the surrounding water. Redds tend to be in more shallow areas of the river.
Do Not Fish Or Wade in the Redds!
When you see trout paired up and sitting over a redd, they are actively spawning. Leave them alone! You wouldn’t want to catch a hook to the face while you’re spawning either. Focus your efforts elsewhere. It’s is however, perfectly ok to watch this process take place. It’s pretty amazing to witness and as long as you can restrain your self from casting it’s all good.
Keep in mind where you wade when you are moving through the river. Wading right through a redd can cause serious damage to hundreds of eggs at a time. Remember these redds hold the next generation of fish and as anglers we need to do our best to ensure our river population stays healthy.
Where to Fish?
Look for the deeper holes and faster moving water around the river. These areas will hold fish that are staging to spawn and others there to eat the eggs that are drifting downstream. These guys are fair game.
What to Fish With?
Fall fishing tactics can vary in form, from streamers to egg patterns there’s many different ways to rig and fish.
Streamer Fishing
Streamer fishing on the Truckee River can be a great way to target large brown trout. We mostly use Olive, Black, White and Grey streamers.
Egg Patterns
Egg Patterns are an effective “fly” to fish with during the fall. many eggs get washed off the redds and end up in the current.
Blue Winged Olive (BWO)
The BWO mayfly is a common aquatic insect during the fall and winter months. Trout typically key into this fly and will even rise to the surface for it. It’s one of the few dry fly patterns that consistently work on the Truckee River during the colder months.
Fishing Opportunities
Float Trips
We offer float trips on the Truckee River depending on river flows. We usually target the lower section of the river, east of Reno during this time of year. It’s a great way to move through lots of spots and present streamers.
Walk and Wade
We offer walk and wade trips throughout the year on the Truckee River. Being on foot can allow us to access sections of the river that are too low to navigate a boat through and can create an opportunity for some great fishing.
Get your Trip Booked Today
Reach out via text, call, email or book online.
This blog post was written by:
Dave Harvey
760 937 2234
Owner and Guide at Current Fly Fishing.
