Spring conditions continue to improve on the Truckee River. Flows have remained favorable and fish are beginning to transition from winter holding lies into softer feeding seams, tailouts, and walking-speed water. Midday continues to offer the most productive window as water temperatures rise.

Subsurface fishing has been very consistent, particularly with smaller mayfly nymphs, midge patterns and larger attractor bugs mixed in. Dry fly anglers are beginning to see stronger windows on cloudy afternoons, especially when Blue Winged Olives get moving.

Current Hatch Activity

• Blue Winged Olives: Strong afternoon activity.
• Midges: Consistent daily food source.
• Skwala Stoneflies: Still in play, especially lower river.
• March Browns: Beginning to show.
• Caddis: Sporadic but worth watching.

Flows remain favorable for both walk-and-wade and float fishing. Spring fluctuations may occur with weather or reservoir management, but current levels have created plenty of soft holding water and fishable edges.

Water temperatures are climbing but remain ideal for trout activity. As always, Farad, Reno and Vista gauges are excellent references for both flow trends and float planning.

• Soft inside seams off main current
• Walking-speed riffle transitions
• Pocket water around structure
• Tailouts with active bug life

Follow the bugs, not just the clock: During April, midday is often best, but overcast afternoons can produce some of the strongest dry fly windows of the spring.

As we move toward May, expect stronger bug activity, improving dry fly opportunities, and the start of some excellent float fishing windows. This is often the lead-in to some of the year’s best all-around fishing.