The flows on the Little Truckee continued to come up from last week, and are sitting at around 350-375 CFS as of today. These flows certainly change how one should approach the river in terms of presentation, fly selection, tippet diameter, and the weight used. Odds are you won’t see that great of dry fly fishing out here this week, except maybe just a couple of key runs. Your best bet would be using an indicator or euro rod and making sure you’re using ample weight to get those flies down.

With these flows, the fish will become a bit more spread out, and those runs that you normally pass up may very well be the ones that are stacked with fish. Being able to read water and identify good habitats will be important. Focus on deep runs, slower water, breaks in current and undercuts. These are all locations with high odds on the LT right now. You can also upsize your flies and tippet, using worms, eggs, and just flashier and buggy-er flies may get you on more fish. Don’t forget that this is still the Little Truckee, if in doubt, go small and use light tippet, but be ready if you hook a good one on a size 20 on 6x, you’ll be in for a ride. Another fun way to fish here right now would be to throw streamers. Don’t believe us? Give it a try and see for yourself!

Please be aware that the rainbows are actively spawning right now, and the spawning fish should be left alone, free of any interaction or harassment. By giving these fish their space during this time, you are ensuring future generations of wild trout in this special piece of water for all to enjoy and appreciate. As always, if you have any questions about how to identify a trout’s redd or the best practices for fishing around spawning fish, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We always appreciate the willingness to learn!