September 23, 2003
Well, this has been a crazy month! Went to the Fly Tackle Dealer Show in Denver and saw tons of equipement I can't live without. The fly tying products and all the different flies available were amazing. Thanks to the WASPI guys for the sample pack. I used some of the dubbing and have caught fish on the flies I made with it. Stopped at the Froghair products booth when it wasn't too busy to thank them for the products I used this summer. The leaders and tippet materials have been great. Check out the Rogue River Steelie that we landed on the 3x fluorocarbon tippet. Sorry Jeff, didn't have the hat on that day.

Speaking of steelhead, the first trip went well and we really got into the adult fish. We floated an area below Shady Cove that gave us some pretty good action. Quite a few hook-ups and great battles. Those fish are really fun!

The weather here in Truckee has been perfect for fishing. Cool nights and warm days. The water on the main Truckee has been lowered as is perfect for fly fishing. The water temp is good as well. Crowds are gone during the week and you can pretty much fish where you want. The reservoirs have been hit and miss but should be improving with the cooler weather here. It is great camping weather as well. Escape the heat in Sacramento and San Francisco and come up fishing.

High Country lakes and Streams***
Fishing is pretty good, with the water lower levels this time of year, the fish in streams will be concentrated in the deeper pools and runs. They will be spooky so a stealthy approach. The dry/dropper is a good technique to try right now. Have not fished at Milton or any of the lakes up there in quite a while but, with the cooler temps up here they should be good as well.

Area Reservoirs**
I had a stellar afternoon on Stampede last week but, others I talked with have not experienced the same success. The fish were working a callibeatis hatch and I picked up most of my fish stripping a size 14 gray birdsnest on an intermediate line. I saw fish working minnows as well and picked up a few on the green woolley bugger. Prosser and Boca have had intermittent hatches as well and the evening seems to be the best. Driving home the other night at Dusk the fish were working heavily on Boca.

Rivers****
The Main Truckee River is prime right now! I have spent most of my days here. From town to Stateline the fishing is excellent, the flows and temps are prefect. The Dry Fly action has been sporadic although there are small caddis and mayflies coming off mid-day. Nymphing has been the ticket. Buggy looking nymphs in the 14-18 range have been doing the best such as a Haresear, Birdsnest, and Turkey Beadhead. Bigger stones and October caddis pupa have also produced.

The Little Truckee River is fishing great as well. From mid-afternoon until dark there are hatches of caddis and mayflies. Both big and small. The fish seem to be switching back and forth between them, go small. Try E/C Caddis 18, Hemingway caddis 18-20, Bivisible 18-20, Adams 18-20, Griffiths Gnat 18-20 and BWO's 18-22. Nymphing with small mayflies and caddis during the slower times has been good. Watch the river slime and check your flies often.

See you on the River,

Brian