Truckee Tahoe Fly Fishing Report, Early Spring April 2nd, 2026

The weather last week was very spring like. Now the weather this week is more winter like and more along the lines of what we should expect to see this time of year - a little rain, a little snow, and sun poking through. The last couple of days having been off and on rain, snow, and wind. At the house here we have recieved 1.79 inches of rain. That has caused an increase in flows on most of the rivers and creeks. Looking at the weather forecast it should be freezing at night for the next several days and warming up again. The rivers should start to fall back down over the next couple days. The one exception is the Litttle Truckee where they are dumping alot of water. It is over 700 cfs at the moment. On the positive side, we just got more water which we will need for flows later in the season. Yahoo!

For an alternative to the rivers, the local reservoirs are also kicking out some fish. Both trout and smallmouth have been caught at Prosser. Over at Boca there have been some nice trout landed, as well. I would suspect that the Kokanee are moving into the inlet too. If you're trying to catch a Kokanee on the fly, this next month is when you'll have have your best shot before they move to deeper water.

A couple of Safety Points for this tweener time of year

1) At these flows on both the Truckee and Little Truckee wading can be skechey. Use your staff, use good judgment, and take an alternative route if things look dicey. The fish aren't battling that current and neither should you.

2) It is early and we have just had a bunch of rain. The dirt and dirt roads around here are pretty soft and gooey, especially around the reservoirs. Stick to the pavement or rocky areas and park your vehicle further away and walk. You don't want to waste fishing time or money on the tow truck trying to get unstuck. The mud is no joke.

Truckee River Conditions

The Truckee is flowing at 485 cfs above town and down at Boca it is 1240 cfs. The water is a little off color but should clear in a day or so. The mid-afternoon temps have cooled a bit and are 44-46 degrees.

Truckee River Tactics

Truckee River Tactics for these flows would be Nymphing. It is going to be the most consistant method of getting your flies down to the fish and hooking them. The fish may be pushed closer to the edge or into slower areas. A second rod rigged with a dry/dropper set-up would be great in the shallows along the edges. Could be really good when there are overcast skies. Streamers are also a good choice. For bug there are Skwallas, March Browns, BWO's and Midges present.

Truckee River Suggested Flies

Truckee River suggested flies: Dry flies: Chubby Chernoble 6-12, Double Dutch 8-10, Royal Wulff 10-12, Parachute Adams 14-16, Purple Haze 14-16, Thorax Dun 14-16, Sparkle Flag 14-18, Griffiths Gnat 16-20, and Quigley Cripples 12-14. For nymphs: Haresear 12-16, Zebra Midge 16-18, Micro May 16-18, Rainbow Warrior 14-16, Pheasant Tail 12-16, Flashback PT 12-16, Perdigons 14-18, SJW, Copper Johns 12-18, Frenchie 12 -16, Rubber legs 6-14, Twenty Incher 8-14, and Princes 8-18. For streamers try Woolley Bugger 6, Sculpzilla 8, and Sparkle Minnow 6.

Truckee River Summary

The Truckee River is fishing pretty good for this early in the season. Air and water temps are warming fast each day. Layer up under the waders and layer down on top. Nymphing and dry/dropper techniques are getting it done. Enjoy it while you can.

What to improve your skills? I have set my clinic schedule for 2026 and now is a great time to sign up for a class or take a guided trip.  Click here for more information and to sign up for a class, or give me a call 530-386-0525.

Nymphing Clinic:  One Day May 30th, 2026

Women's Only Intro Clinic:  One Day June 27th, 2026

Trout Spey:  One July 19th, 2026

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Four Seasons Fly Fishing is the leading #Orvis endorsed guide service in the Truckee and Tahoe region. We specialize in #flyfishing walk/wade trips on local rivers and reservoirs, along with comprehensive fly fishing clinics catering to all skill levels.

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