Truckee Tahoe Fly Fishing Report November 17th, 2025
- 4seaslusser
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Change is in the air for this report. I will focus on the Truckee and Little Truckee Rivers. After a stellar fall fishing season we are moving into winter. Last week's storm gave us almost 2 inches of water at my house on Thrusday. And another storm is forcast for early this week. Get your cold weather gear together. Fat socks, hat, and gloves are going to be a must moving forward. The flows on the Truckee are up with the storm and they are dumping Donner Lake as well. Totally fishable flows but the lower water temps are going to slow down the fish some. Meanwhile, over on the Little Truckee the flows spiked briefly but not enough to affect the fishing out there. Moving forward expect to fish low and slow with smaller bugs. Fish the heat of the day to catch the most active fish. Probably will see some dropoff in dryfly action with the cooler temps as well. Until it really snows access is still good.
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Truckee River Conditions
Truckee River flows are currently 76 cubic feet a second out of Lake Tahoe, 219 cubic feet per second above town, and below Boca inflow they are 560 cubic feet per second. Flows could spike again with the next storm. Water temps are 46-48 degrees mid-day.
Truckee River Techniques
Truckee River Techniques moving into winter. Nymphing is going to be the most productive throughout the system. And there is still plenty of water for streamers to pick up a few as well. From TC to Truckee a dry/dropper rig would be a good choice for the lower flows in that zone.
Truckee River Suggested Flies
Truckee River suggested flies: Dry flies: Parachute Adams 16-22, Purple Haze 14-20, Thorax Dun 16-20, Sparkle Flag 16-18, Chubby Chernoble 6-12, Double Dutch 8-10, Quigley Cripples 16-22, and RS-2 16-20. For nymphs: Haresear 12-16, Micro May 16-22, Rainbow Warrior 16-22, Pheasant Tail 16-22, Flashback PT 16-22, Perdigons 14-18, SJW, Copper Johns 16-20, Frenchie 12 -16, Rubber legs 6-14, Twenty Incher 8-14, Tim's Dead Drift Cray, and Princes 8-18. For streamers try Woolley Bugger 6, Sculpzilla 8, and Sparkle Minnow 6.
Truckee River Summary
It is Transition time on the Truckee as we are moving into more winter like conditions. Get your cold weather gear out and watch the weather for the next week or so. Switch to fishing smaller flies, fish low and slow, and fish the heat of the day.
Little Truckee River Conditions
The Little Truckee flows are currently 47cfs. Water temps are good and the clarity is good.
Little Truckee River Techniques
Little Truckee River, like the Truckee, is in transition as well. I might suggest giving this one a break for a while. The Browns may still be spawning but the Kokanee are done. Nymphing will be the technique of choice between the hatches. Overcast days will bring out the bugs but could be short lived.
Little Truckee River Suggested Flies
Suggested Flies for the Little Truckee: Dries: Parachute Adams 16-22, Elk Hair Caddis 16-18, E/C Caddis 16-18, Flim Critic 16-18, Thorax Dun 16-22, Hackle Stacker 16-20, Flim Critic 16-20, Emergers 16-22, RS2 18- 22, Griffiths Gnat 18-22, Soft Hackles 16-18, and Compara Dun 18-22. For nymphs: Haresear 18-20, HBI 18-20, Brassie 16-20, AP nymph 16-18, Micro May 16-20, WD-40 16-22, Rainbow Warrior 16-22, Two-bit Hooker 18-22, Barrs emerger 16-18, Pheasant Tail 16-20, Flashback PT 16-20, Juju Beatis 18-20, Perdigons 18-20, SJW, Copper Johns 16-20, Zebra Midge 16-22, and Princes 16-18.
Little Truckee River Summary
The Little Truckee River has alot of fish in it due to the Kokanee and Browns starting to spawn. The overcast skies have helped with some nice BWO hatches and the fish are looking up. Still not an easy fishery, but worth a shot.
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