Truckee Tahoe Fly Fishing Report Summer August 6, 2026.
- 4seaslusser
- Aug 6
- 4 min read
We are in the "dog days" of summer up here in the Truckee-Tahoe Area. The weather is warm for us but we have had cool over night low temps. This combined with the days getting shorter is keeping the Truckee in good fishing condition for the first half of the day. Depending on where your at the upper two sections are getting too warm by noon. That would be Tahoe City to Donner Creek and Donner Creek down to the Boca inflow. Down Below Boca the temps are good til about 4pm. The Truckee River has good flows for this time of the year. Out on the Little Truckee the flows have been dropped to a more seasonal flow level. And the temps have been good for all-day fishing on the LT.
Out on both rivers the fish are looking up to well presented flies. There is a noticable Midge hatch each morning with some random Caddis, BWO's, and Trico's flying about. The Dry Fly Fishing has been good but noticing more refusals. Might be time to drop the tippet size. The bugs are also getting smaller with the exception of the large Stone Flies that are coming off at night. I have had some good anglers lately and we have tried a bunch of different nymphing techniques and keep coming back to the dries. The top water has been really fun.
Like I mentioned in the last report follow your thermometer to find the cooler water. Here is a link to the "Hoot Owl" guide. Give the fish a break in this warmer time of the summer.
Truckee River Conditions
Truckee River is flowing at 318 cubic feet a second above Truckee and 456 cubic feet a second at Boca Bridge. The water temps during the last few days have been 67-68 degrees by noon above Boca inflow. Below Boca inflow it is a bit cooler with 67 degrees at around 4pm. The morning temps are good and vary by section so use your thermometer. River water clairtiy is good.
Truckee River Tactics
Truckee River tactics for these conditions, like I mentioned before is to follow the thermometer and fish the cooler water and time of day. The fish have pushed into the pocket water for some thermal relief. The dry fly fishing continues to be great with the fish looking up even with nothing going on. Dry/dropper rigs are also a solid choice. It maybe time to drop tippet and bug size. Nymphing has slowed a bit. For the streamer enthusiasts get out early.
Truckee River Suggested Flies
Truckee River suggested flies: Dry flies: Chubby Chernoble 6-12, Double Dutch 8-10, Royal Wulff 10-12, Ants 14-16, Parachute Adams 14-16, Purple Haze 14-16, Thorax Dun 14-16, Sparkle Flag 14-18, Elk Hair Caddis 14-16, Spent Caddis 14-16, E/C Caddis14-16, Little Yellow Stone 14-16, Missing Link 14-16, Rusty Spinners 14-16, and Quigley Cripples 12-14. For nymphs: Haresear 12-16, Burks bottom roller 12-16, Deep Sparkle Pupa 14, Z-Wing Caddis 14, Micro May 16-18, Rainbow Warrior 14-16, Pheasant Tail 12-16, Flashback PT 12-16, Perdigons 14-18, My Gal Sal 14-16, SJW, Copper Johns 12-18, Frenchie 12 -16, Rubber legs 6-14, Twenty Incher 8-14, and Princes 8-18. For streamers try Muddler Minnow 6, Woolley Bugger 6, Sculpzilla 8, and Sparkle Minnow 6.
Truckee River Summary
The Truckee River is fishing great but is getting warm in the upper streches by noon. Lower down below Boca is hanging in til apout 4pm. Mornings are the best now and until the next weather change. The follow your thermometer.
Little Truckee River Conditions
The Little Truckee flows have been lowered 47cfs. It is best to check the flows before heading out there. Water temps were 54-56 degrees mid-day. Clarity is good.
Little Truckee River Techniques
Little Truckee River technique is dry flies. PMD's, BWO's, Midges, and some Caddis are available. The bugs are getting smaller and dropping tippet size here now that the flows have dropped will help the success rate. The fish are getting picky but will take a well presented dry even in between hatches. In the deeper holes and runs try dry/droppers or nymphing. There are alot .of anglers out there so give each other some space.
Little Truckee River Suggested Flies
Suggested Flies for the LT are PMD's, BWO's, Midges and Caddis. For Dries: Parachute Adams 14-22, Elk Hair Caddis 16-18, E/C Caddis 16/18, Quigley Cripple 16-18, Thorax Dun 18-20, Hackle Stacker 16-20, Melon Quill 14-16, Flim Critic 16-18, Emergers 16-20, RS2 18- 20, Griffiths Gnat 18-20, Soft Hackles 14-16, and Compara Dun 16-18. For nymphs: Haresear 14-18, HBI 16-18, Brassie 16-20, AP nymph 14-16, Micro May 16-20, Rainbow Warrior 16-20, Barrs emerger 14-18, Pheasant Tail 14-20, Flashback PT 14-20, Juju Beatis 16-18, Perdigons 16-18, SJW, Copper Johns 16-18, Zebra Midge 16-20, and Princes 16-18.
Little Truckee River Summary
The Little Truckee River flow was recently dropped . The fish are looking up to well presented flies such as PMD's, BWO's, and Caddis. Try downsizing your bugs and tippet for the lower flows. Good Luck.
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