Trucke....in Spring!

Bigfly

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GPTempDow[1] by James Landis, on Flickr

The Spring melt has happened I think......crested at 3000cfs....but it could rain and repeat.
It's still big water @1800cfs but clearing and fishing pretty well.
Bring your longer rod for best results.
BWO's, March Browns, and streamers being served........
It is a fine time to be in the mountains!!

Jim
 

Bigfly

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The Brown pictured is what I call upper "Bernie class" or B sized, say 26-27". There are bigger Browns lurking here. Walter class goes up to 31" or so.....
He liked a streamer!
A custom quarter pounder Skulpin. They don't sell streamers heavy enough in the stores for the spring flows.......

Jim
 

Bigfly

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IMG_20190428_111623_621[1] by James Landis, on Flickr

Shawn makes 3 drifts for a personal best bow. I'd rather have a drift than a cast...........

River is up a bit 2040cfs and steady.....
Fish are about as happy as can be. Bigger fish are moving now. It will get tough soon enough.
Mostly early right now, and some fishing as the shadows get longer. It's not summer yet, but it is rapidly looking like it.
Still an occasional Skwalla....but almost done, after the longest emergence I've seen, Jan 28-Apl 29.
BWOs with a cloud passing over.....
March Browns are on deck, and on the wing.
Flying Carpenter ants are about to appear, tie or buy time......
Streamers are getting popular with fish.
It's time to fish! Get out there!

Jim

20190502_115002 by James Landis, on Flickr

They're up!
 
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satyr

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Add a bit of dun or grizzly parachute under that wing and I would like it even better. And it would float longer.
 

Bigfly

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Who says I float it...?
And these are Norcal ants....no tutu's needed.
 
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Bigfly

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Add a bit of dun or grizzly parachute under that wing and I would like it even better. And it would float longer.
One thing I've learned about most fishers, is they like to see the eat.
I would rather catch 2x as many fish subsurface.....and bigger ones...seriously pressured fish don't like eating out, they like the pizza/fly delivered.
To me, I'd have to be romantically atrophied to only fish a dry, as a dry.
It's widely known that flies in stores are tied for fishermen, not fish.
I tie for fish....do you see any hackle on the Ant?
And, ants don't float well. I might even fish it 5ft down.....
Been tying it for 30 years without hackle....it's a GUIDE FLY....3 steps....but thanks for the critique.
Maybe tie/try it before you dis it. They are flying now if you want to come up and fish it head to head with the store bought.

Jim
 
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Bigfly

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Last time I was up there I spent all my money at the Casino in Reno .
The only gambling I do now, is while rowing. Or fishing high flows with a 3wt. There is a fine line between fun and foolishness.
The casinos have had my donations....
I can say, as an adrenaline junkie I like rowing more.

Jim
 

fatbillybob

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A custom quarter pounder Skulpin. They don't sell streamers heavy enough in the stores for the spring flows.......

Jim
I was quite impressed with the flyfishing section at the Ace in Truckee. What a great hardware store. I have seen nothing like it.
 

Bigfly

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I was quite impressed with the flyfishing section at the Ace in Truckee. What a great hardware store. I have seen nothing like it.
We call it the jewelry store.....for second home owners....
But, it's all we've got.
Could use a real shop but the Truckee isn't famous enough....which is good.

Jim
 

Bigfly

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Flows are in a saw tooth pattern right now. Lowest at dawn and then rising as snow melts in the sun. Speaking of sun.....it went sunny about four days ago. I miss the clouds of spring. It just got harder........
The flows in town are about 1400cfs, and clear green/blue. Temps are in the upper 40s.
The river dropped 700cfs this last week. A couple inches a day.
The Flying Carpenter ants are done. March Browns are dwindling.....
We await the Green Drakes!
Some Caddis are out and about finally. The Little Glossisoma, and a mid-sized as well.
Happened to see both a big Golden Stone yesterday as well as the little stones too, so we got that going for us.
Starting to see a few risers, but not often enough to sit and wait for them........fish emergers for best results.
But carry a dry rod rigged in case you see a nose.....
They will move to a streamer now, if properly presented. sinking poly leaders on a Skagit will do.....7ips is what I like.
Think Sculpin....
There has been a spike of floggers on the water......makes it harder to find a fish that will eat, because they know we are after them! Bring more game is my attitude.
1. Don't wear a white hat first of all....it gets there first. Dark clothes are suggested. The first thing I see from 200 yards away is your hat. So from 20 ft they can definitely see you. The classic light colored vest gets there second.....
2. Don't just walk up to the water with your rod tip sticking out over the water either. Maybe hide behind a rock or bush.
The fish are very close until you bumble by them.
3. Don't false cast. Water-load or roll cast is best.
4. Make the best drift in your life EVERYTIME. Get your elbow up above your ear to achieve this. Don't move the bobber mending in mid-drift!!!!!!!!!!! This is the way they shop for dinner here, waiting for the un-natural movement, and then decline if it does.
6. Don't fish like the other guy!!!!! Because he isn't catching. He got up late and stalks at high noon, he only fishes one style (the only style he knows), probably has no clue on the menu (and just fishes his lucky fly.)

I'm not bagging on people, I'm relating how I see many fishers shoot them selves in the foot when out fishing.
Been working on my Doctorate on the UNIVERSAL fisher.....And, I am the president of the association.... having spent the last 30 years studying how a fisher can diminish their chances before making a cast. I study the good fishers too....the difference is clear, in the final fish score.
Since the fish are hip to the usual approach, if you do more than go through the motions, you will enjoy the outcome more.
I fished poorly when I arrived on the Truckee 30 years ago, by raising my game, fish will now almost come when called!
This is what I teach everyday....how to refine our fundamentals until you can whisper to them..
A bigger stick is recommended to cover water. You will be penalized by a 9ft 5wt.
We are using 3-4 AAA shot and a 15ft leader in these flows.
Remember to run if you hookup....you won't be able to "winch" them back to you in these flows......
Yesterday was my official start of summer.....I wet-waded for the first time this year. (To my knees only...)
All in all, it's time to fish......but then, it's always time to fish.

Jim
 
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