What Happened to La Nina?

If you live anywhere in California then you know how crazy the weather has been this last week. The weather people say La Nina is suppose to leave the Southwest dry and bring the moisture above Ca and into the Pacific Northwest. I guess they where wrong. Since last week we have been getting pounded by very strong Pacific storms, bringing up to 10 feet of snow on the summit. The Truckee River rose to about 1,400 cubes near Hirschdale during the storms. The river has dropped and cleared some since last week, though high for this time of year, it is fishable. Today, I thought I'd hit up some runs down from my house (mostly to get away from the wife baking cookies). The river actually fished well, not what I expected at all. Since most of the storms where warm, most of the lower river is easily accessible. I fished two runs and hooked several nice browns, all on my beatis nymph #18. This brown acted more like a summertime fish, making a few long hard runs. Not bad for December.

The Silver State.

I spent a little time down on the Nevada side of the Truckee River today. I really haven't been focusing on fishing lately, more on fly tying, locking myself to the fly tying table for hours on end. It's hard not to want to go fish though with the recent mild weather we've been experiencing. The river was pretty high last week with the rain, I didn't miss out on anything. This time of year the river always fishes better on the Nevada side. Water temps can be 5-10 degrees warmer than the river on the California side. Good nymphs are worms, small baetis patterns, zebra midges, and winter stones. I often fish big golden stones, and dead drift streamers in winter as well. Sometimes the fish like a big meal floating by. There is a winter storm warning out this week and it looks as if we are in for some nasty weather again, but that's what the fish need, lot's of snow.

Nevada 2011.

It's official, I just received my Nevada Master Guides License in the mail today. It has always been a goal of mine to be able to guide the Nevada side of the Truckee River. I've spent a lot of time down there probing the waters and have showed a lot of friends that there are big fish in the desert, but the cost of the license and paperwork has always been a deterrent for me. The Nevada side is what some rivers in Montana where like twenty years ago before the crowds. Down in the desert it is still relatively undiscovered and a good angler has a chance at a legit twenty fish day on the Truckee River. Don't get me wrong, the stretch from my house in Hirschdale down to the state line is in my soul, my favorite water anywhere in the country, but it can be tough and can harden a fisherman. The Nevada side is a great spring, winter, fall fishery and often times in winter temps are mild and fish are active, much different than the California side. I'm offering my winter rates of $225.00 to fish the Nevada side starting Jan 1st. If you're game come join me.

Slow and Low that is the Tempo.

Yeah, winter fishing, you either love it, or do it because you have cabin fever. To be honest, after all the winters I've spent on the water winter nymphing really doesn't do that much for me anymore. I stare at indicators all summer, so methodically staring at one in the winter just doesn't turn me on. Sometimes it's fun when big midge clusters are floating down the river and fish are munching on them, but that's about 6 weeks out from now. This time of year I do like to go out to test new lines, rods and flies. Swinging flies is an alternative to nymphing and usually is what I choose to do. I just got the new Sage TCX switch rod today and took it on a test drive, wow, what a cannon. I really think it will open up some previously untouched water. It casts a Skagit Short line a hundred feet easily. My bunny leech went to some far away places today. Remember those fish ain't gonna run down your streamer, a slow strip on the bottom is what it takes this time of year.

Fly Shops.

We just recently had an area fly shop saying they were closing down by the first of the year making me think what it takes to make it as a fly shop these days. The big box stores don't help the little guys, Cabelas, Scheels, Bass Pros. Not to mention when you walk in those types of places they usually don't know what the hell their talking about. I've heard some Walmarts have fly shops in them. The two things you need from a good fly shop is great customer service and local knowledge. When I walk into a fly shop I expect a hello, where are you from, and maybe some general advice. For example on my recent trip up to the Missouri River in Craig Montana there are three fly shops in a row. The first shop we went into I got a hello, and a go screw yourself type of attitude. We then walked down the street and ended up at the Headhunters Fly Shop. What we got there was a map of a good float, some tips on what streamers to use, and great customer service. By the way, all of which you can get in Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee. Since it is 22 degrees at my house this afternoon with anchor ice blocking my good holes, I'll leave you with some grip and grins from the mighty Mo.

Sometimes it Just Ain't Trout Fishing Weather.

We just received several feet of snow in Hirschdale, elevation 5,500 feet. I'm sure they got 4-5 feet by now at lake level. I can't remember this much snow so early in the year. When I worked at Boreal during the 94-95 season (yeah, I'm old)I remember it dumped before Thanksgiving and never did stop that year. We need this snow. The fish love it. This last Summer was epic with all the high water. Go enjoy the pow right now until some spots get plowed out where you can actually park and get to the river. Bring some snowshoes because you will need them. I like to drink beer, run the snow blower, and tie flies on days like these. Sometimes it just ain't trout fishing weather.

Nature Boy Designs.

My boy keith over at Lelands in S.F. has started his own fly fishing gear company. With the holidays coming up you can now tell your friends and significant other how big that fish really is. I'm sure we'll see some more cool stuff from NBD in the near future. Here's the link, www.natureboydesigns.com