Truckee River, CA & NV

The Truckee, the largest of the three major rivers in the Reno area, provides year-round fly fishing. Easy access, beautiful canyon scenery, and fiesty wild trout earn the Truckee an easy 8 on the quality-of-fly-fishing scale. The truth is, overall, the Truckee is a tough river to fly fish. The Truckee drains huge Lake Tahoe, flowing north and east from the lake through the town of Truckee, California, where the better fishing begins. It then tumbles through a steep, forested canyon down the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and through the city of Reno. From Reno it flows 35 miles to the north, into the desert and into one of the state’s famous fisheries, Pyramid Lake. Access to the Truckee is great. From the town of Truckee to the state border, the canyon stretch of the river is accessed off Interstate 80. One’s fly fishing is reasonably unaffected despite proximity to a major, all-weather freeway. The best fly fishing water is between Truckee and the town of Verdi, Nevada, a small community west of Reno. Types of Fish: Rainbow and brown trout with isolated populations of cutthroat and brookies. Average fish are 10"–12", but trout of 18" plus are not uncommon. A fish over 20" would be considered a trophy. Whitefish also populate the Truckee and can provide good sport, especially during winter months. This eTrail covers the "where, when, and how" to fish in this region. You'll get a full-page map and information on the known hatches, suggested equipment to bring, and the best flies to use.