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Truckee River Fly Fishing Report - October 4, 2026

TRUCKEE RIVER
ReportOCT 4 — 11, 2026
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Flow
406CFS
TRUCKEE R A FARAD CA
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Water Temp
59.2°F
Updated 2026-10-03
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Weather
49–87°F
Patchy Smoke
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow has dropped to 406 CFS (down from 508 CFS last week) with a gauge height of 3.97 ft, leaving the river clear and very wadeable. Water temperature is a prime 59.2°F — right in the sweet spot for aggressive fall feeding.
What's Working — Hot Flies

Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22

Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22

Olsen's Quilldigon - Olive - Barbless #22 - 24
#22-24

Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20

Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
#22-24

Egan's Silver Bullet - Baetis #14
#14

Top Secret Baetis #16
#16

Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20

Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16

Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6

Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
#14

Egan's Frenchie #12
#12
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | #20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | #20-22 | Heavy | 8 AM - 11 AM |
| Caddis | #18-20 | Light | 4 PM - 6 PM |
| Pale Morning Dun | #18-20 | Light | 10 AM - 1 PM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | #16 | Light | 1 PM - 4 PM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 10 AM: Midge hatch in tailouts and slow glassy flats — dead-drift small zebra midges and peacock blowtorches through the film.
- 11 AM - 2 PM: BWO hatch window — target flat seams and the heads of pools with Baetis nymphs and parachute dries as fish rise.
- 5 PM - Dusk: Streamer and caddis hour — swing a Sparkle Minnow Sculpin through deep tailouts or skate a CDC Caddis along riffled edges for aggressive fall browns.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows down to 406 CFS and crystal-clear water, fish will be spooky — approach runs from downstream and stay low. During the midday BWO window (11 AM–2 PM), position yourself at the head of slower glassy flats and watch for subtle sipping rises; those fish are keying on emergers in the film, so swing a Top Secret Baetis or Olsen's Quilldigon lightly at the end of your drift before picking up. Avoid shallow gravel areas where you see paired or grouped trout — focus your energy on deeper feeding lanes and staging fish in 3-5 ft runs. With highs near 87°F, the best dry-fly action will be compressed into the cooler morning and midday hours before afternoon thermals flatten the surface activity.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
