Guessing…..

Here is what we are watching for right now…….

After 13 years of reporting on the Truckee river, it is getting harder to predict what will happen on the day. The last week has been crazy wet, but shifting from fat drops of warm rain, to big conglomerate flakes the size of goose feathers. The range of changes are happening within minutes. Sometimes simultaneously. It rained all night and never got to freezing, and now mid-morning it’s snowing hard. We had about 5ft of snow near town which, with the rain, is down to 3ft and going fast. People often ask me, when is a good time to fish the T? My answer is…..when there is water in it! The flows right now in town are 950cfs and off color, but not muddy yet….. A bit big for wading solo. I keep to shore because it’s safer, and because the heavier flows force fish to the softer edges. I don’t put a foot in the water at these flows. Bug-wise, they are coming soon…I’m seeing more Skwalla nymphs near shore. I bet they go very soon. No shucks on the snow banks yet, nor any Robins out and about. They always show up when the Skwalla arrive so I watch closely. On that note…..Last night a pair of Killdeer showed up to begin another season of life…..I love seeing critters return. I’ve said it many times, fish don’t follow clocks or calendars. Every year is different, and all you need to do is watch them, to know.