Snow Shoes & Scuds

 We're off to a good winter here in Northern Nevada, plenty of snow at the higher elevations and considerable snow at the lower ones.  Deep drifts + soft slush by mid day = snowshoe only.

 A lack of tracks tells us we're the first here in a month or so.

 First small fish gets the ye ole stomach pump, be quick, be gentle, release unharmed.  It can be a a very safe method if done correctly, use water to flush/suck contents, don't just jam and suck, fish can't be too small, use discretion, don't use a trophy-class fish.  95 scuds, 4 mayfly nymphs, 1 caddis larva....which fly to choose?

 Cornices along water edges are a good way to go swimming, stay far back.

Ahh, winter bows

Truckee River - Mays for Days

Flows are still pretty good above and below town @ 170 cfs, it won't last forever, so fish while the fishin's good.  Today was a first in a while, a hatch I couldn't match, at least not exactly.  I think they were Mahogany Duns (rust colored thorax and abdomen) and lots of them, a pretty large mayfly (#14) that I never fish because I think the river's normally high or blown out when they hatch so I normally switch to coppers and stones in April/May.  They didn't outnumber the baetis, but I'd bet they contributed to more calories overall and fish were totally zoned in on them.