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

Trout Food - A Fish's Eye View

Pyramid is on again, off again, why is it that I always go there on the off again days?  Here is a product of restlessness, a short video of trout feeding and trout forage.  Scuds can make fish get unusually big, in the high sierras, I've found golden trout approaching 20" due to scud rich lakes at altitudes in excess of 10,000ft.  In lower elevations, scuds can make fish grow to double digits (in terms of pounds).  The second part of the video are some monster October Caddis larvae in the McCloud River, what a beautiful freestone stream!