Freestone · Mixed · Northern California

Upper Truckee River

Little Truckee River venue image
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The biggest stream feeding Lake Tahoe, running down through the Meyers meadows and a little canyon above it, and it's a friendly, wadeable thing once the snowmelt drops out.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity6412% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
13.1°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
21°C
Wind
W 21 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1017 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW general trout season; some Tahoe-basin reaches carry special rules — verify.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The biggest stream feeding Lake Tahoe, running down through the Meyers meadows and a little canyon above it, and it's a friendly, wadeable thing once the snowmelt drops out. Wild rainbows and browns hold in the meadow undercuts and the canyon pockets, and on a summer evening they'll come up nicely for a caddis or a hopper. It can get warm and low by late season down in the meadow, so move up into the canyon or fish the cooler edges of the day. An honest, unpretentious trout stream close to town.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • TroutLast Saturday in April → 15 November
Other water nearby · 4