Yesterday Dan, Rich and I fished a section of the Truckee River that is located a few blocks from downtown Reno.  It is always weird fishing here as there is a walking path along the river that is crawling with Reno derelicts as well as normal people walking their dogs and jogging.  We are constantly being asked questions like: Are you catching anything?  What kind of fish are in here?  Aren’t you cold? Lots of people take our picture and once I was interviewed by a TV news crew. The fishing was pretty good with various nymphs under an Indi-Caddis.  Rich and I had the most luck with a red Copper John while Dan got his fish on his Bird’s Nest and Hare’s Ear.  I hooked a good fish early on, but he shook the hook after a brief fight.  Later I latched onto a nice one and this time the hook held, it was a fat rainbow of about 17” that put up a good fight (pictured below).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    

                        Nice rainbow

 

 

Later on I waded out into the middle of the river into some heavy current in order to fish a deep slot against the far bank.  This spot is usually good for a couple of 12 inchers and maybe a fat whitefish.  It is a difficult drift, but if done right the fish almost always strike.  On the second drift the Indi-Caddis went under, I set the hook and was tight to a spunky rainbow.  The trout jumped once, then got into the swift current and took off downstream.  Because of the heavy water, it took me a while to bring him in and by the time I got him to shore a man, his wife and their toddler had gathered on the bank to watch the action.  The man asked me if his kid could see the fish, so I beached him at their feet.  He was a pretty rainbow and the kid was pretty fascinated (pictured below and top of page).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              Small head, fat belly...kinda like me

 

 

A little further upstream Rich and I spotted a fat beaver, the first one I’ve seen on the Truckee.  I’ve seen evidence of their presence in the form of gnawed trees, but I had never seen one in the flesh.  I think we woke him from a bank side nap in a hollow under an exposed  tree root.  He watched us for a few moments and then slipped into the water before I could get a picture.  I am always amazed at how much wildlife we see along the river right here in town.  It is nice to know that even though the Truckee River through Reno isn’t exactly pristine, it is still natural enough to support a host of wild creatures.