The bugs are out, East of Reno that is. Big fat bwos, solid sz#16′s, and lots of them. I haven’t seen any fish on top, but that will change here shortly. Nymphing is still the way to go. Midge up on them in the morning, stone-zebra midge type setup, and change over to some kind of baetis nymph, sz#18 by mid-morning. As the hatch progresses, go up to a bigger nymph sz #16, then try a soft hackle baetis such as my “Homie Flymph Nymph” sz#16. Of course, have your dry fly rod ready with one in the chamber. It will be a solid month before we see those bugs up around Hirschdale on the Cali side of the Truckee River. Yesterday my boy Keith Chow came up, we put the boat in and nailed us some trouts. A very good February day.

Untitled from Gilligans Guide Service on Vimeo.

I haven’t been out on the water for about a week. Needed a break. Some down time. I’ll be back at it this week though. I did get out today for a bit. Everything was still the same as I left it, trout in their usual winter spots. My Skipper stone did the trick today in a sz#10, golden. Here’s a lo-fi recording from a nice rainbow today.

One beer can change the outlook on everything. After refusing a beer with brother’s Bryan and Jesse this morning, I finally gave into the peer pressure, then of course, Truckee local, Bryan, landed his biggest rainbow to date on the Truckee River. Good times with good dudes. Yesterday, Micheal from S.F. caught his first fish on a fly rod. Two firsts, I guess. Things have settled down on the Truckee since last week, and fish are back in their usual spots. Should stay good for awhile with this mild weather.