Truckee River Fishing Report | June 16, 2025
The report at a glance
Presentation
Dry fly, dry-dropper, indicator nymphing, Trout Spey, and Euro nymphing; blind-cast a big dry through fast water
Lures and baits
Natural fly patterns: PMD size 16 emerger, Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, caddis size 20 to 14, Green Drakes size 10 to 12, and Baetis (not Catch America products).
Best time
Cooler parts of the day
Water temperature
In the 50s most of the day, creeping into the low 60s in late afternoon and evening
Water clarity
Clear, though the guide wished for a little more color
Water level
Below Boca around 1,000 CFS; the Little Truckee near 500 CFS (per guide)
Weather
Hot week in the forecast (per guide)
Advice for this week
Pack a stream thermometer and check temps in the afternoon and evening, since the river closes near 68 degrees. Fish the cooler parts of the day. Do not be intimidated by the strong flow below Boca; fish the fast water.
What is changing
Flows dropping into normal summer shape; the Little Truckee running high near 500 CFS.
Next week
A hot week is in the forecast; a few weeks, maybe a month, before warm-water closures. The Little Truckee could be dropped to about 15 CFS later in the summer for dam maintenance.
The Truckee River is in near-perfect summer shape in mid-June 2025, with flows dropping and water temps in the 50s to low 60s. Bugs are everywhere: Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, PMDs, caddis, and Green Drakes. A size 16 PMD emerger is a go-to on top. Fish are eating on every technique, from dry-dropper to Euro nymphing. Pack a thermometer.
What is the Truckee River fishing like right now?
Excellent. Matt Heron reports flows, color, and temperatures are just about perfect throughout the entire system from Lake Tahoe down to Boca. Water temps have been in the 50s all day, creeping into the low 60s by evening. Fish are eating on nearly every technique right now.
What bugs and flies are working on the Truckee River?
Big Golden Stones just started, Yellow Sallies and PMDs are everywhere, caddis run size 20 to 14, and Green Drakes started this week. A size 16 PMD emerger is a go-to on top. These are fly patterns rather than products we carry, so match them locally.
What techniques are producing on the Truckee River?
Just about everything: bobber fishing, dry-dropper, dry fly, Trout Spey, and Euro nymphing. There are tons of fish in the bubbles right now, so working the fast water pays off. The Green Drakes are big enough to bring quality fish to the top, so do not be afraid to blind cast a big dry.
What are the water temperatures on the Truckee River?
Temps have been in the 50s almost all day, creeping into the low 60s in the late afternoon and evening. Below Boca the canyon is running around 1,000 CFS, high for mid-June but fishing great. Start carrying a thermometer, since the river shuts down near 68 degrees to protect fish.
What is the outlook for the Truckee River?
Conditions are prime now, but a hot week is coming, so watch water temps closely. Hoot owl closures near 68 degrees are still a few weeks off, maybe a month if lucky. The Little Truckee is running high near 500 CFS. Longer-term outlook was not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
Truckee River June 16, 2025 FAQ
Yes. Flows, color, and temperatures are near perfect throughout the system, and fish are eating on every technique.
Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, PMDs, caddis size 20 to 14, and Green Drakes. A size 16 PMD emerger is a go-to.
In the 50s most of the day, creeping into the low 60s by evening. Carry a thermometer as it warms.
Yes. The river shuts down near 68 degrees to protect fish, so check temps in the afternoons and evenings.
The canyon below Boca is running around 1,000 CFS, high for mid-June but producing excellent fishing.
It is running high near 500 CFS. A dam maintenance project may cut flows very low later in summer.
