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Truckee River

The Truckee River was originally home to Lahontan cutthroat trout and cui-ui sucker. During normal years, adult trout ascended from Pyramid Lake and descended from Lake Tahoe to the Truckee River and its tributaries to spawn. Thousands of young fish returned as natural recruitment to these large lakes. It was probable that some young and adult cutthroat trout also occurred in the river throughout the year. With the influx of white settlers in the mid- to late-1800’s, water was diverted for agriculture and municipal use, stream habitats were degraded, the river was over-fished, and other fish species were introduced. Extinction of the Pyramid Lake cutthroat trout had occurred by the 1930’s. While cutthroat trout numbers were dwindling, many different sport fish species were introduced and today, rainbow and brown trout have become the most successful.

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Region
Western
County
Washoe
Type of water
River
Fishing Report

Flows are starting to come down from about 1000 cfs to more realistic summer flows. The Truckee in town is currently flowing at about 600 cfs and should continue to fall a little as we move further into summer. Water temperatures have been warming up in the afternoons making the early morning bite the best bet. Fish are scattered through the entire system but will concentrate around water with higher oxygen content as water temps continue to warm. Trout can be found in any water from ten inches to ten feet deep right now. The insect life has been strong with several years of good snowpack. There’s been a few little yellow stones and Baetis mayflies around but that will taper off as we move into more of the summer bugs. We should see Caddis, PMD mayflies, and golden stones hatching in fair numbers through the next month. Fly fishermen are doing well with small streamers dead drifted near the bottom. Hoppers are out in force and the occasional fish will come up to eat one. Spin fishing with small spoons, kastmasters, and spinners has been productive around many of the parks. USFW has been periodically stocking Lahontan Cutthroat around the major parks.

Truckee River Angler Guide Information 

07-09-2025

Stocking Updates

Stocked Species Inches Date Stocked Year to Date
5129Cutthroat Trout8.005-29-202555629
5104Cutthroat Trout8.105-22-202550500
5141Cutthroat Trout8.105-20-202545396
5006Cutthroat Trout8.505-07-202540255
5017Cutthroat Trout8.305-06-202535249
5018Cutthroat Trout8.105-01-202530232
5002Cutthroat Trout9.004-30-202525214
5029Cutthroat Trout8.204-29-202520212
5147Cutthroat Trout8.104-22-202515183
4988Cutthroat Trout8.604-17-202510036
5048Cutthroat Trout8.404-15-20255048
5505Cutthroat Trout8.405-30-202455792
5165Cutthroat Trout 8.405-28-202450287
5011Cutthroat Trout8.005-23-202445122
5012Cutthroat Trout8.005-21-202440111
5016Cutthroat Trout8.005-16-202435099
5010Cutthroat Trout 8.005-07-202430083
5015Cutthroat Trout8.005-02-202425073
5046Cutthroat Trout 8.004-30-202420058
5000Cutthroat Trout 8.004-23-202415012
5000Cutthroat Trout 8.004-18-202410012
5012Cutthroat Trout 8.204-16-20245012
3181Cutthroat Trout10.809-13-202330337
728Cutthroat Trout10.509-13-202327156
3990Cutthroat Trout10.109-07-202326428
850Cutthroat Trout11.509-07-202322438
3431Cutthroat Trout11.609-06-202321588
1821Cutthroat Trout8.205-16-202318157
5636Cutthroat Trout805-11-202316336
5502Cutthroat Trout804-11-202310700
5198Cutthroat Trout804-05-20235198

Pertinent Information

The Truckee River originates at the outlet of Lake Tahoe and flows approximately 110 miles to Pyramid Lake. NDOW manages approximately 40 miles of fisheries between the California State line and Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation. This river is one of the most heavily fished waters in the state, supporting between 60,000 and 100,000 angler days per year. Anglers can fish for rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, mountain whitefish, and largemouth bass (in lower sections). High runoff from March to June makes fishing difficult, but once flows return to normal in summer, the river becomes easier to fish. Some of the best fishing occurs in late spring and early summer and again in fall. Nightcrawlers and Power Bait fished in large pools work great, and fly-fishing and using small spinners are very popular.