Middle Fork Feather River and Truckee River Fishing Report 4-18-25

Middle Fork Feather River

With spring here, the fishing on the Middle Fork Feather River continues to improve. Flows have dropped to around 200cfs on the Portola gauge and water temps are ranging from the mid 40’s below Two Rivers to mid 50’s in Clio. I expect flows to bump up as run off starts, but I’m not expecting it to become unfishable. Blue wing olive and March Browns are hatching mid afternoon and are providing fun fry fly opportunities. Trout spey has been a great way to cover water. We are swinging streamers on sink tips and then soft hackles on floating tips when the hatch gets going. Dry dropper rigs are still working well with baetis and march brown nymphs working best for my clients.

Bottom line…all methods are working on the Middle Fork Feather River. Pick your favorite way to fish and enjoy! Pressure on the river is starting to pick up, but it is still possible to fish without seeing another angler. We are finding fish in a variety of water types with more and more being caught in the fast water/riffles.

What’s Working

Nymph’s: Electrolyte Baetis (14-16), Plastic Surgeon (14-18), Jiggy Nymph (14-16), Simple Stone (8-10), Jigged Pheasant Tail (14-16), Pat’s Rubber Legs (8-10), Mercers Poxyback Stone (8-10) Dries: Film Critic bwo (16-20), Sparkle Flag bwo (16-20), Parachute Adams (14-20), Chubby Chernobyl tan, orange (10-12), rubber leg Crystal Stimulator (10-12) Streamers: Sculpzilla white, natural, tan (10), Dolly Llama olive/white, natural (8), Prospector (10)

Truckee River

How quickly conditions change this time of year! Right after my last report, the Truckee River bumped way up in flows with spring runoff starting. The Truckee gauge is reading 380cfs as of this writing with flows at 824cfs on the Boca gauge. Flows will be least in the morning and highest in the afternoon/evening as runoff continues to follow a diurnal pattern. Clarity is still good and water temps in the 40’s. It’s a nymph and streamer game at this point.

High water tactics are mandatory now. Indicator nymphing with squirmy worms and stoneflies are a great way to catch fish during runoff conditions. Lots of split shot to get the bugs down and keep them in the strike zone are mandatory. This is also a great time to fish streamers. Water type is important as fish will be in the softer seams and slower water where they have to expend less energy.

What’s Working

Nymphs: Squirmy Worm pink, red, brown (8-10), San Juan worm pink, red, brown (8-12), Pat’s Rubberlegs (8-10), Mercers Poxy Back Stonefly (8-10), Jigged 20incher (10-14), 20 Incher (10-14), Electrolyte Baetis (14-16), Plastic Surgeon (14-16), Jigged Bunny Leech white, olive, natural (8-10), Streamers: Sculpzilla white, olive, natural (8-10), Dolly Llama olive/white (8), Near Nuff Sculpin (8)