Welcome to the 2024 State of the Truckee River with Travis Hawks, NDOW. 

We recognize that we took a bit of a break since our last podcast episode, the 2020 State of the Truckee and we wanted to kick things back off where we left off, at the 2024 State of the Truckee River installment.

As you will hear in this episode. The Truckee River is fantastic shape with survey results suggesting that the river is better than it has ever by measured before. Travis' belief that the abundant winters combined with water management has contributed to the best survey results ever. He even suggests that multiple 30" brown trout exist in the Truckee River.

Settle in and get ready for an in-depth conversation on all things Truckee River with Travis Hawks.
For complete show notes and information/data we discussed during this recording please follow this link to the show notes.

EP059: 2024 State of the Truckee River with Travis Hawks (show notes)

Welcome to season 6 of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast. We felt it fitting to start it off with the 2020 State of the Truckee River with Travis Hawks from the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

This is our 6th State of the Truckee episode presenting the results of the NDOW annual sampling of the Truckee River fishery. We started these recordings (2016) in the middle of a multi year drought and as you will hear in this recording the Truckee River has made a miraculous recovery. Fish populations and composition in many locations are as good or better than ever sampled. As Travis presents, Mother Nature had a great hand in this recovery. We have been fortunate to have several average to above average winters in a row and natural runoff with reservoir releases have kept water in the river almost year around.

Travis with a Truckee River Brown Trout

In this year’s recording we were able to cover the 2020 sampling results rather quickly and thoroughly, which left us some time to discuss general topics of the condition in the Truckee River watershed. We dive into many topics. One being, the recent episode on this podcast that covered the USFWS efforts to recover/restore the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout into the Truckee River.

Travis gets the opportunity to present his opinions on these topics and respond to several of the possible management scenarios that were presented in that episode. I have provided a button to listen to that episode here if you haven’t had the chance.

EP056: Helen Neville and Mary Peacock – LCT Recovery – Challenges and Opportunities

It is important to note that while Travis and I discuss our opinions of several management scenarios that were presented in Episode 56. These opinions reflect only the approach and management strategies presented for the Truckee River watershed. Management scenarios that might be challenging or problematic in a river the size of the Truckee are appropriate and can be very effective in other watersheds. We hope that care and responsible review be given to those and all fishery management options.

Travis sampling the success of adaptive management strategies on the Truckee River

Show Notes and Data:

Salmonid Fish/Mile   Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Average 2020 138.1 426.2 875 372 452.83 2019     1509.3 526.2 1017.75 2018 22.5 224.1 607.8 170.4 256.2 2017 5.8 75.8 78.4 86.5 61.7 2016 60.8 97.7 27.9 204.0 97.6 2013 121.0 429.0 969.8 767.9 572.0 2012 130.7 373.7 1450.3 1162.2 779.2 TRUCKEE RIVER Wild Rainbow Trout Distribution 2020     by Zone Total Rainbow Wild Rainbow Percent Wild Percent Juvenile of Wild Zone 2 21 21 100.0% 9.5% Zone 3 77 77 100.0% 31.2% Zone 4 99 98 99.0% 30.6% Zone 5 89 71 79.8% 22.5% All Zones 286 267 93.4% 27.0% EP053: Travis Hawks – 2019 State of the Truckee River EP047: Travis Hawks – 2018 State of the Truckee River EP037: Travis Hawks – 2017 State of the Truckee River EP026: Travis Hawks – 2016 State of the Truckee River   Want our next Podcast, Blog Post and Fishing Report delivered to your Inbox?  I agree to have my personal information transfered to MailChimp ( more information )  

Finally, in celebration of starting our sixth season of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast and in a way to show our appreciation to all of the listeners we have offered a coupon code for listeners of this podcast. For on month in our online store enter HAWKS2020 at checkout and receive 10% off anything that you purchase. This will only be good for month or until we release our next episode.

So have fun and we hope you enjoy these episodes.

Christmas (Kiritimati) Island has been considered one of the best flats fishing locations since it was first explored in the 1970s. It has allowed countless anglers to cut their teeth fly fishing for bonefish, trevally and triggerfish. The chance to visit this destination once is on every anglers bucket list.

Imagine having the chance to fish Christmas Island, not only once, but every year for the last 20 years. And not just for a week but the entire month of January. Sound impossible? Let me introduce you to one of the nicest guys to walk the flats of Christmas Island, Rob Ramsay. Rob began fly fishing Christmas Island in the 1990s and once he wrapped his head around the fishery and the quirks that make it truly unique he began organizing trips for his friends and family. As the word quickly spread through immediate group the sphere of anglers began to increase and soon Rob had the month of January planned out.

THE ULTIMATE ATOLL – Dylan Rose, Fly Water Travel

Every trip that arrives into Cassidy International Airport has a person that is assigned as the host. The host typically facilitates guests preparation for the trip, their arrival and smooths wrinkles as they move through the week. The ability of a host to do this well once is commendable. To do this for 4 weeks in a row is unbelievable. To do this every year for almost years earns the unique designation of SuperHost.

Click here for more info on our April 14-21, 2021 trip to Christmas Island

In today’s world it is common to have the sentiment of “been there, done that” and move onto the next adventure. I find Rob’s stories and appreciation of Christmas Island so authentic that I could listen to them for hours. From his first trip and then through the years Rob allowed Christmas Island and the great people that live there touch him deeply.

You will hear Rob download some amazing nuggets of info and experiences of why he has earned and wears the moniker of SuperHost. Rob recaps the history of fly fishing on Christmas Island, his own personal experiences and how he is still pushing the boundaries of what anglers experience on his trips.

Rob shares his experiences of success and failure and we get to discuss some of the common myths and narratives surrounding Christmas Island and what it takes to chase the fish there with a fly rod. Having hosted trips over the past 5 years I thought I was developing a pretty good understanding of the destination. At the end of our conversation not only did I realize I, excitingly, have a long way to go to understanding Christmas Island. But this recording made me as excited to visit as I was before my very first trip.

I hope you get stoked on this great saltwater destination and think hard about visiting for your first time or revisiting one of the most unique saltwater fly fishing destinations in the world.

I hope you enjoy

SHOW NOTES:

April 14-21, 2021 Christmas Island trip hosted by Jim Litchfield and the Reno Fly Shop

Tide Info for Christmas Island (spend some time with this to dial in your dates)

Rob’s Bio:

Born into a fishy family in the East San Francisco Bay area. Outings to family in Nevada City/Grass Valley included fishing the many forks of the Yuba River. My Grandparent visits included Clear Lake bass excursions and a Great  Uncle had a cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains that was awesome for winter steelhead on the San Lorenzo  River.

Keenly supported by my Father and family. I was hooked. All of this late 50’s early 60’s exposure provided a firm foundation for my love of this sport.

I spent the late 60’s and early 70’s going to college in Southern Oregon and tried to talk my fiance into getting married at an old fish hatchery in the Ft.  Klamath area. We ended up at Lake Tahoe.

Destination travel fishing started in the early 80’s to Alaska . Late 80’s through current times added saltwater venues to most of the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera and the Gulf side, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Seychelles atolls, St. Brandon’s atoll in Mauritius and my favorite Christmas Island.

Alaska’s March-Oct fishing season has had me as a resident since completing my cabin in 2008. Santa Cruz Mountains and Bishop is my residence in late Fall through Winter. Small late Fall stream fishing for resident browns and Goldens can be epic . San Lorenzo River kicks

into gear Dec1. Christmas Island is all of January. Feb is prep time for Alaska. ……………….repeat.

New and vintage fiberglass rods have been added to my freshwater excursions over the past few years and have added another twist to this sport for me.

Dr. Helen Neville, Senior Scientist with Trout Unlimited, and Dr. Mary Peacock, professor of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno, have been instrumental in the efforts to protect and recover the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout to its historic range. While both specialize in the genetic sequencing of LCT, Helen’s and Mary’s research have differed in that their recent focus has been on the stream form and lake form, respectively.

Much of our conversation focuses on the Truckee River watershed and the complex issues that must be considered in the recovery of the LCT in a significantly altered landscape. This recording covers some challenging topics that are difficult to unpack. One thing that is agreed upon is that humans have significantly altered the landscape within the Truckee River watershed from its headwaters in the Sierra Nevada to the terminus in Pyramid Lake. Altered to a degree that is not recoverable. 

These issues are tough, complex and, at times, emotionally charged. We discuss several of the issues and some of the management scenarios the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are considering for the Truckee River. While nothing has been formally proposed or planned for implementation it is important that we stay informed and involved in the process to contribute to what the Truckee River will look like in the future.

Enjoy this very informative conversation with Helen and Mary.

Dr. Helen Neville, PhD., has been with Trout Unlimited since 2006, mostly recently as TU’s Senior Scientist. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Brown University, a Master’s degree in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from the University of California, San Diego, and her Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno. She specializes in applying genetic tools to improve our understanding of the ecology and conservation needs of salmon and trout.  She fell in love with Lahontan cutthroat trout when she had a wonderful opportunity to study them in the Marys River in eastern NV for her dissertation two decades ago, and has since maintained a focus on providing science to inform the conservation of this amazing trout.

Dr. Mary Peacock, PhD., is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her field of research is Conservation Biology specifically Conservation Genetics primarily on desert fishes, but students and she also work on pikas, plants and amphibians. Conservation Genetics uses molecular genetic markers and techniques to identify and track individuals across space and time and examines the impact of human land use on persistence and viability of wild populations. Mary has a large research program on the federally listed Lahontan cutthroat trout that she has been working on since 1995. Her laboratory is involved in the genetic monitoring of wild populations as well as the Pilot Peak strain that is currently being raised at the USFWS Lahontan National Fish Hatchery. The Pilot Peak strain was native to Pyramid Lake and Lake Tahoe prior to the loss of these populations in the 1940s, but was rediscovered and brought into hatchery production for restoration into its historic lake habitat.

Show Notes:

Historic maximum limit of Lake Lahontan

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (sources USFWS)

Research by Helen Neville and Mary Peacock

The Lahontan Basin Evolutionary Lineage of Cutthroat Trout

Return of a giant: DNA from archival museum samples helps to identify a unique cutthroat trout lineage formerly thought to be extinct

Monitoring Demographic and Genetic Responses of a Threatened Inland Trout to Habitat Reconnection

[optinform]

"The biggest surprise for the new carp angler is that carp don't always live in ugly places."

- John Bartlett, @johnmontanacarp

16 years ago, John Bartlett started to chase carp on the fly…

As a lifelong trout angler, John grew up using light rods and fine tippet around Montana and the Pacific Northwest but as things began to evolve in his life he had to adapt if he was going to get to fly fish. 

He began to explore and establish an option for fly fishing closer to home to allow spending time with his growing family. Today, he still chases the occasional trout and goes on annual trips to the Louisiana coast for red fish and black drum, but the fishery he found close to home 16 years ago occupies the majority of his fly fishing adventures.

Check out our article on Tips and Tricks for Carp on the Fly (by clicking the image)

As you will hear John explain, carp at first simply satisfied the craving of catching fish on a fly, but as John became more experienced and adept at finding larger fish he began to truly appreciate the challenge, nuance and the details of what it takes to catch a trophy carp on a fly rod. 

John’s willingness to share this experience has led to a strong reputation in the Carp community and a social media presence. In this recording John shares some of this hard earned experience, as well as, his 4 rules to catch carp on the fly.

John's The Hybrid Fly Pattern

He takes the time to explain how carp’s adaptability to habitat and their environment have allowed for a vast global distribution are why carp are now one of the most popular game fish in the world. He believes that there is likely a carp within a mile of where most listeners are enjoying this episode. 

And from this experience John shares that where there is a carp there is a carp to be caught.

When not chasing carp you might find John playing pickleball with his wife and enjoying time with family around his home state of Oregon. 

I hope you have some fun with this informative conversation with one of the most experienced carp fly fisherman out there.

Show Notes:

Finding John on Instagram @johnmontanacarp

John's 4 Rules for Carp on the Fly

• Know the local carp forage.
• Don't cast until you can see their head.
• You have to make the carp move to your fly.
• To catch more carp, cast less often.

European carp fishing techniques in America

Wiki - Carp Fishing

Fly Fishing for Carp in Lake Michigan

Fly Fishing for Carp on the Columbia River, Oregon

Today’s podcast episode is one that I have thought about doing for a while.  It finally came down to the 1,000th time I heard shop staff stress to a customer how important a fly line is to overall casting performance that I went ahead and recorded this episode with Brad Befus, the president of Scientific Anglers. 

If you have spent any time here in the shop you will undoubtedly heard us stress the importance of considering the line when purchasing a new rod/reel setup. It is the component part that most likely is the least expensive in the whole rig and/but will have the greatest single impact on overall performance. Everyday shop staff stress to customers the importance of understanding what and where you will fish most often and steer you to a fly line that will fit the most likely scenarios and your intended purpose. 

Temperature, casting styles, fly size and weight all play into the selection and as you will hear from Brad in this episode it is easy and important to arrive at the right line for your needs.

This conversation starts with getting to know Brad’s background and history and then quickly gets into the nuts and bolts of what makes a fly line perform and how listeners can better understand how they will impact your cast. A highlight for me in this recording is when Brad breaks down each component part of a fly line’s geometry and how it contributes to overall casting performance.

Brad Befus has been flyfishing and fly tying for more than 35 years. He has spent his life in the fly fishing industry as a fly shop employee/owner, destination host, fly tyer, author, most recently as a manufacturer’s Sales Director for nearly two decades. He is an accomplished freshwater and saltwater angler who holds several I.G.F.A. flyrod world records and has fished many destinations worldwide. Brad is an innovative fly tier with many of his patterns being produced and sold by Umpqua Feather Merchants through their “Fly Designer Program”. His flies have appeared in books and articles, as well as the University of Idaho Prichards Art Gallery and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Brad is the co-author of “Carp on the Fly” a flyrodders guide to carp and “Basic Techniques for Successful Fly Tying”. He has contributed articles and images to many of the flyfishing periodicals. Brad currently resides in Midland, Michigan with his wife Lisa and their four children where he is the President of Scientific Anglers.

"It is amazing how the Truckee River has responded since 2015 in its recovery from damaging drought. Now in 2019 we are at or near top conditions ever recorded." -Travis Hawks, Senior Fishery Biologist, NDOW

    Five years ago Travis Hawks and I got together to catch up and discuss how the Truckee River was faring in the middle of one of the worst droughts ever witnessed. Travis and I have known each other for years and as a result we could be candid and open about what Travis observed during NDOW’s annual Fall biological sampling. 

In 2015 Travis’ data demonstrated that there were entire sections of the Truckee River seemingly devoid of fish. For that matter, there was a good part of 2015 when there were entire sections Truckee River that were devoid of WATER… That conversation wasn’t very upbeat.

Coincidentally, 2015 was also the year that I started this podcast and while our chat was less than cheery it was really good information and I felt it would make a good episode. Never quite knowing how content will be recei ved, I was surprised by the response. 

Feedback was completely opposite of the data that year. People listened, shared, cared and gave us feedback. This response reinforced, to Travis and I, that we were not alone in being concerned for this great fishery and that many of us collectively wished for the end to the drought. Fortuitously that was the bottom of the barrel in terms of the drought and it started the Truckee River’s recovery to what is now probably the best biologic condition every measured.

So here we are in 2019, recording our fifth State of the Truckee River and the Truckee River couldn’t be more different than it was in 2015. Sections that in 2015 were devoid of fish have over 1,000 fish per mile and an amazing population of wild trout in self sustaining populations.

So while not quite yet a tradition Travis and I do look forward to recording these episodes each year. I hope that you have had the chance to listen to the previous ones and can celebrate the condition our beloved Truckee River is in right now.

In today’s episode, like previous episodes, Travis covers the Truckee River reach-by-reach and reviews the results of the NDOW Fall biologic surveys. This covers the Truckee River from the California/Nevada state line downstream to the reservation boundary.

As I have shared in previous episodes with Travis, I really appreciate Travis’ time and effort to prepare and share this information. I am not sure there is another wildlife agency that is so transparent and forthcoming with their collected data. I believe this transparency reinforces that NDOW cares and is taking proactive steps to manage, protect and enhance the Truckee River and it’s fishery.

So settle in and get ready for a great episode, jam packed with data and discussion on our great Truckee River.

2019-2020 Nevada Fishing Regulations

Nevada Dept. of Wildlife Volunteer Opportunities

Previous episodes of the State of the Truckee River with Travis Hawks

2015 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST

2016 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST

2017 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST

2018 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST

"When creating GOOD content you can not plan too much” -Gilbert Rowley

Hey everyone, welcome to the Reno Fly Shop Podcast. I am excited to bring you these episodes to keep you informed on what is happening in the fly fishing world and to introduce you to the people that are creating positive impacts and steering it forward.

While fly fishing is romantically interative and experiential. Most of our world is digital from this audio podcast to email to YouTube and much of the information we get about fly fishing when we aren’t on the water is from this digital world. We have the opportunity like never before to consume information and content (good and bad) like we are drinking from a firehose.

That is why I jumped at the opportunity to sit down with today’s guest, Gilbert Rowley. Gilbert’s entry into fly fishing followed a somewhat traditional trajectory. Angler, competitive angler and guide. Along this path, like many of us, Gilbert began to take pictures to document his experiences. The same camera that he used for pictures he began to record video. These videos went from days on the water to YouTube tying tutorials. As his interest and skills developed Gilbert expanded his focus and now, I believe, is one of the leaders in creation of fly fishing videos content we get to enjoy.

His portfolio expanded into to full feature length instructional videos, Modern Nymphing and Modern Nymphing Elevated, that have literally changed the game for many of us and opened our eyes to the tactics and techniques of European style nymphing

Gilbert, ever busy, hasn’t stopped there. He is an annual contributor to the IF4 world tour and is the co-director/creator/talent for the super fun Buffet Series on YouTube.

You will hear Gilbert’s perspective on what he feel goes into good and great video content. He gives us amateurs an idea on how to plan, create and shoot good video for social media and online platforms. He also shares the responsibility he feels to protect, conserve and have sensitivity for the places, wildlife and people he includes in his productions. I took a lot away from our conversation together.

I hope you enjoy this discussion with Gilbert Rowley.

Show Notes:

Here are links to the different edits/films Gilbert and I spoke about quite a bit.

Bio:

Gilbert Rowley is a professional filmmaker that specializes in the fly fishing industry, and is the owner of Capture Adventure Media.

Among his accomplishments in film production include five official selections into the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (2016 through 2019), and the recent critically acclaimed instructional films Modern Nymphing and Modern Nymphing Elevated.

Last year his conservation-minded adventure film Confluentus won “Best Freshwater Fishing Video” in the 2018 Drake Magazine Fly Fishing Video Awards. Additionally in 2018 & 2019 Gilbert worked as the Director of Photography for Fly Fusion Magazine while continuing to grow his own production company.

Capture Adventure Media has continued to find success in the outdoor industry and has done work for many of the industries largest companies and personalities. Outside of filmmaking Gilbert graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelors Degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Science, and has continued to promote conservation and wise stewardship practices with his various films and fishing adventures. In addition to this adventurous lifestyle, his most cherished time comes while being with his wife and four children.

 

I feel the most grounded and at the most peace when I am on the water.” -Capt. Chuck Ragan

I am excited to bring you today's guest, Chuck Ragan.

It was difficult to find time to sit with Chuck due to his very busy schedule as a fly fishing guide and professional musician. As we tried to put this episode together we traded many phone and text messages. It was always fun to find out where he was at the time and the spots varied from Europe, Asia to all over the U.S as he was touring with his band Hot Water Music.

We didn’t give up and when we did get together to record this episode Chuck was comfortably sitting on his front porch in Grass Valley, California with his family nearby.

Chuck spends a lot of time guiding anglers on Central Valley rivers, lakes and reservoirs and the California Delta. In these fisheries he will chase bass, striper, shad, trout and steelhead. When not on the water Chuck is out touring with his band Hot Water Music currently celebrating their 25th anniversary world tour. 

In this episode we cover Chuck’s background in fly fishing, music and how he spends his time both on and off of the water. You will become acutely aware of is interest and commitment to Cast Hope a non-profit organization that puts kids on the water fly fishing with guides all over the state of California.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Show Notes:

Chuck Ragan Fly Fishing: Chuck’s guide service focuses on Sacramento Valley Rivers, lakes and reservoirs in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Range and The California Delta chasing bass, striper, shad, trout and steelhead.

Contact him today at [email protected]

Cast Hope: Cast Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization looking to provide kids with the gift of the outdoors. As an organization it is our desire to bring kids and mentors together outside through the sport of fly fishing.

California Bass Union: CBU is a collaboration of Guides and Anglers working together to Develop, Share, and Grow fly fishing for bass species year-round in the State of California.

We are excited to introduce you to today’s episode which is the first installment of a new series we are presenting in partnership with Fly Water Travel. We will feature a new destination every few months for the next year.

During each episode we will present information and exciting details about fly fishing destinations around the world by chatting with the guides and outfitters that make these trips possible.

We will introduce you to world famous destinations in freshwater and saltwater, domestic and international. We hope to pull back the curtain by sitting with the colorful people that make these fly fishing destinations possible for all of us. I hope you enjoy and take some time to check out the show notes at renoflyshop.com and learn about more about these amazing destinations.

Today’s guests are David and Dillon Renton that make up half of the Renton River Adventures. Renton River Adventures is a family run, fly-fishing outfitter based out of Bend, Oregon. David and Debbie Renton, along with their sons Dillon and Knut, make up the team and work together throughout the year to provide you many different fly-fishing opportunities and destinations. 

In this episode I got to chat with David and Dillon about their history of living, fly fishing and guiding the Deschutes River. You will hear their passion and appreciation in the voices and stories of this famous river.

They breakdown the seasons on the lower Deschutes. Where they describe how you can chase rainbow trout all summer starting with huge Salmonflies on the surface in May and June, into July when summer hatches make great trout fishing throughout the long warm days.

In mid July the anadromous summer Steelhead begin to move into the system from the Columbia River and swinging flies with two handers can provide absolutely life changing experiences with a fly rod.

Click here to Find more about Booking a float trip with the Renton’s this summer on the Lower Deschutes River

Combine great fishing with first class camping and the chance to sleep under starry summer skies and you have the chance to make lifelong memories.

     

I hope you enjoy this conversation with David and Dillon Renton and take a hard look at your calendar and find a time to book a Deschutes River trip this summer.

There is a link in today’s show notes that will help you find out more information about floating the Deschutes with David and Dillon. Follow the link to a great summer trip on the lower Deschutes with the Renton Family.

Click here to Find more about Booking a float trip with the Renton’s this summer on the Lower Deschutes River

Ways to contact David and Dillon Renton and the Renton River Adventures

Facebook: Renton River Adventures

Instagram: Dillon and David Renton

Website: Renton River Adventures

To book a trip this summer: Lower Deschutes River Float Trips

Renton River Adventures operates fly-fishing float trips on the Lower Deschutes under a special use permit issued by the BLM.