Ironically, the more people that discover this website, the less likely you are to get a reply when you write me. As we gain in popularity, I may even have to reign in my signature antagonistic style, to keep from offending advertisers and the more sensitive readers. Maybe I'll even have to go mainstream, submitting my work only to respectable, established print publications. Yeah, right! I recently looked into the requirements for submission of articles to a national fly fishing magazine, and they warned, "Humor is not generally accepted." That counts me out. My editors here at the Fishsniffer, though, don't mind a loose cannon on deck, and it's the articles that would never be accepted in most magazines that seem to draw the greatest reader response.

I most recently have been exchanging emails with reader Paul Casarez, who responded to my last column, in which I poked fun at Tahoe tourists. He wanted information on one of my favorite rivers, the East Carson, and I so enjoyed our correspondence that I decided to use another controversial technique this week, that of simply writing an introduction, then stealing the rest of the article from my Outlook Express Inbox. The photos seen here were taken September 26, on the fly fishing trip I described to Paul. Between my report and his, there are some solid tips for anyone wishing to venture to the East Carson's wild trout section before the season closure on November 16th. Thanks Paul, for helping me write my article!

To: Mark-
Hey, thanks for the straight forward, realistic outlook on the Tahoe area. it's refreshing to see your humor despite being in the middle of it. Being a "flatlander" I get my share of resentment, but it won't stop my weekend migration to the mountains. Anyhow, a friend of mine who's a guide in Colorado, is coming out to South Lake this weekend and we're trying to figure out where to fish. I'm trying to talk him into the East Carson for the ability to hike to some untouched water, but like you said in your current article, most reports have been unfavorable.

Is there any hatch to key in on other than Caddis? Is there a fall Blue Wing Olive or an October Caddis on the East Carson? Thanks in advance for any info, and who knows, we might see you on the river.

Sincerely,
Paul Casarez

Paul:
Thanks for your letter. There are a few BWO's, some tiny cream colored mayflies, and some midges. Have not seen the big fall caddis. Stoneflies are important in summer, but not so much now. Hoppers are always good, though- try a hopper and beadhead dropper. If you read my articles, you know I tend to ignore surface hatches and dead-drift nymphs under a strike indicator instead. Prince, Zug Bug, beadhead olives, pheasant tails and caddis larvae are all good. Some of the biggest fish will go for a small woolly bugger (#10 or 12) in olive or black, fished dead, as a nymph. Tiny egg patterns (#14 to 18) are also good. I may fish the East Carson this week, and if so will drop you another email with a current report. The Truckee is another good option. Go to flyline.com for Ralph and Lisa Cutter's website, which has reports on that and other North Tahoe waters.
Mark

Mark-
Thanks for the info! I'm more in your grouping as well, normally sticking to the subsurface nymphing and streamers, so it sounds worth getting a line wet. What's funny is that my guide-buddy who's coming out is all about fishing dries when he's not guiding, but not more than 5 years ago I taught him how to spin fish with lures, when all he wanted to use was power bait! If you do head to the EFC I would definitely appreciate a report...thanks again!
-Paul

Holy Crap Paul!
I'm not saying that this will be your experience, but I just had an incredible trip on the East Carson. Flows are up a tad and the water is much greener than the crystal clear it has been, due to rain the night before last. I knew this would make for good fishing, but DAMN. Started at dawn, from Hangman's Bridge, fishing my way downstream about 1.5 miles. Hooked 24, landed 18. All rainbows but one nice whitefish. Four 'bows released were 19 to 23 inches; also lost one in that size class and one even larger- it bent open a 2x heavy streamer hook to get away. The rest were 8 to 14 inches. I took them all on nymphs, dead drifted under strike indicators. 9 foot 3x leader, four feet or so of 4x fluorocarbon tippet, two tiny, white styrofoam indicators, three inches apart (balls with holes, pegged in place with sections of toothpicks), three #6 splitshot, and a team of flies. Beadhead olive got some, micro-egg also, but all big fish ate a size10 beadhead woolly bugger. (Wiza Bugger- long shank streamer hook, peacock herl for chenille, olive bottom/black top marabou tail, with rainbow krystal flash sandwiched between the two; olive grizzly hackle, metallic green wire from inside a TV for ribbing. Drive your guide-friend nuts by asking him to tie some.)

Slide the indicators down to three feet from the splitshot for shallow runs, up to six feet or more for deeper pools. Not much surface activity early, then about ten a.m., I encountered a blizzard hatch in a long, slow pool. At least four or five fly types all at once, in all forms-emergers, duns and spinners. I saw Blue Wing Olives in about a size 22, Adams type gray bodied flies in both an 18 and a 14, tiny black bodied midges about #24, and probably something else as well, it was confusing. Some decent fish were working the surface, but I tried my nymphs and caught two of the pigs from beneath those dainty sippers.

If you go, I suggest you hit the river at dawn with nymphs, then as the hatch comes on midmorning, let your buddy go nuts. On the way out, I watched a guy net two rainbows on a #18 mayfly dry; fish were hitting on the surface all over the place at that time. If you see a wood-frame landing net with green duct-tape on the handle, it's mine. I lost it early on, and had to hand-land all those pigs! How's that for Karma?

Don't expect a detailed response like this every time you write- you're the first person I've been able to brag to. My fly fishing buddy's out of town and my wife doesn't care. The river will clear up quickly, and will be a little tougher by the weekend. Flows were 35 cfs before the rain, 44 cfs this morning. Go to the United States Geological Survey's website, usgs.gov, find the heading "real time water data," pick the Nevada side of the "elbow" between Nevada and California on the map that appears, right at Lake Tahoe, and you will find a listing of the current the flow for the East Carson below Markleeville. If it is above 35 cfs when you go, you will still have some residual influx from the rain. On the weekend, expect most pools to be occupied on the first mile or so downstream from Hangman's by midmorning.
Mark

WOW! That's an awesome report! Your bugger sounds insane- my buddy brought some fly tying gear but it sounds like he'll have to find a TV to break into! We'll do our best, unfortunately we can't get there until Friday morning, but sounds like we should access from the airport. I'll let you know how we did and we'll keep an eye out for your net! Thanks again for the super-solid report!
Paul

Wiza-
Hey, I just want to thank you again for the update on the East Carson! I had never accessed via the airport and although the hike out is pretty fierce, it was worth it! No one around, miles of river, lots of big fish (had only one of them on and it snapped my 5x fluoro in 15 seconds). My buddy and I didn't get anything big, but a lot of 14 inchers on midges, small olive buggers, and believe it or not dries! We found one slow run with about 20 fish working the surface and got on them on CDC emergers, parachute adams, and bivisible duns. It wasn't really a BWO hatch, I think they were tricos, but the fish didn't seem to care! Maybe I'll see you on the river, let's hope for another rain before the season closer!

Regards,
Paul Casarez

Until next time, remember, never stand in a canoe!
Mark Wiza
Email Me!