"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
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 crflyfishing@gmail.com
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.
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.
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.
Look before you step. Look before you fish.”
– Landon Mayer, Mastering the Short Game
Today's guest, Landon Mayer, like many successful people, is many things all at once. He is a guide, an author, fly designer, he is a film maker, and a loving committed husband and parent. And like many successful people this hectic schedule fuels his desire to create than to consume. He doesn’t have to move about the country presenting and instructing at shows and to clubs on fly fishing and fly tying. Nor does he have to travel around the world to create a new instructional video, magazine article or book for us to enjoy. But we are lucky and better anglers because he does.
It helps that Landon is gifted with what seems like an endless energy source and a burning curiosity to make himself and everyone around him better at what they are doing.
One of Landon’s recent projects was to create a video for novice and expert fly anglers called Mastering the Short Game. This video pulls back the curtain on years of his experience guiding clients and fly fishing around the world. Landon strongly believes that the majority of trout that you will catch will be within 20’ of you. And with the right approach and tactics you will begin to put more numbers and bigger fish into the net.
Landon and his team have put together amazing content and information for us to appreciate this successful approach. You will begin to understand things that you might have been exposed to but lacked the context of fully grasping. This video will break these concepts down in a way that you will most likely, like many of us, want to watch over and over.
In this episode Landon and I are able to breakdown many of the topics that he presents in Mastering the Short Game and how these can work on some your local water. We also get to discuss his perspective on Pyramid Lake and why he feels it is such and amazing opportunity to catch a trophy trout.
Show Notes:
Purchase your own copy of the video Mastering the Short Game from renoflyshop.com by clicking this link
Contact info or ways to follow Landon:
Email: landonmayerflyfishing.com
Website: Landon Mayer Fly Fishing . com
Instagram: @landonmayerflyfishing
Facebook: Landon Mayer
Another of Landon’s recent projects that we discuss is the book The Hunt for Giant Trout: 25 Best Places to Catch a Trophy. Pick up your copy here.
