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Fly Shops
Mountain Hardware.11320 Donner Pass Rd. Truckee. Extraordinary selection of flies. Despite the fact this is a hardware store, their fishing inventory could rival that of most dedicated flyshops. Knowledgable staff. (530) 587-4844
Reno Fly Shop. 294 East Moana Ln. Reno, NV (702) 825-3474. Wonderful fly shop. I love to browse thier hallowed halls.
Tahoe Flyfishing Outfitters 2705 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe. (530) 541-8208. The only full service flyshop on the South Shore. Victor Babbit runs a class outfit and provides guides for public as well as private waters.
Long's Drugs 11411 Deerfield Dr.(Lucky's Longs center) Truckee. (530) 587-5770. Fishing licenses and a sampling of flies and tying materials.
Nevada City Anglers. 417-C Broad Street, Nevada City. (530) 478-9301 Say hi to Tony. By far the best fly shop in the area. Great local patterns.
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Eats - Truckee
Moody's Bistro. Where The Passage used to be. High end pasta, steak, seafood, and vegetarian. Paul McCartney's choice when he's in town. 587-8688
Village Pizza. Albertson's/Longs center. (530) 587-7171. Gets my vote for best pizza and tastiest salads in Truckee. Has the lively atmosphere of a dentist's office.
Casa Baeza. Corner of Bridge and Church St. (across from Totally Board). (530) 587-2161. Standard fare Americanized Mexican food but watch out for their margaritas. Bring along a designated driver for sure!
Tacos Jalisco. 1140 Donner Pass Rd (hidden next to the laundromat in the 7-11 center). (530) 587-1131. This is true Mexican fodder. Want menudo, cabesa and tongue? - you got it (and it tastes great!). If you don't speak Espanol just point to something on the menu and cross your fingers - you usually don't get what you ordered anyway. Wear waders and soggy socks and see if anyone notices.
Andy's Diner. 10144 West River. (530) 582-6925. Trailor cuisine with a cruiser theme. We ate there once.
Dragonfly. 10116 Donner Pass Rd. (530) 587-0557. High class, incredible Thai cuisine that can be enjoyed on a balcony overlooking the bustle of old-town Truckee. Doesn't taste like anything I've eaten in Thailand but who cares, every bite is heavenly.
Cottonwood. Hilltop at hwy 267. (530) 587-5711. GREAT BAR!! Overlooks the river and railroad-induced traffic jams. On the spendy side but the food is good and being able to have caddisflies flip out in your wine is pretty neat.
OB's. 10046 Donner Pass Rd. (530) 587-4164. A Truckee landmark that has been serving good eats for generations of Truckee River anglers.
Donner Lake Kitchen. 13710 Donner Pass Rd. (530) 587-3119. My favorite breakfast place in Truckee. Huge meals, homemade sausages and killer huevos rancheros.
The Pacific Crest 10064 Donner Pass Rd. (530) 587-2626. Habit forming. Upscale, white linen, ecclectic menu. "Mediterranean and Asian food with a California touch". Whatever, the food is very good.
Pianetas. 10096 Donner Pass Rd. (530) 587-4694. Very, very good Italian food. I could eat there night after night except that I can't resist the incredible bread pudding and would turn into a pumpkin with garlic breath. Outstanding is an understatement.
Los Altos. Albertson's/Longs center. (530) 587-7872. Very tasty Americanized Mexican food. Good bar, small tables, congested, wonderful staff.
Blue Coyote Moon. 10015 Palisades Dr. (where Tahoe Taps used to be). A good selection of brews on tap and a fair priced menu including ribs, chicken wings, and salads.
Squeeze Inn. 10060 Donner Pass Rd. (530) 587-9814. A historical landmark. 30 plus omlettes, every one is delicious.
Safeway. In the Safeway shopping center - duh. The very best dining in Truckee is on the banks of the river. Go to the deli counter, pick up a bunch of fattening stuff and take it streamside. I hate to admit it, but Safeway's deli sandwiches are pretty darn good. Stop next door at Florian's Deli to get some extra tasty tid bits.
Sweets Candies. 10118 Donner Pass Rd. (530) 587-6556. Assuage your guilt by bringing home treats for the family. No guilt? How about a cluster of cherries dipped in Belgian chocolate and a strawberry cream smoothie for the ride home?
Eats-Nevada City
Citronee. 320 Broad Street, Nevada City. (530) 265-5697. A Nevada City magnent for Bay Area foodies. Excellent, ever changing Mediterranean, Californian, Fench cuisine. What ever is fresh.
Country Rose. 300 Commercial Street, Nevada City. (530) 265-6252. Good food, kind of somber atmosphere inside but gorgeous outside patio dining.
Cirino's. 309 Broad Street, Nevada City. (530) 265-2246. Our best Italian restaurant. Signature bloody Mary.
Sushi-Q. 238 Commercial St, Nevada City. (530) 265-5757. Loud, always packed for very good reason. A local's favorite.
Complete listing of local dining options.
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Lodging -Truckee
Best Western. It's where we stay. 11331 Hwy 267. Truckee (530) 587-4525. Located on Hwy 267 between the Truckee River and Martis Lake. Show your class invoice at time of check in for a discount .
Donner Lake Village Resort. 15695 Donner Pass Rd. (800) 621-6664. Very quiet place right on the water. Nice.
The Inn at Truckee. 11506 Deerfield Dr. (530) 587-8888. The old Super 8 behind McDonalds "restaurant". You'll get a discount by bringing in your class invoice.
Truckee Hotel. Commercial Row & Bridge St. Truckee. (530) 587-4444. Above Moodys and across the street from Bar of America (no designated driver needed) and the railroad station. Rooms come with earplugs.
Richardson House. 10154 High St. Truckee (888) 229-0365. Classic B&B. Recommended by several of our students. richardson@itol.com
Complete listing of Truckee lodging options from the Chamber.
Lodging-Nevada City
The Outside Inn. 575 East Broad St. Nevada City. (530) 265-2233. Renovated 1930's motor court with an outdoor theme. Wireless, walk to town, pets okay. Wonderful hosts. Our students rave about this place.
Northern Queen Inn. 400 Railroad Ave. Nevada City. 800-226-3090. Railroad theme, large rooms and restaurant. Some people come to Nevada City just to hang out at the Queen.
The National Hotel. 211 Broad St, Nevada City. (530) 265-4551. Built in 1854 it's the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the rockies. Great bar. Downtown Nevada City.
The Emma Nevada House Bed and Breakfast. 528 East Broad St, Nevada City (530) 265-4415. 1856 Victorian. Quiet, gourmet breakfasts. Runs neck and neck with the Outside Inn as our student's favorite.
Complete listing of Nevada City lodging options from the Chamber.
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Camping
Martis Lake. Army Corp of Engineers campground on west side of Martis. 25 sites, water, pit toilets. Very quiet, my favorite. No reservations. (530) 639-2342
Donner State Park. At the east end of Donner Lake. 154 sites, no hookups, hot showers, flush toilets, museum, interpretive center. Reservations: (800) 444-7275.
USFS Campgrounds.
* indicates reservations accepted. Contact Truckee Ranger District
(530) 587-3558 for further details.
Hwy 89 North Corridor
Upper Little Truckee Campground* Located 11.5 miles south of Sierraville on Little Truckee River. 6,100 ft. 26 sites, water, vault toilets.Lower Little Truckee Campground* Located 12 miles south of Sierraville on the Little Truckee River. 15 sites, water, vault toilets.
Sagehen Campground Located 9 miles north of Truckee and 2 miles west of hwy 89. Turn left at Sagehen Summit Turnoff. Free. 10 sites, creek water, vault toilets.
Lakeside Campground Very nice. Located 4 miles north of Truckee on hwy 89 on the NW shore of Prosser Reservoir. 30 sites, water, vault toilets, boat launch.
Prosser Campground Located 4 miles north of Truckee on west shore peninsula of Prosser reservoir. 29 sites, water, vault toilets.
Annie McCloud Campground Located 5 miles NE of Truckee on NE shore of Prosser Reservoir. From hwy 89 turn right on Prosser Dam Rd, continue four and one half miles. Campground is just past the dam on the left . 10 sites, lake water, vault toilet.
Stampede and Boca reservoir Area
Boca Campground Located on the SW shore of Boca Reservoir. 20 sites, lake water, vault toilets, wheelchair access. Open dusty campground but you can keep your boat at your site.
Boca Rest Campground Located on the NE shore of Boca Reservoir two miles north of dam. 25 sites, water, vault toilets, hand-off boat launching. Open dusty campground but you can keep your boat at your site.
Boca Spring Campground Small campground above the reservoir. Turn right on the dirt rd across from Boca Rest Campground. 17 sites, water, vault toilets, horses allowed.
Boyington Mills Campground Located on the Little Truckee River 4 miles north of Boca Dam. 12 sites, river water, vault toilets, no tables.
Logger Campground* Located on the SE shore of Stampede Reservoir, one mile west of the Stampede Dam. 252 sites, water, vault and flush toilets.
Emigrant Group Campground* Located on the SE shore of Stampede Reservoir, one half mile west of the Stampede Dam. Reservation only. Flush toilets, trailor dump station, BBQ's.
Davies Creek Campground Located on a dirt road on the north side of Stampede Reservoir. Free. 7 sites, vault toilet.
Truckee River Corridor
Granite Flat Campground Located one and one half miles south of Truckee on hwy 89. 75 tent or RV sites, 16 wheelchair accessible sites, 7 walk-in sites, water, vault toilet.Goose Meadows Campground Located 4 miles south of Truckee on hwy 89. 25 sites, water, vault toilet.
Silver Creek Campground Located 6 miles south of Truckee on hwy 89. 19 tent or trailor sites, 7 walk-in sites,water, vault toilet.
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Natural History and Fishing
Yellowstone Flyfishing.com is run by my great friend and the world's best lake angler, Phil Takatsuno. Phil has compiled a tremendous amount of information regarding the Yellowstone area, but much of what he has to say is very pertinent to California fishing. In particular, his DVD "Yellowstone Hatches" has THE BEST insect information yet compiled. Awesome footage of bugs (almost all of which live in California), their imitations, and how to fish them. Get a copy!!
Mountain Yellow Legged Frogs have been forced to the edge of extinction by wholesale and relentless planting of Sierra lakes with non-native trout. Go to this excellent site to read the FACTS!
Kaufmann's Streambornhas been around for over thirty years. Their catalog is a flyfisher's ultimate wish list (get one, they're free for the asking). Outstanding service, great people and no sales tax (unless you live in Washington).
USGS Biological Sciences. What's up with the creatures. Lots of facts, fun and interesting stuff about the world around us. Check out the "fish kills" link!
California Dept. of Fish and Game. The state's most intelligent and dedicated troops working under the state's most inept politicians best describes the CA DF&G. Their site contains loads of information and a plethora of great links.
The Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project. An absolutely incredible resource regarding anything and everything of value in the Range of Light. If you can't be there be here.Fish First! Home of "What's Hot and What's Not" the bi-weekly fishing report for California. The motherlode for Delta striper fly slingers!
Kiene's Flyshop. One of the most elegant sites on the net. Bill is one of the world's classiest guys.
California Fly Shop. A huge (the largest in Northern California) fly shop that carries several hundred rods you can cast on their store side canal. Massive fly selection that includes all of Ralph's patterns. Xav and Chris bend over backwards to provide the utmost in customer care.
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Conservation
Ed Abbey Homepage. A link to The Man. Try the random Abbey quote generator to find such gems as: "Reason has seldom failed us because it is seldom tried". "Save an elk, kill a cow" and of course, "Nature bats last".
South Yuba River Citizen's League is probably the organization that has done the most with the least. SYRCL got wild and scenic status for the Yuba and in their own way, have done more to protect California's cold water fisheries than other organizations who advertise themsleves as specializing in doing so.
Trout Unlimited. A web site from the people who brought you Hat Creek. Need I say more?
Cal Trout. The name says it all.
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. These guys never get the credit they deserve for plugging away. Look here to see where they've been and where they're going.
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Conditions and Predictions
Sierra Snow Pack Are you sure you want to look for Golden Trout at 12,000 feet on Memorial Day? This site gives real time readings of the snowpack throughout the Sierra.
River Status Kayak or fish? Real-time report of river conditions courtesy of Dreamflows.
CA-NV River Forecast Center Prediction of river flows and peak run off based on snow pack and weather models.
Road Reports Can I get there from here? Clickable map for real-time road conditions.
National Weather Service. River Flows, Tide Tables, and even the Weather. Loads of useful information for anyone getting off their computer and going outside.
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Companies We Like
Patagonia. There is no company we like better than Patagonia. Their products are cutting edge and their mission statement is even sharper: "Patagonia exists as a business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crises." These guys excede all others in their efforts to create gear with a minimum of impact on our environment and we support their efforts by using their stuff whenever the chance arises.
SIMMS. Top notch gear that might be expensive out the door, but it lasts and lasts and lasts to the point of being some of the most economical in the industry.
Umpqua Feather Merchants. Where can I buy Cutter's patterns? Who ties all those flies anyway? Tell 'em of your hot new pattern. . . who know's, you might be the next Dave Whitlock.
Galvan Fly Reels You can pay a lot more for a trout reel but you won't find anything better than a Galvan.
West Slope Fly Tackle A classy site full of mouthwatering classic fly gear.