It’s almost July and I still haven’t caught a fish on the big Truckee River this year. That said, I’ve only been fishing for 4 weeks this season.

I haven’t seen it this bad in a long time. Although I can’t compare this year to last because the water levels were so low and the water was so warm I just couldn’t, in good conscience, fish the big Truckee last summer. So last summer may have been worse. Whatever.

I hate nymphing but I’m so desperate to catch fish that I’ve been nymphing lately. San Juan worms, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, Prince, Copper Johns…no bites.

There has been some late afternoon-early evening hatches that I’ve stayed in the water for, and I’ve tried Elk-hair Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Adams. No top water action at all. I haven’t seen any fish rising in my usual spots. In fact, I haven’t even SEEN a fish at all.

Prosser Creek has good flows and I’ve been striking out there as well. I’ve fished below the dam about half a mile, and above the Truckee confluence about 200 yards–NOTHING! Again, did not see any fish.

I know it’s too early for grasshoppers but out of desperation I’ve been bouncing Hoppers off blades of grass near shady shorelines hoping for some reaction bites from the browns…nothing.

Nevada side Trophy section flows are high and fast. Several trips this month and no luck. No fish seen.

Farad good flows. I’ve seen lots of fishermen but no fish.

Truckee River loop next to hwy 80 between Prosser and Little Truckee good flows but lots of algae. I had to clean off my flies every other cast. No trout seen.

Seeing a pattern here? There’s no fish in the river!

I’m afraid the years of drought have killed off my beloved trout population in the Truckee River. Sigh.

I’ll be in Yosemite in July with my dad. Hopefully my trout in Tuolumne Meadows have survived…

sleeping in my bag in a room full of snoring bears, the sound of rain the metal roof, bellies full of rum, deer hunting tomorrow, i have never felt so much at peace

pavilion next to the fire pit, camping chairs huddled together, roaring fire that melts aluminum, and a jumping tree spider

garage bar that’s warm and dry, willy’s in the corner, peanut jars full of screws, scorpions and tarantulas all around

that’s a buck, stay in the truck, i can’t see a thing through this rain, engine still running, car door swings open, boom, there it is down the hill

less than two hours, how long has it been, your hair and beard are completely grey, we have no excuse

dinner’s over, campfire time, warm bottles of rum near the flames, stories repeated every year, i wouldn’t have it any other way

When I was still living in Manteca I used to smoke cigars in Modesto at a placed called Cigar Club and it was there that I smoked my first Illusione cigar.

I remember being overwhelmed by the giant selection in the Cigar Club humidor. I asked the guy working there for a recommendation. And after telling him some of the cigars that I liked he handed me an Illusione 88 maduro and said, “I think you’re really going to like this one.” And he was right–I really liked it.

So I smoked a lot of those 88’s at Cigar Club over the next couple of months. I spent a lot of time hanging out in lounge, smoking good cigars, enjoying some good company. And then I moved to Reno and needed a new tobacconist.

Fumare in Reno has the best reviews for cigar lounge in Reno so this was the first place I went to. And I soon found out that my beloved Illusione 88 maduros were produced by Dion Giolitto, owner of Illusione AND Fumare!

I’m at Fumare, smoking Illusiones, far too often these days. Fumare is by far the nicest cigar smoking lounge I’ve ever been to. And I love that there are no TVs in the place–it encourages some great discussions.

So this picture, obviously, is a picture of me, smoking an Illusione Cigares Prive Pactum. Fumare, my home away from home.