10083 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161
Off the Hook Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop and guide operation based in Truckee, California, serving the Sierra Nevada trout fisheries of the Lake Tahoe Basin and the broader Truckee River corridor. Positioned at 5,800 feet in the eastern Sierra Nevada, the shop is ideally situated for access to the Truckee River — one of the most technically rewarding freestone trout streams in California — along with the Little Truckee River, Martis Creek, and the alpine lakes and meadow streams of the Tahoe National Forest. The combination of quality wild trout water, dramatic mountain scenery, and proximity to Lake Tahoe makes the Truckee area one of the most appealing fly fishing bases in the state for anglers who want a Rocky Mountain experience without leaving California.
The shop's guide staff specializes in the Truckee River's wild rainbow and brown trout population, which responds to a reliable progression of hatches from early spring pale morning duns and caddis through summer golden stoneflies and fall blue-winged olives. The Little Truckee below Stampede Reservoir is a smaller tailwater with disproportionately large brown trout — fish that have seen more than their share of flies and respond only to precise presentation and exact pattern selection. Off the Hook carries a complete inventory of rods, reels, waders, and apparel suited to high-elevation fishing conditions, with a fly selection organized around the specific patterns that produce on local waters each week of the season. Guided half-day and full-day trips serve all skill levels, and casting clinics provide accessible instruction for anglers new to the sport or working to refine specific techniques.
“Fantastic guided day on the Truckee River. My guide knew every run and had me on wild rainbows by mid-morning on dry flies. The Truckee is an underrated river — clear, fast, and genuinely beautiful — and Off the Hook makes the most of it. The shop is well-stocked with local fly patterns and gave me an accurate, specific report before I headed out solo the next day.”
“Best fly fishing experience I've had in California. Our guide took us to a section of the Little Truckee I never would have found on my own and we caught browns that surprised even him. The shop has exactly the flies you need for this region — they know the hatches cold and the bin reflects it. I will book here every time I'm in Tahoe.”
“Took my son here for his first fly fishing lesson and the experience was perfect — patient instruction, beautiful mountain water, and he caught his first trout by noon. The staff is genuinely excited about the fishing in this area and that enthusiasm is contagious. Highly recommend for beginners and experienced anglers alike.”
