So you already know all about Tahoe- the nightclubs, the gambling, the restaurants and big-name entertainment; I live here though, so I don't care about any of that. If there's one aspect of life at the lake that is actually under-hyped, it's the fishing. Yes, that's right, don't let all the jet-skis and speed-boats fool you, Tahoe is a twelve-by-twenty-two mile, 1700 foot deep trout lake, and if the brochures didn't already have the cliché 'world-class' in front of every other activity listed, I wouldn't be reduced to claiming 'the fishing is pretty darn good.'

In our little puddle we have rainbow, brown and lake trout, (known locally as mackinaw) as well as kokanee salmon. The mackinaw offer consistent fishing year round, with excellent action in the shallows during the cold months, while anglers in summer often use specialized deep-water methods to catch them as far as two to three hundred feet down. These fish are not your average fish-and-game department hatchery 'dinkers', but big, wild trout averaging two to five pounds, with some going twenty pounds or more. The wild rainbow and brown trout are more elusive, but anglers in the know catch these species as well, especially in the spring and fall, and they are also hard-fighting fish averaging several pounds each. Kokanee salmon are Tahoe's smallest game fish, averaging only twelve inches long, but in mid-summer, they provide great light-tackle action, at times biting as fast as you can get your line back in the water, and they also provide some of the finest table-fare of any fish this side of Alaska.

We're talking about fishing from a boat here, as the lake is so big and deep that shore fishing is not generally consistent. Many are called but few are chosen to catch a fish from the bank on Tahoe, but if you want to give it a go, try Sand Harbor and Cave Rock state parks on the Nevada side of the lake. These spots receive large plants of ten-to-twelve inch hatchery rainbow trout in the spring and summer, boosting your odds for success, and there is always a shot at monster trout, since the big boys actually move into the shallows to EAT the little rainbows! Powerbait will catch the hatchery fish, but night crawlers or live minnows are preferable for larger, wild fish. In overcast and choppy conditions, a long cast with an aerodynamic artificial lure such as a Kastmaster spoon or Rapala Countdown plug can also fool fish from shore, but to increase your odds in the crystal-clear water, light line (four to eight-pound test) is advised.

Of course Tahoe has quite a few charter captains who will take you on a guided fishing trip by boat. Will you catch fish? Probably. Will you learn much about how to do so on your own? Maybe. I learned the hard way, fishing the lake for ten years, first in a canoe, then a small motorboat, to learn all the tricks and techniques for catching Tahoe's elusive game fish. Eventually I learned how to catch both good numbers of fish and some real lunkers, and as an outdoor writer, I found whenever I wrote about fishing here, readers responded with many questions and requests that I teach them how to duplicate my success. So when I started my guide business a few years ago, I decided not only to offer spin and fly fishing trips on other area lakes and streams, but also to include a unique service, where I accompany an angler on his or her boat on Tahoe.

If you have a boat that is configured for fishing or a ski/fish combo and want to climb up the learning curve quickly, call Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters at (530) 541-8208 to book me for this 'Tahoe Clinic'. I take beginners who need to learn basic trout fishing techniques, as well as experienced anglers who just need help getting started on this inland sea. Depending on your interests, your boat's equipment and the season, I can teach you shallow trolling for rainbows and browns, how to find and consistently hook summer kokanee, vertical jigging and minnow-mooching for mackinaw, extreme deep-trolling techniques, or even fishing with giant swim baits for monster trout.

This year I was fishing for mackinaw in the top 30 feet of water, defying conventional wisdom, right up until the current heat wave brought surface temperatures up to 70 degrees. On my latest Tahoe trip July 17, I fished just a bit deeper with Paul Jensen and his son Matt on Paul's well-equipped boat, and the catch of the day was an eight-pound mackinaw caught only 50 feet down with eight-pound-test line on light spinning gear. Thanks guys, for a great day on the water!

For those intrepid anglers determined to go it alone though, here are some tips for hooking up from your own boat on Lake Tahoe.

Location: While good fishing can be found in many spots around the lake, the trout will not generally be found suspended in the water column, in open water, or over a flat, sandy bottom. There are of course exceptions, but in general fishing is best over rocks in the shallow areas, and near areas with steep drops and quickly changing bottom contours in deep water. You can see these steeply sloping areas on a sunny day, where the lake's color changes from green in the shallows to deep blue in the depths, but for accurate presentation with your bait or lure, a fish-finding sonar unit is really a must.

Timing: There are seasonal guidelines, such as not attempting to fish for kokanee in midwinter, nor to expect to find cold-loving mackinaw in the shallows in midsummer. Daily timing is also important, with fish usually biting best in the low-light hours of morning and evening. When fishing shallow this is especially important, and cloudy, breezy conditions will aid the angler looking for trout in the shallows. Tahoe is open to fishing all year, from one hour before sunrise to two hours after sunset. Fishing within 100 yards of the mouth of any tributary stream (or in the streams proper) is prohibited except for July, August and September, to protect rainbow trout that spawn in these creeks in spring, and browns that use them for the same purpose in fall.

Bait and Tackle: Realize that this is a huge subject, worthy of a book-length answer, but if I had to pick one offering to recommend for Tahoe, it would be a live minnow, either jigged on the hook of a heavy spoon, or trolled behind a dodger or set of lake-troll spinner blades. Only native minnows trapped in Tahoe can be used here; you can either gather them yourself in a wire minnow trap, or purchase your livies at The Sportsman or Longs Drugs in South Lake Tahoe. For artificial lures, Rapala and Rebel plugs are great for trolling fast, while Flatfish and Kwikfish plugs catch fish when dragged slowly behind the boat. We have a nice selection of these lures as well as jigging spoons, dodgers, and other Tahoe tackle at Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters.

A variety of rod-and-reel combos will work here, the rule of thumb being when fishing shallow you'll get more bites and have more fun with light monofilament on a light action rod. Conversely, when downrigger trolling or spoon-jigging 200 feet down, non-stretch braided lines and stout rods are preferred, for feeling the strike, setting the hook, and moving heavy mackinaw up off the bottom.

Good luck out there and please be careful! Tahoe is big water and many tragedies have occurred here. Watch the weather, know your boat's capabilities, check your safety equipment and exercise courtesy and restraint around other boaters. If you manage the risks with prudence, the rewards of fishing here are more than worth the effort!

Until Next Time!
Mark (Never Stand In A Canoe) Wiza
Email Me!

Mark Wiza is a licensed fishing guide offering a variety of highly educational fishing trips in the Tahoe area. Call Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters toll-free at 877-541-8208 or Email Mark for details.