Fishing Season (Lake Tahoe): Open Year Round, 1 hour before sunrise to 2 hours after sunset. Fishing is closed in the lake within 300 feet of its tributaries and upstream to the first lake from October 1 through June 30. The rest of the year the entire lake is open.

Live Bait: No fish may be used for bait or possessed for use as bait in Lake Tahoe unless taken from the lake.

Licensing Requirements: California residents under 16 years of age or Nevada residents under 12 are not required to have a fishing license on Lake Tahoe. All other anglers must have one of the following:

• California fishing license (2009)
  Cost:  Annual - .20/resident, 0.80/nonresident
  One-Day Permit - .40/resident or nonresident
  Two-Day Permit - .75/resident or nonresident
  Ten-Day Permit - .20/nonresident
  Free fishing days in 2009 - To Be Announced (no license required)
  
• Nevada fishing license (2008-09)
  Cost:  Annual Adult (16 or older) - /resident, /nonresident
  Annual Junior (12-15 years old) - /resident, /nonresident
  Annual Senior (65 or older) - /resident for 5 years 
  One-Day Permit - /resident, /nonresident
  Each additional consecutive day - /resident, /nonresident
  Purchase license online

A California or Nevada license may be used to fish anywhere on Lake Tahoe!

The best fishing at Lake Tahoe is in deep water from a boat, and the right locations are not easy to find.  The first time out hire one of Tahoe´s experienced guides and follow their advice.  For shore fishing, try places like Rubicon Point on the west shore or Cave Rock on the east shore.  Access by automobile to Rubicon Point may be made at D.L. Bliss State Park and to Cave Rock (see map) at the public boat launch there.  A day use fee is charged at both of those areas.

Fishing Techniques:

• Avoid fishing during times of mirror like calm, unless fishing deep for Mackinaw.  Even a slight surface riffle will break up shadows cast on the bottom and will partially obliterate the angler from view.
• Use a light monofilament line.
• Use very long line for trolling or make very long casts if fishing from shore.
• For Rainbow Trout - Use small lures when toplining and inshore fishing.  The best months for fishing are September through November and in May. Rainbows are planted throughout the summer.
• For Brown Trout - Use night crawlers or lures.  Early summer and just before dusk is the best time to fish.  Try the west end of Lake Tahoe, shallow areas long piers, and rocky bottoms.
• For Mackinaw (Lake) Trout - Deepline troll at least 80 feet with large flashers.  Drift fishing with live minnows or night crawlers also works.  Jigging with flashy lures can be effective.  Mackinaw are caught year around.
• For Kokanee Salmon - Try topline trolling with a Wes Lane Rig or clusters of worms on size 4, 6, or 8 hooks.  Early spring and late summer provides the best fishing.  Most Kokanee are found in the southwest corner of Lake Tahoe with a few taken off of the Cave Rock area.  It is highly unlikely you will catch them from shore.
• To gain more insight on landing any of the above, see Lake Tahoe Fish.