After a long, cold winter, the fish are hungry and so are the anglers. General trout season opens April 26 to waters not already open. Warm spring and summer days will mean great fishing in the beautiful lakes and streams of the Tahoe Basin.

Experienced guides Rick Muller and Leonard O’Malley and Truckee fly fisherman Bruce Ajari, who writes on the sport for the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, list their top 10 fishing spots and offer resources to help plan your next trip. Get in on the conversation in our comments below.

Lake Tahoe
For the possibility of catching a trout over 10 pounds, Lake Tahoe is the place. The lake is open for fishing all year long except within 300 feet of the mouth of any stream. Spring is the best for both Rainbow and Brown trout. Deep-dwelling Mackinaw are the most popular fish and are caught year round. Kokanee salmon are found on the south shore summer through fall. Hire a guide (www.cyberfly.com or www.fishtheleader.com) for boat fishing or head toward Cave Rock on the Nevada side and fish from the shore. There is also good shore fishing at Dollar Point, Crystal Bay Point, along the East Shore south of Sand Harbor, and the West Shore below Tahoe City.

Upper Truckee River
Fishing season runs from July 1 to September 30 on the Upper Truckee that flows from Meiss Meadows to Lake Tahoe and all other tributaries that feed into the lake. These rivers and streams are not stocked and are good for rainbow and brown trout. Fishing is best near the entrance to Lake Tahoe (especially in July after big snow years), or in deep pools throughout the length of the river.

Fallen Leaf Lake
A short distance to the west of south shore Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf is the second largest lake in the Tahoe Basin. This lake is best fished by boat, trolling or drifting for mackinaw, rainbow and brown trout. There has been some success with replenishing the native Lahontan cutthroat trout. Much of the shoreline is private property so shore fishing is only fair. For boat launching, the Fallen Leaf Marina is located at the southern end of the lake.

Hope Valley/Carson Pass area –Blue Lakes, Capels Lake, Red Lake, Silver Lake
Located directly south of Lake Tahoe, the area along Hwy 88 through the Hope Valley and over Carson Pass offers striking Sierra scenery and wonderful small lake fishing. These stunningly beautiful alpine lakes are well stocked with rainbow, brown, brook, mackinaw and cutthroat trout. The lakes freeze in the winter and offer good ice-fishing. There is a boat ramp and rentals at Capels Lake Resort and camping just across the highway at Capels Lake Campground. Silver Lake has several rustic resorts including Kay’s Silver Lake Resort, the Kit Carson Lodge, and Plasse’s Resort.

Carson Rivers
• East Fork – About 45 minutes from South Lake Tahoe, the East Fork is the longest un-dammed river and one of the most scenic in the eastern Sierra. Below Hangman's Bridge downstream to the Nevada state line regulations are catch and release with zero limit. All other lakes and streams in the Hope Valley area are five fish limit with no size limit. The East Fork offers good bank and fly fishing for rainbow, Lahontan cutthroat, brown trout, and mountain whitefish. Looking for more info? Check in with the local experts at www.theanglersedge.com.
• West Fork – About 25 minutes from South Lake Tahoe, the west fork flows from Faith Valley through the length of the Hope Valley until it meets the east fork in Carson Valley. This is a very accessible river since the entire length is along Highway 88 or the paved Blue Lakes Road. The river is stocked regularly with rainbow and cutthroat trout.

Truckee River
For anglers, the Truckee River is divided into three sections. Some of the best fly fishing in the Tahoe area is along the middle section. Designated as a wild trout sanctuary, this 12 mile stretch below Truckee runs from Trout Creek to Gray’s Creek at the Boca Bridge. There are special restrictions here, including the use of only artificial lures and flies, and the area is closely monitored. For up-to-date regulations, consult the California Department of Fish and Game www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/.

The upper and lower sections have five trout limits and no gear regulations. The 16-mile upper section from Tahoe City to Trout Creek is easily accessed along Hwy 89 and is stocked with rainbows to augment the stream-bread browns. The river between Tahoe City and River Ranch is crowded with rafters during the summer months, so fishing is best in the early morning or evening. No fishing is allowed for 1,000 feet below the outlet dam at Fanny Bridge in Tahoe City.

Little Truckee River
The four-mile section between Stampede and Boca Reservoirs offers fly fishermen great opportunities for surface feeding trout. It is a relatively small stream and good for wading anglers.. This is a special regulation section, limited to barbless artificial lures and flies only. Check the DFG website for limits and regulations.

Stampede, Boca and Prosser Creek Reservoirs
All three reservoirs can be accessed off of Hwy 80 between Truckee and Reno. They hold healthy populations of rainbow and brown trout stocked each year by the Department of Fish and Game. Stampede is considered one of the best kokanee salmon lakes in California. Kokanees are also found in Boca. Anglers trawl Stampede for mackinaw and many fly fishermen find these lakes some of the best in the Sierra.

Jackson Meadows Reservoir & Milton Lake
To access these popular fishing spots, take the scenic Jackson Meadows Road that parallels a meandering mountain stream off Hwy 89 toward Sierraville. Jackson, the larger of the two, has a good number of camp sites at Jackson Meadows and excellent boat and shore fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Below Jackson Reservoir, Milton Lake is a little gem with challenging fly fishing for good sized rainbows and browns.

Lake Davis & Frenchman’s Reservoir
At Lake Davis, located off of Hwy 70 near Portola, the Department of Fish and Game has finished chemical treatment with rotenone to rid the lake of the predatory northern pike. The lake has been aggressively planted with rainbows and browns and is ready to resume its popularity among fishermen as one of California’s top lakes for trophy-size rainbows.

Frenchman’s Reservoir, just east of Lake Davis, is another great fishery stocked with mostly rainbows, an occasional brown trout and catfish. Fishing is good from boats and shore, and many shallow coves make this lake popular with fly fishermen.

More info
Call The Sportsman in South Lake Tahoe (530) 542-3474 for up-to-date reports on fishing conditions. Rick Muller’s Sportfishing in South Lake Tahoe (530) 544-4358; O’Malley’s Fishing Charters in Zepher Cove; (775)-588-4102; and Mickey’s Big Mac Charters (530) 546-4444 in Carnelian Bay, are a few of many guides who can take you to the perfect spot. Ajari says to check out for tips on where to find the best fly fishing, guided trips, or lessons in the sport.

Have a question? Post your comments and questions below.

Comment below for a chance to win! Top

Want to know more about our commenting contest? Click here for details.