Lake Tahoe – Sand Harbor

The Washoe Tribe of Native Americans was the first inhabitants of the Tahoe Basin, and General John C. Fremont became the first of the white explorers to discover Lake Tahoe in 1844. The lake was named Lake Bigler in 1870 and it was not changed to Lake Tahoe until 1945. A dam was built at the Truckee River outlet in 1909 raising the lake an additional six feet. The lake is known for its deep blue color and sits in a beautifully forested basin. Lake Tahoe borders Nevada and California, with about 1/3 of the lake in Nevada.

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Region
Western
County
Washoe
Type of water
Lake or Reservoir
Fishing Report

Fishing has been good on Tahoe, the cooler nights should start to help move the fish up. Shore anglers are finding a few trout around deep water with some cover. Spoons and spinners are typically good options through fall as fish become more aggressive. Boat anglers are finding a few Macs deep in addition to  a few good Kokanee.

 

Lake Tahoe Angler Guide Information

09-05-2023

Stocking Updates

Stocked Species Inches Date Stocked Year to Date
3525Cutthroat906-01-20233525
1688Cutthroat906-28-20235213
6334Cutthroat907-11-202311547
1484Cutthroat9.307-18-202313031
558Cutthroat9.307-19-202313589
953Cutthroat9.407-19-202314542
1481Cutthroat9.407-21-202316023
1481Cutthroat9.407-25-202317504
1456Cutthroat9.407-27-202318960
1160Cutthroat1008-02-202320120
2783Cutthroat10.208-03-202322903
1100Cutthroat1008-03-202324003
2721Cutthrot11.508-23-202326724
810Cutthroat1208-23-202327534
306Cutthroat1208-25-202327840

Pertinent Information

Lake Tahoe, located in the Sierra Nevada, covers 192 square miles and has a maximum depth of 1,646 feet. Several introduced sport fishes inhabit the lake including lake trout (mackinaw), rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon, and to a lesser extent largemouth bass. At times, Lahontan cutthroat trout have been stocked, but they are rare. Mackinaw is the most caught and popular species and generally ranges between 16 and 25 inches. Rainbow trout are the next most sought after fish that usually average from 10 to 14 inches. Fishing success throughout the year varies, but fishing during July and August are the most productive times. Cave Rock and Sand Harbor State Parks produce the best catches for small rainbow trout since they are stocked from these locations. Shore access is limited around most of the lake due to private property and limited parking. Standard shore baits include nightcrawlers, Power Bait, salmon eggs, and minnows. Lures such as Mepps, Panther Martins, Rapalas, and Dardevles often catch active rainbow and brown trout. Top-line trolling for rainbow and brown trout is the most productive method for boaters, while deep-line trolling, jigging, and fishing with live minnows are the most widely used techniques for mackinaw. Numerous commercial guide services are available for anglers that lack the extensive fishing setups or angling knowledge required for catching fishes in Lake Tahoe. Nevada Division of State Parks has two public boat launching facilities at Cave Rock and Sand Harbor State Parks. Included are parking, picnicking sites, restrooms, and sandy swim beaches.