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Fishing Information

Direct specific fishing regulation questions to:
Nevada Division of Wildlife, 775-688-1500
California Department of Fish and Game, 530-355-7040

Important Note

To prevent over fishing and to give the fish a chance to reproduce naturally, rules and regulations have been made. Several lakes and streams are closed to fishing year around. Some lakes and streams are catch and release only. Before fishing, pick up a current copy of the State Fish and Game regulations from our office. Fishing licenses can be obtained from local sporting goods stores. Failure to obtain a fishing license or to follow rules and regulations can result in stiff fines. As a quick reminder:

  • Licenses: Any person, 16 years of age or older, must have a valid California or Nevada sport fishing license to fish in Lake Tahoe. Surrounding lakes and streams require a license for the state in which the person is fishing.
  • Seasons: Seasons vary. Check a copy of the current fishing regulations for information.
  • Hours: Fishing in Lake Tahoe is legal one hour before sunrise to two hours after sunset. In all other bodies of water in the Tahoe area (Sierra District) fishing is legal one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
  • Free Fishing Days: June 8, 2002 and September 28, 2002: on these days only, all regulations apply-but NO license is required for sport fishing.
  • Limits: The daily limit for Lake Tahoe is 5 trout, but no more than 2 mackinaw. Most other lakes and streams in the Tahoe Basin have a limit of 5 trout. Check a current copy of the Fish and Game regulations for specific information.
  • Live Bait: No fish may be used for bait or possessed for use as bait in Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake, or Donner Lake unless taken from that lake. Live bait in these lakes are limited to the following: Lahontan redside shiner, Tui chub, Tahoe sucker, Lahontan mountain sucker, Piute sculpin and Lahontan speckled dace. Chumming is illegal.

Fishing Tips

The skillful angler minimizes the disadvantages to Tahoe's wonderfully clear water in the following ways:

  • 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.

More useful information can be found at Fish The West.

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