Natural lake (dammed)

Lake Tahoe

Placer & El Dorado Counties, California

A huge, deep alpine lake in the Sierra Nevada on the California-Nevada line, with a small dam at its Truckee River outlet in Tahoe City. It is known for very clear water and big lake trout, with kokanee and rainbow trout also caught.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Surface area122,000 acres

Max depth1645 ft

Shoreline75 mi

Boat motorsCheck local rules (600-ft no-wake zone from shore)

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Lake Trout●●●●●

The main event. Troll or jig deep structure, often 100 ft or more; fish come shallower in spring and fall.

Kokanee●●●○○

Troll small dodgers and hoochies in summer. Fish run up Taylor Creek to spawn in fall.

Rainbow Trout●●●○○

Shore and boat anglers catch them near stream mouths and shallow flats in spring and fall.

Brown Trout●●○○○

Few but large. Work rocky shorelines at dawn with stickbaits.

Smallmouth Bass●●○○○

Warmer, weedy south-shore areas such as the Tahoe Keys in summer.

When they bite

Month-by-month activity for each target species.

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Lake Trout
Kokanee
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout

SlowFairGoodHot

Boat launches

7 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Lake Forest Boat RampFee
Tahoe City PUD, Tahoe City. Fee, limited parking, closed in November for dredgingDirections ↗
El Dorado Beach Boat RampPublic
Public launch in South Lake TahoeDirections ↗
Kings Beach Boat Launch FacilityPublic
Public launch in Kings BeachDirections ↗
Tahoe Vista Recreation AreaMarina
Public marina and launch in Tahoe VistaDirections ↗
Tahoe Keys MarinaMarina
Marina with launch and dry storage, South Lake TahoeDirections ↗
Sunnyside Marina ResortMarina
Marina with launch, Tahoe CityDirections ↗
Camp Richardson MarinaMarina
Marina with launch, South Lake TahoeDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.

Species	Min size	Daily limit
Trout (lake within 300 ft of tributary mouths) Open Sat before Memorial Day through Sep 30; artificial lures with barbless hooks only	See California rules book ↗	0 / day
Trout (tributaries up to first lake) Open Sat before Memorial Day through Sep 30; artificial lures with barbless hooks only	See California rules book ↗	0 / day

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at California Department of Fish and Wildlife ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Tahoe Fly Fishing OutfittersNearby
2705 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe(530) 541-8208 Directions ↗
Trout Creek OutfittersNearby
10115 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee(530) 563-5119 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Lake Tahoe ↗

Local tips

Every motorized boat needs a TRPA aquatic invasive species inspection and seal before launching. Book ahead at tahoeboatinspections.com.
The water stays cold all year. Wear a life jacket, and watch for afternoon wind that builds big waves.
Streams and the lake within 300 ft of their mouths have special no-kill rules and seasons, and the Truckee River below the outlet dam is closed.

Angler reports

Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Tahoe.

Loading reports...