Fishing Guides & Techniques

This spinner is let out behind the boat and allowed to sink to the bottom in an area of known or suspected good fishing. The motor of the boat is then brought to its slowest trolling speed or very nearly so.

Small motors are desirable for this type of trolling for the speed must be very slow. The lure or minnow must be kept within one or two feet of the bottom. This is controlled by watching the tell-tale action of the rod tip and taking in or letting out line as may be required, since the bait or attractors must hit the bottom from time to time in order to determine the proper depth. The depths of water in which fishing of this type is usually done vary from about one hundred to five hundred feet.

Fishing is a family activity

Occasionally, a Rainbow trout is taken in this manner, but usually the Mackinaw is the prize. Although the strike of the Mackinaw is definite, the inexperienced deep-liner will have difficulty at first distinguishing a strike from the "strike" of a rock bottom. However, this fish puts up little fight as a rule. When it is reeled from the deep water the change in pressure causes the air bladder inside the fish to expand thus immobilizing the fish.

Fishing licenses, fishing tackle and fish in possession must be shown to any conservation officer, game warden or fish and game official from Nevada or California upon demand and along with suitable identification credentials, if required.

Tackle

It shall be lawful to take fish only with hook and line attached to a rod or reel held in the hand or closely attended. As used in this section, the word, "hook" shall be deemed to include not more than three baited hooks, nor more than two plugs or lures, irrespective of the number of hooks or attractor blades attached thereto, to be attached to the line. Only one such combination of hooks, line and rod or reel shall be used by one person at any time.

Live Bait

No fish my be used for bait or possessed for use as bait in Lake Tahoe except non-game fish which are native to and taken from Lake Tahoe. Said non-game fish are limited to the following: Lahontan Redside Shiner, Tui Chum, Tahoe sucker, Lahontan Mountain Sucker. Puite Sculpin and Lahontan Speckled Dace. Chumming is prohibited in Lake Tahoe.

The rewards from this type of fishing may be great, for a limit of sizable Mackinaw trout taken might weigh from 10 to 40 or 50 pounds. The table qualities of the Mackinaw are among the finest of piscatorial gourmets' delight. Remember, the key to success at deep-lining is to keep the lure or minnow as close to the bottom as possible, for the Mackinaw trout will not venture far from the bottom, even for your choicest lure.

Hand- Lining

Hand-lining which is really a form of deep-lining, employs a large reel or spool which is attached to the boat, and is used in place of the rod and reel. The metal line with its lure or minnow and attractor blades is let out to the required depth with the bait or lure always near the bottom. Thereafter, the line is slowly and continuously raised and lowered by hand, but always within a foot or tow of the bottom. Presently. There are only a few fishermen who participate in this type of fishing, but these have excellent results.

Top Lining

Top-lining is simpler. This consists of trolling fairly close to the shore preferably in areas of gravel and rocks. Here a long, light monofilament line is used and it matters not whether the rod and reel is of the spinning or bait casting variety. An artificial lure is trilled behind the boat. It is wise to try to keep the lure in water of 6 to 25 feet in depth. The Rainbow is the principal quarry in this type of fishing but Kokanee salmon or an occasional Brown trout will also be taken. During the late fall, winter and spring, even the Mackinaw may be caught by this method.

Casting

A third way of fishing exists, perhaps not so productive as the other two methods, but thought by many to be more pleasant. And, it doesn't require a boat and motor. This is merely still-fishing by casting from the shoreline or docks in areas that have the general type of bottoms described above. Eggs, worms, a minnow, a small crayfish, or other natural bait is fished on the bottom and a very light monofilament line is used. Lures have also been used successfully casting from the shore or dock. Fly casting at various times of the year when trout are feeding at the surface has netted good results.

Anglers should check with locals and sporting goods stores form information on where they're biting, or consider the services of an experienced guide to increase the chances of a successful outing.