Tahoe fishing tips?

[reelynew]

Hey All,

If anyone has some experience fishing in Tahoe, I'd really appreciate some tips.  We would be going for kokanee, browns, lahontan and rainbows. 

A friend invited my wife and I to fish off his pleasure boat in Tahoe.  It's not ideal for fishing, but we don't want to turn down the opportunity.  We fished there over the holiday weekend from the shore and had a great time

Any suggestions on places to fish on the lake to  what tackle?  I think we will be jigging mostly due to the boat.  I have been doing some research, but am always looking for some firsthand knowledge too.

Thanks,

Matt

[Crab Pot]

Matt, though I'm not a Lake Tahoe expert I have fished it many times.

For Browns and Rainbow's I've always trolled Rapala stick baits anywhere from 1.5" to 6" about 100-250 feet back. In the predawn the Brown's will be on top and you can actually sight fish for them. It's tricky though and the boat driver needs to be on his game to put the lures in the zone without running the fish over.

I have never caught a Kokanee on Tahoe. Not for lack of trying though.

The fish that's easiest to catch is the Lake Trout, they get the size of Salmon, and are mostly on the bottom.

Jigging or ball bouncing the bottom, like for Halibut is the most productive. If you can catch little Crawdad's you'll get some. They tend to be deep so braid is best due to the stretch in mono. I wouldn't use anything less than 30 pound leader because they like to live in the rocks. A one ounce weight is the least I'd bring but if you troll a 4-6 ounce will be needed.

Lake Trout are not leader shy and are very aggressive.

They are also delicious.

Don't know where you'll be putting in at but I always launch out of Tahoe City, North Shore.

Take pictures and good luck,

Steve

[reelynew]

Thank you Steve for the very informative reply.

I picked-up some hook-up baits to jig with. 

We are looking to put out from Tahoe Keys. 

Have you or anyone tried the Redi Rig instant downriggers or similar devices?

Seems like an inexpensive way to get your lures down deep without a dedicated down rigger. 

[Crab Pot]

Thank you Steve for the very informative reply.

I picked-up some hook-up baits to jig with. 

We are looking to put out from Tahoe Keys. 

Have you or anyone tried the Redi Rig instant downriggers or similar devices?

Seems like an inexpensive way to get your lures down deep without a dedicated down rigger.

The Tahoe Keys are in South Lake where a large shelf goes out for quite a distance.

If you can brave the water temps, and if your captain obliges, you can sight fish for crawdads. Use to do it as kid a 100 years ago.

If you target Lake Trout you will catch some if you send down crawdads. The problem will be keeping the little ones off. Once you go over the ledge of the shelf fish deep and on the bottom.

I've used similar weights to gain depth with mixed results. IMO they scare more fish than they catch.

Good luck and take pictures!

[Gfish]

Sounds like you're going at a good time. I went on the South side in November once, total skunk. Fish were down there but wouldn't bite. Cold out there.