Lake Tahoe Macks

Hi All,
I'm heading to Lake Tahoe this weekend and was wondering if you had any advice on fishing for lake/mackinaw trout.  I have never fished for macks, so I am pretty much lost.  I know they are deep, and that's about it.
Thanks, Sean

Ditto!

I will be up there next week-end will spend at least one day paddling and maybe fishing. I don't really plan on catching anything, but will give it the old college try.

Any way to get to the trout without a downrigger?

Dustin... you might try lead core line.  Always worked good at Eagle Lake and I know you can easily troll depths up to 40 feet or maybe even more with lead core.

Erik

Only fished for Macks in Tahoe once. We fished deep - 200 feet. And were jigging Gibbs minnows tipped with Lahontan Redsides just a couple cranks off the bottom. This was the end of May last year, The bit was on at daybreak, and we didn't pick up any more fish after about 8:00. There were 4 in the boat, and we had 2 fish per person. We left out of South Lake, pretty much North, maybe North by Northeast. About half a mile out of the harbor.

Have fun! And let us know how it goes. I wouldn't mind hitting Tahoe or Donner for Macks sometime, but from the 'yak for a change.

Regards,
Scott

I was just there this weekend for a wedding and I saw a great spot to rent and launch kayaks from.....unfortunately I forgot the name of the Kayak Shop but I do know it's right a across a popular restaurant called Steamers in the town of Tahoe Vista / North Lake Tahoe. They rent Ocean Kayaks - mostly scupper pros, a few tandems and the Prowler 15's. the water conditions were great! Even an islander like myself actually got to swim in the lake. I'll definitely be back there again soon!!! I miss fresh water fishing  


Secline Beach is another nice spot where you can park for free, use the picnic tables / bbq grills and launch your kayak easily.

You can drop a minnow trap in Tahoe baited with cat food. Then put on a small flasher and a long leader to the minnow. If you let out enough line (100 yds) you will get down to about 15 feet. Fish the drop offs.
We caught macks this way all the way until mid-July this year. When the weather cools down in early Oct we will be back.