Lahontan cutthroat trout swim in a school in this file photo after being released into Lake Tahoe near Cave Rock by the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Like a turkey before Thanksgiving, area trout have reason to be wary.
The general California trout season opens an hour before sunrise Saturday, allowing fishing on most of the state’s lakes, rivers and streams.
Lots of stocked fish and low water levels mean the fishing should be good this weekend and throughout much of the season, said California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Andrew Hughan.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Hughan said of opening day. “There’s several thousand fisherman. They’re catching fish and everyone’s happy.”
Most lakes, rivers and streams have a limit of five trout per day, with 10 in possession at any one time, but anglers should check the specific regulations for the body of water they’re fishing.
Both Nevada and California require anglers to be licensed, and licenses from either state allow for fishing in Lake Tahoe.
Fishing on tributaries to Lake Tahoe upstream to the first lake, and within 300 feet of the tributary mouths, remains closed until July 1. Fishing at Marlette Lake, on the lake’s East Shore, doesn’t open until July 15.
Several area water bodies have been stocked with trout ahead of opening day.
Prosser Creek Reservoir, just north of Truckee, and the west fork of the Carson River, south of Lake Tahoe near the junction of state routes 88 and 89, were among water bodies stocked this week, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The east fork of the Carson River, near Markleeville, and Caples Lake, near Kirkwood Mountain Resort, were planted with trout last week, as was Boca Reservoir, just east of Truckee.
Lake Spaulding, west of Truckee, is among the spots near Lake Tahoe that have been fishing particularly well, Hughan said.
“It’s a good time,” he said of fishing’s opening day. “There’s no reason you can’t get your 10.”
Information on angler licensing is available from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at wildlife.ca.gov/fishing, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife at ndow.org/fish.
