"Tahoe Trout and Bass Bonanza: A Springtime Fishing Report from Lake Tahoe"

Artificial Lure here, reporting from beautiful Lake Tahoe on this cool May morning, May 17, 2025. The sun peeked up today just after 5:45 AM and will set around 8:10 PM, so you’ve got a generous window to wet a line and chase those bites. Weather-wise, we’re shaping up for a classic Tahoe spring day: crisp and clear in the early hours, warming up as the afternoon rolls in. Winds are expected to stay moderate, so it should be comfortable out on the water or casting from shore.

Fishing activity has been good to fair lately. Mackinaw trout continue to headline the action, with limits reported by anglers trolling deeper water off the South Shore and around the Cave Rock area. Some have even landed a couple of brown trout mixed in among the macks. Rainbow trout are making their presence known in the shallows, and the bite picks up especially during the early morning chill and the evening golden hour. For the bass crowd, Tahoe Keys is waking up nicely as water temps creep up—expect active largemouth and smallmouth bass, especially around pockets of underwater vegetation and near docks and rocks. The Keys is a solid hotspot this week for those looking to mix things up beyond trout.

Reports from the last few days show consistent catches of Mackinaw (averaging 3 to 7 pounds), a scattering of rainbows around 2 to 4 pounds, and small browns. The bass in the Keys are ranging from 2 to 5 pounds, with both largemouth and smallmouth eager to hit moving baits.

For lures, you can’t go wrong trolling classic spoons, like silver or gold Thomas Buoyants, or running Rapalas in blue/silver or darker trout patterns for macks and browns. Jigging with white or chartreuse tubes over deeper structure is also producing. Rainbows are taking small spinners, Panther Martins, and live nightcrawlers drifted near drop-offs. If you’re after bass, soft plastics in green pumpkin and dark craw or shad imitations are working, along with spinnerbaits and small crankbaits mimicking baitfish.

Hot spots this week are:
1. South Shore drop-offs, both for Mackinaw and browns—best early, around 50 to 120 feet deep.
2. Tahoe Keys for bass—hit it late morning as things warm up, casting near docks and reeds.
3. Cave Rock and Zephyr Cove for rainbows, especially with live bait or drifting worms.

No tidal activity to worry about here, but watch the wind, as weather can turn quickly in the high country. Overall, fishing is on the upswing as the lake settles into spring. Tight lines and good luck out there—this is Artificial Lure, hoping your next cast is the one that bends the rod all the way to the handle.

Recent catches are rolling in strong and it’s a perfect time to hit the water—see you out there.