Lakes Fishing Report

LAKES FISHING REPORT

Get updated fishing conditions and recommended tips for fishing the local lakes around Truckee and Lake Tahoe

Get updated fishing conditions and recommended tips for fishing the Truckee River and Little Truckee River.

REGULATIONS

Stay updated with the latest California Freshwater regulations in the area.


Last Updated October 16th, 2026

Lakes Around the Truckee-Tahoe Area

Donner Lake

Fishing at Donner Lake has slowed down a bit with the fish moving deeper from shore. Salmon eggs and worms have been the best choice of bait for getting the trout to bite. Boat anglers can find fish suspended at varying depths, with Mackinaw holding deeper around 110–140 feet and schools of kokanee around 60–80 feet. Kokanee have started to spawn, so look for the macks following them. The Donner Lake boat ramp is closed for renovations for the remainder of the season.

Boca Reservoir

At Boca Reservoir, water levels are dropping with them releasing more water. Because of that, the boat launch is now out of the water. Early mornings and late evenings remain the most productive times to fish at Boca. Shore anglers are finding trout near the inlet using lures, worms, and salmon eggs, with some quality brown trout also being caught throughout the reservoir. Kokanee will be starting their spawn soon.

Stampede Reservoir

Water levels at Stampede Reservoir continue to decrease heading into fall, but anglers still have several fishing opportunities. Kokanee are starting to spawn in the Little Truckee and Sagehen inlets. Be mindful of bears in the area looking for an easy meal this time of the year. Rainbow trout anglers are finding success trolling Rapalas, while shore anglers can target trout near the dam using worms, PowerBait, and spinners. Smallmouth bass fishing has slowed considerably with the cooler conditions and, unless the weather changes, the bass bite is expected to remain slow for the remainder of the season.

Prosser Creek Reservoir

Prosser Reservoir is around half capacity and continues to provide consistent fishing heading into fall. The reservoir is planning to be stocked this week, so fishing could pick up heading further into the fall season. Cutthroat and rainbow trout are being caught near the north end and along shelves using worms, PowerBait, and salmon eggs, with some quality cutbows also showing up. Bass fishing remains fair as fish continue feeding ahead of winter. Anglers targeting bass should focus on weed lines, submerged structure, and warmer pockets of water using crawdad imitations, Senkos, or inline spinners such as Rooster Tails. Prosser remains a solid fall option for anglers looking to target various species.

Jackson Meadows

Jackson Meadows Reservoir is currently accessible Thursday through Sunday and is providing excellent rainbow trout fishing from shore. Spinners, PowerBait, and worms are all producing consistent action from several areas around the lake, giving shore anglers plenty of opportunities. Boat anglers are also finding quality brown trout by trolling Rapalas through deeper water. With productive shoreline fishing and opportunities to target both rainbow and brown trout, Jackson Meadows remains a worthwhile fall destination. It can also be a good option for anglers looking to get away from some of the heavier fishing pressure found on other local waters.

Lake Tahoe

No fishing report this week.

Pyramid Lake

The fishing season at Pyramid Lake is now open. Most of the fish are currently deep, around 70 to 80 feet in depth in the thermocline. Cloudy and stormy days can provide some of the better opportunities, making changing weather patterns worth watching when planning a trip. Right now, downriggers and boat anglers are having the most success with fish this deep. Another effective way for anglers to get some bites is to jig with spoons and tube jigs. As temperatures continue to cool, fish should gradually move into more accessible water and improve opportunities from shore. The shore bite typically begins to pick up more noticeably during November as colder late-fall conditions settle in.


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