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Last Updated September 3rd, 2026

Lakes Around the Truckee-Tahoe Area

Donner Lake

Fishing at Donner Lake has been okay, but with the pickup in summer boat traffic, the shore bite has slowed down quite a bit. Rainbow trout can be caught from the west end of the lake using PowerBait, worms, and a variety of spinners. The most success for shore anglers comes from using a slip sinker rig. For anglers boat fishing, fish are suspended at various depths. Mackinaw are heading deeper as water temperatures increase and can be found around 100 to 130 feet. The same thing with the Kokanee. Most of the schools of kokanee can be found around 60 to 80 feet. As summer recreation continues, the best time for fishing right now is early morning around 5:30am to 10am when temperatures are cooler, fish are more active, and boat traffic is at its lowest. Reminder, the Donner Lake boat ramp will close on September 14th for renovations.

Boca Reservoir

Boca Reservoir continues to be one of the area's top fishing destinations, with healthy water levels and consistent action throughout the lake. Early morning and late evening continue to be the best times to fish at Boca. Trout fishing has been productive near the dam, where shore anglers are finding success with worms, PowerBait, and rooster tails. The kokanee bite remains one of the strongest in the region, with schools of 10 to 12-inch fish providing steady action. Anglers trolling wedding rings behind flashers while covering water are locating the most kokanee. Fishing is best at Boca during the cooler morning and evening hours before recreational boat traffic picks up.

Stampede Reservoir

Stampede Reservoir water levels continue to decrease as we head later into the summer. Right now, the water level is low, but it continues to offer a variety of fishing opportunities. Kokanee fishing remains consistent, with pink or orange hoochies behind dodgers producing the best results 50 to 70 feet down near the Sagehen and Little Truckee inlets. The size of the Kokanee are small, around 8 to 9 inches. Rainbow trout anglers are finding success trolling Rapalas, while shore anglers continue to catch fish using worms, PowerBait, and spinners over by the dam. The smallmouth bass bite is also good, especially around the dam and rocky shoreline, giving anglers another productive option throughout the day. With steady trout, kokanee, and bass action, Stampede remains a great destination for anglers looking to target multiple species in one trip.

Prosser Creek Reservoir

Prosser Reservoir is about 70% full and continues to be one of the better reservoirs to fish right now with the lower boat traffic. Cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing has been particularly productive near the north end of the lake, where worms, PowerBait, and salmon eggs are producing quality fish, including several larger cutthroat reported recently. Bass fishing also remains strong, with fish actively feeding around weed lines, submerged structure, and warmer pockets of water. Crawdad imitations, Senkos, and inline spinners such as Rooster Tails have all been effective choices for bass anglers. Whether targeting trout or warmwater species, Prosser continues to provide consistent summer fishing for anglers of all experience levels.

Jackson Meadows

Jackson Meadows Reservoir is accessible Thursday through Sunday. Shore anglers are reporting an excellent rainbow trout bite, with spinners, PowerBait, and worms all producing consistent action from a variety of locations around the lake. Anglers fishing from boats are also finding success targeting quality brown trout by trolling Rapalas through deeper water. With easy access, productive shoreline fishing, and opportunities for both rainbow and brown trout, Jackson Meadows remains a worthwhile destination for anglers looking to escape some of the heavier crowds found on other local waters.

Lake Tahoe

No fishing report is available for Lake Tahoe this week. Anglers planning to fish the lake should check current weather, wind conditions, and local reports before heading out, as conditions can change quickly during the summer months. If the weather is cloudy, conditions are more favorable for anglers.

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid Lake is closed for the season.