Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock fishing

Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout on a natural lake. Also recorded: Lake Trout (Mackinaw), Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White and Black Crappie, and 2 more. It is stocked about 2.3 times a year since 2022, most often in May and July. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and Largemouth Bass, dawn for Lake Trout (Mackinaw), and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout.

Last stocked: July 29, 2025; Jul 29 · Rainbow Trout
Plants on record: 9; Since 2022
Species stocked: 1 (+8 also recorded)
Average size: 9.9 in
Elevation: 6,271.9 ft

Fish at Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock

1 stocked · 8 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 9 plants · last July 29, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked July 29, 2025 · avg 9.9 in · 9 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

How to fish it

The next most sought-after fish after mackinaw, usually 10 to 14 inches. Top-line trolling is the most productive boat method. From shore, use nightcrawlers, Power Bait, salmon eggs or minnows, or lures such as Mepps, Panther Martins, Rapalas and Dardevles. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Rainbow Trout species guide

Lake Trout (Mackinaw) Confirmed present Best: dawn

Best: dawn

NDOW says mackinaw are the most caught and most popular fish in the lake, generally 16 to 25 inches; the state-record lake trout, 37 lb 6 oz, came from Tahoe. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

How to fish it

Lake trout are 50 to 90% of the catch, largely because charters target them, and can top 30 pounds. Deep-line trolling, jigging and live minnows are the main methods from a boat. Early in the season they can also be reached from shore or deep drop-offs with bait, lures or flies. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Lake Trout (Mackinaw) species guide

Brown Trout Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk

Best: dawn, day, dusk

NDOW says all of Tahoe's brown trout are wild fish. They make up under 3% of the catch but grow to trophy size; the water record is 15 lb 15 oz. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

How to fish it

Wild, fish-eating browns hold in shallow to moderately deep water. Top-line trolling is the most productive boat method; from boat or shore, fish drop-offs with spinners, Power Bait or live bait, or streamer and midge flies. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Brown Trout species guide

Kokanee Salmon Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk

Best: dawn, dusk

NDOW says kokanee make up about 25% of the angler catch and average 12 to 20 inches. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

How to fish it

A boat fish, about 25% of the catch, averaging 12 to 20 inches. Troll small to medium spinners and lures. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Kokanee Salmon species guide

Largemouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk

Best: dawn, dusk

NDOW lists largemouth bass among the lake's introduced sport fish, to a lesser extent than the trout and salmon. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Largemouth Bass species guide

Smallmouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk

Best: dawn, dusk

NDOW lists smallmouth bass among Tahoe's warmwater game fish. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Smallmouth Bass species guide

White and Black Crappie Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night

Best: dawn, dusk, night

NDOW lists white and black crappie in the lake. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

White and Black Crappie species guide

Bullhead Catfish Confirmed present

NDOW lists bullhead catfish among Tahoe's warmwater game fish. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Bullhead Catfish species guide

Mountain Whitefish Confirmed present

NDOW lists a 4 lb 9 oz mountain whitefish from Tahoe as an unofficial state record. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Mountain Whitefish species guide

How Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock is stocked

Source: Nevada Department of Wildlife.

No plants recorded in 2023.

Fish stocked in 2022

2,464

Fish stocked in 2024

10,093

Fish stocked in 2025

10,876

Stocking history

Showing 5 of 9 plantsShowing 9 plants

Source: Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
July 29, 2025	Rainbow Trout	1,870	8.3 in	report
July 29, 2025	Rainbow Trout	3,668	9.2 in	report
May 6, 2025	Rainbow Trout	5,338	10.4 in	report
July 29, 2024	Rainbow Trout	1,792	10.4 in	report
July 29, 2024	Rainbow Trout	504	10 in	report
July 29, 2024	Rainbow Trout	275	10.4 in	report
July 11, 2024	Rainbow Trout	3,562	9.7 in	report
June 27, 2024	Rainbow Trout	3,960	10.1 in	report
July 18, 2022	Rainbow Trout	2,464	10.4 in	report

Show all 9 plants +Show less

Access and facts

Water type: natural lake
Shore access: Yes
Boat ramp: Yes
Fee required: Yes
Facilities: restrooms, dock

Cave Rock, part of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, is on US 50 on Tahoe's southeast shore. The launch has one double ramp with a dock between the lanes and 40+ trailer spaces. A steep shoreline and rocky shoals make for good fishing, and a small south-end beach suits launching a kayak.

Other places to fish at Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock

Cave Rock

Nevada State Parks says the steep shoreline and rocky shoals make this a good fishing location. The launch has a double ramp with a dock between the lanes and more than 40 trailer spaces. (parks.nv.gov, accessed September 26, 2026)

Shoreline drop-offs

NDOW suggests working shoreline drop-off points with Kastmasters, Panther Martins, balanced leeches or midge flies for trout that hold along these edges. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Sand Harbor

NDOW says Sand Harbor and Cave Rock give the best catches of small rainbow trout because fish are stocked from these sites. Nevada State Parks runs a public boat launch here, with parking, picnic sites, restrooms and a sandy swim beach. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

Zephyr Cove

NDOW names Zephyr Cove, with Sand Harbor and Cave Rock, as a public access area for catching stocked Lahontan cutthroat trout. (ndow.org, accessed September 26, 2026)

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

About Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock

Lake Tahoe covers 192 square miles in the Sierra Nevada, with a maximum depth of 1,646 feet; about a third of it is in Nevada. A 1909 dam at the Truckee River outlet raised it six feet. Its sport fish are introduced: lake trout (mackinaw), rainbow and brown trout, kokanee, and some warmwater species. NDOW manages it as a put-and-take fishery and also stocks Lahontan cutthroat, the native trout. July and August are usually the most productive months.

Photo of Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock — Blake Everett Carroll, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearest lakes

Lake Tahoe – Zephyr Cove 2.4 mi last stocked June 23, 2026 Spooner Lake 4.9 mi last stocked July 8, 2025 Marlette Lake 9.4 mi last stocked September 5, 2023 Martin Slough 9.4 mi last stocked May 18, 2026 Baily Fishing Pond 10.4 mi last stocked September 14, 2026

Camping near Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock

Campgrounds within 15 miles of Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock's mapped point, nearest first: Zephyr Cove RV & Campground (2.5 miles), Nevada Beach Campground (4.4 miles), Badgers Den at Camp Richardson Resort (9 miles), Eagles Nest at Camp Richardson Resort (9 miles), and RV Village Campground at Camp Richardson Resort (9 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.

Straight-line distances.

Public land at Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock

Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock is less than 0.1 miles outside the edge of Cave Rock - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

It is 0.1 miles outside the edge of Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock?

Fishing Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock usually means Rainbow Trout. All 9 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked July 29, 2025, averaging 9.9 in. Lake Trout (Mackinaw) (NDOW says mackinaw are the most caught and most popular fish in the lake, generally 16 to 25 inches; the state-record lake trout, 37 lb 6 oz, came from Tahoe), Brown Trout (NDOW says all of Tahoe's brown trout are wild fish. They make up under 3% of the catch but grow to trophy size; the water record is 15 lb 15 oz), Kokanee Salmon (NDOW says kokanee make up about 25% of the angler catch and average 12 to 20 inches), and Largemouth Bass (NDOW lists largemouth bass among the lake's introduced sport fish, to a lesser extent than the trout and salmon), plus 4 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock stocked?

Last stocked July 29, 2025. It is stocked about 2.3 times a year since 2022, most often in May and July. No plants recorded in 2023.

How big are the fish stocked at Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock average 9.9 in.

How do you get on Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock?

Shore fishing is available, there is a boat ramp, and a fee is required. Facilities include restrooms and dock. Cave Rock, part of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, is on US 50 on Tahoe's southeast shore. The launch has one double ramp with a dock between the lanes and 40+ trailer spaces. A steep shoreline and rocky shoals make for good fishing, and a small south-end beach suits launching a kayak.

Which lakes near Lake Tahoe – Cave Rock were stocked more recently?

Lake Tahoe – Zephyr Cove (2.4 mi), Martin Slough (9.4 mi), and Baily Fishing Pond (10.4 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Tahoe – Zephyr Cove is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Martin Slough is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Baily Fishing Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (4) +