While Tahoe demands boats and downriggers, little Spooner Lake —” in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park at the top of Spooner Summit —” asks only for a rod, some bait and a camp chair. The Nevada Department of Wildlife stocks it with rainbow trout and "bowcutt" hybrids (rainbow × cutthroat), and most fish run a satisfying 10 —“14 inches with the occasional 16-incher.
An easy, mostly flat trail loops the shoreline for about two miles through aspen groves that turn gold in October, so non-fishing companions have plenty to do. No gas motors break the quiet —” this is float-tube, kayak and bank-fishing water.
| Location | Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, at the junction of US-50 and NV-28 (Spooner Summit) —” ~20 min from Incline Village, ~30 from South Lake |
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| License | Nevada fishing license required (16+), sold online at ndow.org |
| Limit | Five trout daily; bait is allowed; chumming is prohibited |
| Boats | Non-motorized only —” float tubes, kayaks and canoes are ideal |
| Fees | State-park day-use fee per vehicle |
| Facilities | Parking, restrooms, picnic areas; the ~2-mile Spooner Lake loop trail circles the water |
| Season | Spring through fall is prime; in hard winters the shallow lake can freeze —” locals occasionally even ice fish it |