Howdy there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Monday morning fishing report for May 19, 2025, around beautiful Lake Tahoe!

Spring runoff is in full swing, and the trout are responding with some excellent feeding activity. The water clarity is absolutely phenomenal right now - locals are saying it's the best they've seen in decades, with that classic Tahoe glass-clear appearance.

The big news continues to be the Mackinaw bite. Anglers have been landing limits of these lake trout, with some monsters in the 15+ pound range being caught just last week. Jason over at Cave Rock has been doing particularly well, and that whole stretch from Cave Rock to Logan Shoals is producing nicely.

Browns are also in the mix, with a remarkable 10.25-pounder caught and released recently - a double-digit brown in Tahoe is quite the accomplishment! Keep an eye out for these trophy fish.

Kokanee action has been heating up too. While Tahoe typically gives up Kokes around 14 inches, this season we're seeing some impressive 16-18 inchers, particularly in the southwest area of the lake at depths between 55-75 feet.

For tackle, flashers with worms have been the go-to for many anglers, but I personally prefer using small Cowbells in gold and silver - they create less drag for a better fight when you hook up. Rapalas have also been productive both on top and down deep. The key is to keep changing patterns and sizes until you find what's working that day.

Hot spots today include the stretch from Cave Rock to Logan Shoals for Mackinaw, and the southwest area for those bigger Kokanee. If you're looking to get away from the crowds (and yes, weekends have been busy), try the north and west shores for more sporadic but still rewarding Mackinaw action.

The weather today is typical May - we'll see some sunny periods mixed with possible afternoon thunderstorms. That's just Tahoe spring weather for you! Get out early to avoid both the crowds and the afternoon wind.

There's some concern about the low flows out of Taylor Creek potentially affecting the spawn for another year, which could impact future fish numbers. All the more reason to practice catch and release with those trophy fish.

Whatever you target, the fishing is good to excellent right now. Good luck out there, and as always, tight lines to you all!