An estimated 300 million crawfish live in Lake Tahoe. That’s almost one crawfish for every citizen in the United States. With so many, why not try your chances at some Lake Tahoe crawfishing?
For the Casually Curious Crawfisher
Go to your local sporting goods store and pick up a fishing net and a fishing poll. Then head to your grocery store and get some chicken livers. Now head down to Lake Tahoe and sit on your favorite dock, drop your line in with some chicken liver attached to it and wait. If you feel some action on your string, slowly pull it up and behold your catch!
For the Crawfish Meal
If you’re looking to make a meal out of your catch, you’re going to need a basket. Check your local sporting goods stores for crawfish baskets. You’ll need a basket similar to a lobster pot but with smaller holes so the crawfish can’t escape. If you’re good with tools then you might consider making your own Lake Tahoe crawfish basket. There are plenty of resources online to show you how. You can even make a simple trap out of the a 2-liter plastic bottle. Once you have a basket, simply attach it to a rope and buoy and toss it off a dock. Don’t forget to place some meat inside the basket to attract the crawfish. Let it sit in the water for about 12 hours, then pull it up and harvest your catch.
Kings Beach has a sloping sandy beach and a pier for great crawdad fishing, and you can rent kayaks, paddleboats and water trikes for added amusement.
