NOTES ON LAKE TAHOE, ITS TROUT AND TROUT-FISHING. 143 



It was pointed out above that the fi.shoiineii find it necessary to use a longer line 

 and thus, presumably, tish dcn^per as the season advances. Treat (ltH)4. p. SOS) has 

 suggested that this is due to a downward movement of the plankton, the trout follow- 

 ing it into the depths to feed on it. He gives no data, however, in support of his 

 suggestion. Neither did my own observations extend over a sufficient period of 

 time to determine whether the Daphn.ia do descend to greater depths in the da3'time 

 as the season advances. It is not at all unlikely that they do, for the water becomes 

 warmer and it undoubtedly becomes more transparent, and both of these factors would 

 tend to cause the descent to greater depths. But even if such a seasonal depth 

 migi'ation of Daphnia does occur, it would scarcely follow necessarily that the trout 

 move down also because of this fact, for they are not entirely dependent on plankton 

 Crustacea for their food. In fact, the above records seem to indicate that these 

 Crustacea form only a minor ]:)art of the food in most cases, while insects form the 

 major part at this season of the year. So it seems probable that other factors are 

 involved, which can be determined only by observations covering a uuich longer period 

 of time. Jordan and Henshaw (p. 198) state that the wondei-ful transparency of the 

 water renders the use of a long line imperative, as the trout are too shy to be 

 trolled in very near the boat. Thus the increase in the transparency of the water 

 after the flood season of the streams is over may, in part, account for the increased 

 length of line necessarj' for successful fishing late in the season. 



The stomach of a lO-inch Tahoe trout which was caught in Fallen Loaf Lake, a 

 small lake just south of Lake Tahoe, contained elytra of two beetles and fragments 

 of 25 or 30 ants. Three Tahoe trout, each 7 inches long, were obtained from Grass 

 Lake, a small lake still farther south, and their stomach contents were as follows: 

 No. 1, 32 damsel-fly nymphs^; No. 2, (;! damsel-fly nymphs, 4 water tigers (larval 

 Dytiscida?), and many chironomrd larvtB; No. 3, 4 water tigers and many chironomid 

 larvie. 



It is interesting to note in this connection that in these small lakes the Tahoe 

 trout or pogy readilj' rises to the fly. 



TROUT FISHING IN LAKE TAHOE. 



Angling. — All of the fishing in Ltdce Tahoe is done by angling. Fishermen 

 located at several points around the lake were visited and interviewed, and their 

 methods and fishing gear were examined. The method which is almost universally 

 employed at the present time differs but little from that described by Jordan and 

 Henshaw in 1S7S (p. 1'.>S), so tiiat, to use Treat's appropriate expression, "it may 

 fairly be said to have been born of experience" (1904, pp. 864-866). 



Years of experience in trolling on Lake Tahoe have resnlted in the adoption of tiie device now 

 employed — a metal, egg-shaped spoon of generous dimensions, of burnished copjier or nickel plated, 

 according to the whim of the fisherman. Brass turubuckles are attached to either end of this spoon. 

 A snell and hook is fastened to the smaller end while a twisted copper wire 75 to 125 feet in length 

 leads to the 20 feet of cotton line in the hand of the fisherman. The hook, a large-sized Pennel, Lim- 

 erick, or Sproat for choice, is baited with worms or minnows. This gear is trolled from the rear of 

 the bcjat, the line being continuously moved liack and fortli, the latter movement being made more 

 rjuickly than the former so as to insure the proper spinning of the spoon. When the fish is hooked 

 he is pulled in by main strength. 



