Writers drone incessantly about Tahoe's clear waters, the rugged Sierra Nevada, the hot nightlife, gambling, and world-class skiing, but what gets me pumped is the prospect of hooking up with something BIG- talking about fish, of course.

Fishing is widely permitted in the Lake Tahoe area with a Nevada or California fishing license. However, Lake Tahoe Tributaries are completely off limits to fishermen, and many of the surrounding lakes and reservoirs have specific stipulations that fisherman should be aware of. For instance, to protect fish populations the Little Truckee River has a "no-barbed hooks" rule, and the Martis Creek Reservoir is "catch-and-release" only. Both states offer fishing license deals for vacationers, and stamps that anglers must keep at all times to legally possess certain fish.  But enough about the paperwork, let's get to fishing!

The rocky shorelines in the Lake Tahoe area are a fly fisherman's paradise, and feisty cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout are taken by skilled anglers using both wet and dry flies. Conventional anglers can stick to light tackle and a variety of baits. A 5'6'' spinning rod with a reel that handles 75 to 125 yards of 4 to 6 pound test works best with small hooks and clear, monofilament line.

Nightcrawlers are a favorite traditional bait, but a hungry trout will eat nearly anything. Mealworms, mayflies, salmon eggs and minnows can be used, and even bits of canned corn and brightly colored marshmallows have worked their way into the savvy angler's arsenal. Remember that trout give their all in a fight, and out of the water they are extremely fragile- not an issue however, if they quickly become a shore lunch!

You can get that arm burn that only a monster fish can provide if you latch onto a mackinaw, or lake trout. These are some of the baddest dudes in California and Nevada, and require more beefed up tackle that can handle fish that frequently reach 15 pounds. Kokanee salmon, another name for a landlocked sockeye salmon, provide a decent fight. Unlike their cousin the king salmon, kokanee only reach 12 to 20 inches, but are great for medium-weight tackle. Both of these species can be taken on live bait, spoons or spinners, but it's always best to consult local fishermen on how to "match the hatch." (Matching the hatch means matching the natural diet of fish in the area. This can change drastically with time of year, and local anglers are known to pay more attention to the hatch than jobs and wives!)

So after a day of skiing, and a night of gambling and drinks at a hot Lake Tahoe club or restaurant, what could be better than a 5 a.m. wakeup call? Come on, though, I'll get you through this. Go make a quick breakfast and I'll put the coffee on. Stumble through the dark and chill, and let's get out on Lake Tahoe before the sunrise kisses those snow covered peaks. This is what we came for.

This guide to Tahoe fishing was brought to you by Travis Jones