Shasta County Fishing Reports

Striper fishing is still tangled in the spawn… milting males are being caught, and the occasional dead floater is drifting by. The river jumped a couple of feet after a Shasta release, but flows are settling in and things are starting to clean up. Debris is still an issue though… you’ll want to keep your line clear and check for fouled lures often. Bites are light… lots of short strikes. Full baitfish are working better than trimmed ones. If you’re trolling, stay tight: 10 to 15 feet down at 1.8 to 2.2 mph, and make sure that rod tip is dancing… if it’s dead, you’re dragging junk. Rounded river rocks are holding more fish than jagged stuff. One local reportedly stacked 100 fish in two hours earlier this week… so the bite’s there if you hit it right.

Bass fishing has picked up, but don’t expect the numbers anglers are seeing at Shasta. Most of the activity is post-spawn… tons of fry in the shallows. But a few fish are still locked on beds, holding tight to the weedline. Small swimbaits, underspins, and dropshots are producing best. You can either target suspended post-spawn fish about 10 feet off the edge or work the shallow cover. Big baits like glide baits and Huds have been getting follows from bigger fish, but they are still hesitant to commit.

Kokanee action is starting to turn on, with more fish being caught daily. Troll 1.5 mph with a 120-foot setback, targeting 10-25 feet down. The bite has been best in front of the bridge using Paulina Peak dodgers (cotton candy, wonder bread, or chartreuse) paired with spinners or hoochies.

Water temps are around 63°, and mornings have been best for both species before the wind picks up.