Shasta Lake Fishing Report

Shasta’s wide open. Kings are hitting at 65–125 feet, chasing tuna-packed Skinny Minis behind dodgers near Dry Creek and Frost Gulch. A few brown trout are being picked up on salmon gear, but most are being caught shallower around structure.

Rainbows are cruising mid-depth (40ish feet), actively taking scented KCP plugs, especially around Waters Gulch. Kokanee are schooling from 10 to 40 feet, feeding near the dam and throughout the McCloud Arm toward Hirts Bay. Pink micro shrimp, corn-tipped spinners, and Paulina Peak “Arnold Palmers” are the go-tos. With surface temps around 68°F and plankton blooms underway, expect rapid kokanee growth.

Bass fishing remains hot across the main lake, particularly in the Sac Arm. Bass are bedding, tucked tightly into cover, and roaming structure, consistently hitting Powerworms, jigs, and jerkbaits.

Overall, the bite remains excellent for nearly every species available.

The bass bite at Shasta is still hot, with fish pushed shallow and locked into full spawn mode. There’s no shortage of 1–2 pounders, but some big ones are hanging just off the beds in slightly deeper water. Reaction baits are working far better than bottom-contact soft plastic rigs. Jerkbaits, swimbaits, and underspins in natural shad patterns are getting the most attention... and even picking off a few quality trout up shallow.

The trout bite is still very good for healthy-sized rainbows and big browns. The Pit River Arm has reportedly been a great area to target.

Shasta Lake is in a transition phase, and while the fish are there, getting them to commit has been the challenge. Bass have been finicky—spinnerbaits have drawn some action shallow, especially when it’s windy, but actual hookups have been inconsistent. Anglers are also dropping swimbaits and other soft plastics for suspended fish around dropoffs and points in 25 feet and finding a few bites, but nothing worth getting too excited about. Water temps are still hovering in the mid-40s, which isn’t helping.

On the trout side, browns have been the most active, according to guide Jeff Goodwin, but rainbows should start to show more as the weather warms. The CDFW has dropped in a few big stocks lately as well. Right now, trolling has been best, with side planers and divers getting lures in front of fish. Goodwin reports that smaller spoons and stick baits have been the most effective. Bait has been hit-or-miss, so it’s best used as a backup plan rather than the main strategy.

With a warming trend on the way, expect a better bite in the coming weeks. Bass should respond to improving conditions, and rainbows will become more active as insect activity picks up.