Fish on the Lake Year Round!

While many people take advantage of Shasta Lake’s wealth of water for boating, skiing, and swimming, another advantage of being on the water is the excellent fishing Lake Shasta has to offer! Shasta Lake is home to many different fish species; an angler’s paradise! Here are a few you can find while fishing on the lake, and the best times to drop your line in (along with some pro tips!):

Rainbow and Brown Trout

The McCloud Arm of the lake has some of the best brown trout fishing around! Rainbows can also usually be seen up and down the Sacramento Arm, as well as near Dry Creek and Big Backbone. Trout fishing is generally best in the spring, but can still be caught when the temperatures warm up in the deeper sections of the lake where the water is a bit chillier!

Chinook Salmon

Similar to trout, King Salmon fishing is usually best in the early to late spring (April-May) while the water temperatures are still cooler. However, even in the summer, Chinook can be found where the water still runs cold! Area’s around Shasta Dam are usually the best bet, and tackle that creates vibrations (flashers/dodgers) usually attracts the attention of the salmon.

Spotted, Largemouth, and Smallmouth Bass

Bass fishing on Shasta Lake is fantastic year round! Live bait and rubber worms are a sure go-to when fishing for any of the species. Rumor has it, the best time to catch a bass is “fish-thirty!” Whether your visiting us in the summer or the winter, you can be sure to snag a bass at any time of the year!

Channel and White Catfish

Catfish are our summer friends! They can be caught throughout spring and well into the summer. They love any bait or tackle that has a strong smell – hotdogs are a great resource (especially if you have some extra’s after a campfire!), but a lot of angler’s also like to use anchovies, too!

Bluegill

Bluegill love warm, shallow water and can usually be found throughout the lake, but especially in coves or up inlets. They are most easily found in Spring to Fall (April-October), and seem to like live or rubber worms!

If you’re looking to fish from the water, our patio boats are also a great option! Be sure that whenever you head out, you are keeping up to date on all local regulations. These can be found here! Best of luck!