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Shasta Lake Fishing Report 2024 [Tips, Spots, Pictures, and Everything You Need to Know]

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | Fishing Shasta Lake

How To Fish Shasta Lake?

photo: usbr.gov

About Shasta Lake

Located 223 miles away from San Francisco, overall it’s considered a popular lake for the weekend angler. And in this post you’re going to be given the blueprint to fish this lake.

Shasta Lake Is a very deep body of water with the average depth being 200 feet and a maximum depth of over 500 feet when the lake is completely full. Furthermore, it’s 35 miles long and 4 miles across. 

Needless to say, Shasta Lake fishing can go gangbusters when you have 30,000 acres and over 365 miles of shore line to fish!

What Kind of Fish Are In Shasta Lake

  • Rainbow Trout
  • Brown Trout
  • Brook Trout
  • Chinook/King Salmon
  • Kokanee Salmon
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Spotted Bass
  • White and Black Crappie
  • Bluegill and Sunfish
  • Perch
  • Catfish

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Shasta Lake Fishing Tips & General Strategies

photo: usbr.gov

Water Clarity:

  • Summer: Enjoy 20/20 vision below the surface, with water clarity reaching up to 20 feet.
  • Winter and Spring: Don’t let the murky waters from nearby river runoffs bass-tle your spirits.

Water Temperature:

  1. Spring (Feb – Apr): A cool 50 – 57°F.
  2. Summer (May – Aug): Hot and bassy at 70 – 78°F.
  3. Fall (Oct – Nov): A chill 60°F.
  4. Winter (Dec – Jan): Brrr-ace yourself for 42 – 50°F.

Fishing Cover:

With a smorgasbass of cover, Shasta Lake is a haven for bass to thrive.

  • Steep-sided banks
  • Flooded timber
  • Rock piles
  • Submerged brush
  • Weed beds
  • Aquatic vegetation

Structures:

Man-made marvels that turn Shasta Lake into a bass magnet.

  • Boat docks: Perfect for shade-seeking bass
  • Bridges: Offering shade, cover, and baitfish

Springtime Fishing update

Spawn

Spring Fishing: Timing is everything when it comes to spawning season.

  • Largemouth bass: Spawn-taneous at 60°F
  • Smallmouth bass: A chill 58°F

Weather Patterns

  • Air Temperature: 40s – 70s
  • Winds: Calm or gusty, north to south or southeast

Spawning Secrets:

Know when and where to find your prized catch.

  1. Largemouth bass: Late April – Early May
    • Shallow coves, protected areas with vegetation and woody cover
    • Hotspots: Jones Valley, Dry Creek, Packers Bay
  2. Smallmouth bass: Late April – Early May
    • Rocky areas, gravel or sand bottoms, middle and upper lake arms
    • Hotspots: McCloud River Arm, Pit River Arm, Squaw Creek Arm
  3. Spotted bass: April – June
    • Main lake body, steep banks, rocky or gravel bottoms, 15 – 30 ft depth
  4. Crappie: Late March – Early April
    • Shallow coves, brush, trees, or other cover
    • Hotspots: Little Backbone Creek, Big Backbone Creek, Dry Creek Arm

Post Spawn:

After spawning, bass and trout tend to move to deeper water as the temperature rises in the summer months. 

Largemouth and smallmouth bass can be found around structure such as rocks, trees, and drop-offs. 

Trout, on the other hand, tend to seek out cooler water and can often be found near the Shasta Dam, the McCloud River Arm, or the Sacramento River Arm.

Keep in mind that fish behavior can vary depending on the time of day, weather conditions, and other factors, so it’s important to stay flexible and adaptable when fishing on Shasta Lake.

Shasta Lake – Summer Fishing update

Summer Fishing On Shasta Lake

For the most past the summer has been warm and dry with clear blue skies… great fishing weather. The air temperature ranged from the mid-80s to low 100s (°F) during the day and drops to the mid-50s at night. The wind speed has been typically low, ranging from 5-10 mph, but increased in the afternoons up to 20 mph.

Bass and trout eat a variety of things during the summer.  They especesially like threadfin shad and small minnows are the primary prey.

The warm water temperatures cause baitfish to school and move to the shallower areas of the lake, attracting the predators.

Bass will come up shallow to feed, then migrate to darker, cooler, and deeper waters during the hottest parts of the day. Then in the evenings and move back shallow to eat.

Reports that Trout can be found in deeper, cooler waters, but they will also move to the shallower areas during low light periods to feed.

Anglers Some of the best techniques to catch trout and Kokanee on Shasta Lake during summer include trolling, using bait, and vertical jigging.

Trout Lures:

  • PowerBait (various colors)
  • Garlic-scented marshmallows
  • Kokanee lures (e.g. Kokanee Killer)
  • Needlefish lures (e.g. Needlefish Spoon)
  • Hoochie lures (e.g. Kokabow Hoochie)

Trout Locations:

  • Hirz Bay
  • Packers Bay
  • Dry Fork Creek
  • Below I go into detail where you can catch more trout so make sure you scroll below!

During the summer months, bass fishing can be quite productive on Shasta Lake. Here are some of the best techniques and baits for catching bass on this lake:

Bass Techniques:

  • Drop shot rigs with soft plastic baits
  • Texas-rigged plastic worms or creature baits
  • Topwater lures like buzzbaits or poppers
  • Crankbaits retrieved at varying depths
  • Jig fishing around structure

Bass Baits:

  • Roboworms in various colors
  • Zoom Trick Worms
  • Strike King Rage Tail Craws
  • Heddon Zara Spooks
  • Rapala Shad Raps

Bass Locations:

  • Look for structure such as submerged trees, rock piles, and points
  • Fish along the weedlines
  • Try fishing around the dam or near the inlet of the Sacramento River arm.
  • Below I go into detail where you can catch more bass so make sure you scroll below!

Shasta Lake is home to a variety of game fish, in addition to the trout and bass previously mentioned. Here are a few other species you might encounter:

  • Crappie: During the summer, crappie can be caught near submerged trees or other underwater cover using jigs or small minnows.
  • Catfish: Channel catfish, white catfish, and bullheads can all be found in Shasta Lake during the summer months. Try using anchovies, chicken liver, or “stink” baits near rocky outcroppings or submerged logs.
  • Bluegill: Bluegill can be caught near underwater structures using small worms or jigs tipped with wax worms.
  • Kokanee salmon: These landlocked salmon are most often caught by trolling with small spinners or lures tipped with scented corn.
  • White sturgeon: Although relatively rare, white sturgeon can be caught in the deeper areas of Shasta Lake using live bait such as crawdads or lamprey eels.

As with any fishing, it’s important to check the current regulations for Shasta Lake and to respect the natural resources by practicing catch-and-release whenever possible.

But Where Are The Best Places To Fish At Shasta Lake?

And in no particular order here is that list of some the best fishing spots at Shasta Lake.

DISCLAIMER:  The material provided is for general information purposes only. It’s important to understand that any information provided in this article can change at any time. Any maps or graphics featured are not to be used as navigational aids. Fishing Blueprint will not be responsible for any personal injury or property damage from any misuse of the maps or graphics provided.   It’s completely impossible to give you every single spot where you can potentially catch a fish.  But, what this list does do is to give you a helping hand and narrow down to the most productive fishing spots.

Shasta Dam

Located: southwest end of lake

Structural features: deep open water, submerged brush and timber on the north cove just outside the dam. 

Best species to target: King salmon, lake trout, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie

Most effective way to fish this spot: Boat, kayak, float tube

Slaughterhouse Island/Mouth Of Sacramento River Arm

Located: south section of the lake

Structural features: natural humps, bars and ridges

Best species to target: Trout, kokanee, and salmon

Most effective way to fish this spot: boat, kayak

Packers Bay

Located: middle section of the lake

Structural features: natural humps, bars and ridges

Best species to target: trout, salmon

Most effective way to fish this spot: boat, kayak

Pitt River Bridge To Ski Island

Located: southwest section of the lake

Structural features: steep cold river channel, boulder piles, ledges, points and cuts.

Best species to target: trout and salmon

Most effective way to fish this spot: boat

Jones Valley Bay

Located: south section of the lake

Structural features: natural humps, bars and ridges

Best species to target: Trout, kokanee, and bass

Most effective way to fish this spot: boat, kayak

Pit River Arm

Located: south section of the lake

Structural features: vertical timber, creek channel turns, rock piles, rocky banks, natural humps, bars and ridges

Best species to target: spotted bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass crappie, catfish

Most effective way to fish this spot: boat, kayak

Squaw Creek Arm

Located: south section of the lake

Structural features: vertical timber, creek channel turns, rock piles, rocky banks, natural humps, bars and ridges

Best species to target: rainbow trout, spotted bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish

Most effective way to fish this spot: boat, kayak

Sugar Loaf

Located: north section of the lake

Structural features: vertical timber, creek channel turns, rock piles, rocky banks, natural humps, bars and ridges

Best species to target: rainbow trout, spotted bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish

Most effective way to fish this spot: boat, kayak

Big Backbone Creek Arm

Located: west section of the lake

Structural features: vertical timber, creek channel turns, rock piles, rocky banks, natural humps, bars and ridges

Best species to target: rainbow trout, spotted bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish

Most effective way to fish this spot: boat, kayak

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Boat Ramps at Shasta Lake

Bailey Cove Public Boat Ramp

  • Bailey Cove Rd, Lakehead, CA 96051
  • fs.usda.gov
  • (530) 275-8113
  • Lanes: 2
  • Restrooms: Yes
  • Showers: no
  • Gas: no
  • Tackle, groceries, snacks available: no
  • Camping nearby: Yes

Centimudi Boat Launch

  • Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity Nra, Shasta Lake, CA 96019
  • fs.usda.gov
  • (530) 275-8113
  • Lanes: 3
  • Restrooms: Yes
  • Showers: no
  • Gas: no
  • Tackle, groceries, snacks available: no
  • Camping nearby: Yes

Jones Valley Public Boat Launch

  • Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity Nra, Redding, CA 96003
  • fs.usda.gov
  • (530) 226-2500
  • Lanes: 2
  • Restrooms: Yes
  • Showers: no
  • Gas: no
  • Tackle, groceries, snacks available: no
  • Camping nearby: Yes

Packers Bay Public Boat Ramp

  • Packers Bay Rd, Lakehead, CA 96051
  • fs.usda.gov
  • (530) 275-8113
  • Lanes: 2
  • Restrooms: Yes
  • Restrooms: Yes
  • Showers: no
  • Gas: no
  • Tackle, groceries, snacks available: no
  • Camping nearby: Yes

Hirz Bay Public Boat Ramp

  • Hirz Bay Rd, Lakehead, CA 96051
  • fs.usda.gov
  • (530) 226-2500
  • Lanes: 2
  • Restrooms: Yes
  • Showers: no
  • Gas: no
  • Tackle, groceries, snacks available: no
  • Camping nearby: Yes

Sugarloaf Public Boat Ramp

  • Lakeshore Dr, Lakehead, CA 96051
  • shastatrinitycamping.com
  • (530) 275-8113
  • Lanes: 2
  • Restrooms: Yes
  • Showers: no
  • Gas: no
  • Tackle, groceries, snacks available: no
  • Camping nearby: Yes

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Marinas At Shasta Lake

Sugarloaf Marina

Lakeshore Dr, Lakehead, CA 96051

(530) 238-8200

Digger Bay at Shasta Lake

15090 Digger Bay Rd, Shasta Lake, CA 96019

bridgebayhouseboats.com

(530) 275-3072

Shasta Marina at Packers Bay

16814 Packers Bay Rd, Lakehead, CA 96051

shastalake.net

(530) 238-2284

Holiday Harbor – Shasta Lake House Boat Rentals & Marina

20061 Shasta Caverns Rd, O’Brien, CA 96051

lakeshasta.com

(530) 238-2383

Silverthorn Resort | Houseboats

16250 Silverthorn Rd, Redding, CA 96003

silverthornresort.com

(800) 332-3044

Jones Valley Marina 

Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity Nra, Redding, CA 96003

Antlers Resort & Marina

20679 Antlers Rd, Lakehead, CA 96051

shastalakevacations.com

(800) 238-3924

Tackle Shops & Tackle Retailers Shasta Lake

Phil's Fishing Tackle

Fishin Hole

Western Bait Farm

Shasta Lake Bait & Tackle LLC

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