Shasta Lake Fishing Report 2023 [Tips, Spots, Pictures, and Everything You Need to Know]

Water Clarity

Shasta Lake is known for its crystal clear water, which is perfect for sight fishing.

• During the summer, the water clarity can reach up to 20 feet, giving you a clear view of what lies beneath the surface.
• However, during the winter and spring months, the water clarity can decrease due to runoff from nearby rivers and streams.

Water Temperature

The water temperature in Shasta Lake varies throughout the year.

• During the spring (February, March, and April), the water temperature ranges from 50 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In the summer (May, June, July, and August), the water temperature rises to a comfortable 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
• During the fall (October and November), the water temperature drops to around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In the winter (December and January), the water temperature can dip to a chilly 42 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fishing Cover

Shasta Lake has a variety of fishing cover, which makes it a great place for bass to thrive. The lake has steep-sided banks, flooded timber, rock piles, and submerged brush that provide excellent cover for bass to hide and ambush prey. The lake also has plenty of weed beds and aquatic vegetation, which are ideal places for bass to hunt for food and take cover.

Structures

Shasta Lake has several man-made structures that attract game fish. The lake has numerous boat docks, which are great places to fish for bass that are seeking shade and cover. The lake also has several bridges that provide shade and cover for bass. The bridge pillars and pilings are also great places to find baitfish, which in turn attracts hungry bass.

Spring Fishing On Shasta Lake

The water temperature plays a significant role in the spawning season of bass. Largemouth bass typically begin spawning when the water temperature reaches around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, while smallmouth bass prefer slightly cooler temperatures around 58 degrees Fahrenheit.

During the spring months, Shasta Lake experiences a variety of weather patterns. The air temperature can range from the high 40s to the low 70s, and winds can be calm or gusty. The prevailing wind direction is from the north, but it can shift to the south or southeast depending on the weather system. Anglers should be prepared for changing weather conditions and bring appropriate clothing to stay comfortable on the water.

If you’re planning to fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, or crappie, it’s important to know when and where they spawn. Here’s what you need to know:

• Largemouth bass: In Shasta Lake, largemouth bass usually start spawning in late April or early May. They prefer to spawn in shallow coves and protected areas with vegetation and woody cover. Some of the best locations to find largemouth bass during spawning season include Jones Valley, Dry Creek, and Packers Bay.
• Smallmouth bass: Smallmouth bass also spawn in late April or early May in Shasta Lake. They tend to prefer rocky areas with gravel or sand bottoms in the middle and upper arms of the lake. Good places to look for spawning smallmouth bass include the McCloud River Arm, the Pit River Arm, and the Squaw Creek Arm.
• Striped bass: Striped bass typically spawn in Shasta Lake from April to June. They prefer to spawn in the main body of the lake near the dam and along the steep banks. Look for areas with a rocky or gravel bottom and a water depth of around 15 to 30 feet.
• Crappie: Crappie usually start spawning in Shasta Lake in late March or early April. They prefer to spawn in shallow coves with brush, trees, or other cover. Some of the best locations to find spawning crappie include Little Backbone Creek, Big Backbone Creek, and the Dry Creek Arm.

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.

Summer Fishing On Shasta Lake

During summer, the weather in Shasta Lake is warm and dry with clear blue skies. The air temperature can range from the mid-80s to low 100s (°F) during the day and drops to the mid-50s at night. The wind speed is typically low, ranging from 5-10 mph, but can increase in the afternoons up to 20 mph.

As for the forage of bass and trout during the summer in Shasta Lake, 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 tend to stay in the cooler, deeper waters during the hottest parts of the day and move into the shallower waters in the early morning and evening to feed.

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

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

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.

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.