Anderson, CA Fishing: Feast Your Eyes in the Paradise

In Upstate California lies a hidden gem considered an outdoor person's paradise and offers spectacular views of snow-capped mountains surrounding the area—Anderson City, Located 10 miles south of Redding and 138 miles north of Sacramento. In Shasta County, California, this city is an essential and popular road stop for tourists passing by I-5.

Anderson City was named after Elias Anderson, a farmer and ranch owner who granted Oregon and California Railroad trackage rights and land for a depot back in 1872. This railroad located near the northern tip of the Great Central Valley of California led to businesses flourishing in the area and drove its economy up. Today, this small city has an estimated population of 9,000.

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Anderson City has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. It has grown to become a top-choice residential area for those who seek scenic greeneries, mountain views, and quick trips to lakes. These beautiful wonders make Anderson City ideal for fishing, boating, hikes, camping, and other outdoor activities. Here is where you can find the Anderson Reservoir, a large man-made lake that offers plenty of inshore and offshore fishing opportunities. Fishing in Anderson reservoir provides you a high chance of capturing striped bass, flathead catfish, and blue catfish. 

Other popular fishing destinations include Anderson Creek, Sacramento River, and Coleman National Fish Hatchery.

Anderson Fishing 

California is one of the country's biggest states, with plenty of bodies of water scattered in and around it. It is no surprise that it has a lot of excellent fishing locations. While Anderson City may be the smallest among the three primary cities that make up the Upstate region, it is home to Anderson Creek and Anderson Reservoir. Not only is fishing possible here all year round, but the rich natural waters also mean more options for anglers. Fish species that may be found and caught here are steelhead trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, chinook salmon, strippers, and rainbow trout.

In addition, running through the city is the Sacramento River. It is the largest river in all of California, with 719 kilometers. All these major fishing destinations, coupled with other small waterways available in the city, yield huge numbers of various fish species throughout the year.

Situated near the Rancheria Creek and with an elevation of 63 meters, Anderson Creek is a known stream where you can catch largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, common carp, smallmouth bass, and roach. For these species, anglers are recommended to catch fish using light to medium spinning tackle with artificial bait. Some of the popular baits you can use are shrimp and minnows suspended from afloat.

Next is the Anderson Reservoir, a man-made lake along Coyote Creek in Santa Clara County, California, near Morgan Hill. It is a popular destination for anglers and water-skiers alike. The place quickly gets crowded and somewhat busy, especially during the warmer months from June to August. To preserve the man-made sanctuary, certain areas of the lake are protected. Anglers are even in luck because a speed limit of 35 mph is imposed on the main lake to ensure lesser chances of disturbing aquatic life. Both ends of the lake are ideal spots for fishing techniques such as baitcasting.

The said lake is known for its large yield of small largemouth bass that grow up to 12 inches, crappie, channel catfish, and carp. While they are relatively present all year round, the best seasons are spring, from March to May, and summer, from May to September.

Sacramento River is the longest river in California and is a go-to place for family fishing trips. It runs through multiple cities, and Anderson City is one of them. One of the top species caught here is the famous King Salmon, which can grow up to a whopping 70-pound range from July to December. Another iconic fish species is the striped bass, common during the spring and summer months, caught using drift fishing and high-speed trolling. 

Another nearby fishing location is the Coleman National Fish Hatchery, located along Battle Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River. This hatchery produces over 14 million juvenile fish every year. Here, you can catch Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, which they spawn and raise until they are big enough to be released for catching. In 2017, more than 10,000 steelhead trout retrograded to the fish hatchery during the wet months of October to December, procreating more of its species. It created excitement for anglers to look forward to the following years expecting a more productive trip in nearby water bodies where the fish are released. Although they are smaller in size, other fishing spots include Kevin Brock Fishing, Frye's Fishing, Bear Creek, Churn Creek, and Clover Creek, where anglers can also catch trout, salmon, and steelhead.

If you are taking your family with you and you would prefer a place that provides avenues for other recreational activities, Anderson River Park is the place for you. This park has soccer, boating, fishing, tennis, basketball, softball, disc golf, and bocce ball. It also has picnic areas and miles-long trails perfect for wildlife viewing and hiking.  Visitors may also ride bikes or go on a horseback riding adventure. The Anderson River Park also houses the Veterans' Memorial Walk and hosts community events, such as the Family Fun Fest every April and a concert series called the Mosquito Serenade.

Top 10 Fish Species in Anderson, CA

The top fish species caught in Anderson City, California, are the burbot, black crappie, blue tilapia, bream, brook trout, chinook salmon, chub, ide, perch, and rainbow trout.

Seasonal Fishing

While fish may be relatively available year-round, anglers have higher chances of catching more fish and a wide variety of options during the spring and summer. Meanwhile, for monster species such as the king salmon and sturgeon, the best months are July to December and January to April.

In the Anderson Reservoir, the south portion of the lake near the bridge is popular among both shore anglers and boaters. The north end of the lake also has coves that hold fish, and the working plastics down the structure yields fish throughout the year. During the summer, especially June through August, the spawning crappie are unstoppable.

Have Fun Outdoors in Anderson

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Wander around Anderson, and you can easily find a great fishing spot where you can catch various trout species, crappie, chinook salmon, and different bass species. All major fishing destinations offer great inshore and offshore fishing for anglers. Anderson guarantees a fun and productive fishing trip with an awe-inspiring view of nature at any river, lake, or reservoirs, such as the Anderson River Park and Sacramento River.

2. Visit a State Park

Have the most fun in physical activity in South Volonte Park. It offers wetlands outlined with a jogging trail and several exercise equipment. You can also visit North Volonte Park, where softball fields, baseball fields, and a skate park. Enjoy the newly added water play park, River Splash. It has huge shade structures to picnic and watch 35 water jets dancing with the LED lights. 

3. Explore the Shasta Cascade

Known as the gateway to outdoor adventure, visit the Shasta Cascade and take advantage of the fresh air and breathtaking nature scene. As you go on a trail, you can see several waterfalls, lakes, parklands, and fishing spots. This includes the Sacramento River, Lake Shasta cavern, and a few historical sites. Covering one-fifth of California, it is well-preserved by the Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association.