Shasta Lake, CA Fishing: Expansive Reservoir Fishing in California

Shasta Lake is a city found in California’s Shasta County. Before its incorporation, it was known as Central Valley or CV. In 1938, the city started with the small communities of Toyon, Project City, Pine Grove, Summit City, and Central Valley. All of this came about with the start of the construction of Shasta Dam. The city is also known as the gateway to the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area because it is the closest settlement to most of the region’s tourist destinations.

Shasta Lake is home to popular tourist attractions such as Shasta Dam and Shasta Lake reservoir; the latter is the largest reservoir in the state. Its crystal blue waters are fantastic for anyone to spend their typical summer getaway. The city also boasts close to rich forest areas that offer numerous scenic hiking trails and mountain views. Shasta Lake is a part of a recreational area that is considered a Mecca of outdoor activities. Wilderness areas make it a paradise for explorers and boaters alike. With the city partly making up over 300 miles of shoreline surrounding a bluewater lake, fishing plays a vital role in Shasta Lake’s charm. Tons of other water-related activities like inner tubing, jet skiing, boating, and more are also popular.

Shasta Lake Fishing

With the largest reservoir in California within reach, Shasta Lake offers ample fishing opportunities for any angler. Whether onshore or offshore fishing, the city delivers with its several productive water bodies.

Shasta Lake shares its name with the largest reservoir in California. The waterway is also commonly and popularly called Lake Shasta. It was initially used for water storage then later provided flood control for the Sacramento Valley. It is also now used for irrigation, municipal, and recreational purposes. Lake Shasta is a habitat for cold water and warm water fish species. Anglers can find the following species in its waters: rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, chinook salmon, black crappie, bluegill, carp, riffle sculpin, black fish, white sturgeon, channel squawfish, threadfin shad, channel catfish, white catfish, brown bullhead, green sunfish, golden shiner, hardhead minnow, Sacramento sucker, and Sacramento squawfish. Bass and trout are the most targeted fish in the reservoir. Most coldwater species in the lake are maintained by annual stocking by the California Department of Fish and Game. Lake Shasta has several public and commercial boat ramps. The closest boat ramps to the city are the Centimudi Boat Launch and Fishermans Point Day Use Area, which can be accessed through Lake Boulevard. Commercial ramps usually charge a fee and are closed during the winter. Marinas offer boat rentals whether an angler wants a motorized vessel or not. Shoreline fishing is also available in several areas. The nearest and best place to go fishing on land from the city is around Shasta Dam. Tying up to the buoy line near the dam is illegal. The Dry Creek hiking trail gives access to the dam’s northwest side. 

Lake Shasta has many river arms and small tributaries that host various fish species. Anglers who target rainbow trout, brown trout, and chinook salmon should head to the McCloud River arm. From Turntable Bay to Hirz Bay, trolling is an effective way to hook brown trout. Plenty of rainbow trout can be found in the Sacramento River arm, Dry Fork, Little Squaw Creek, Big Backbone Creek, and Shasta Dam. Using marshmallows, eggs, and live minnows, baitcasting works well to lure fish. For bass anglers, spotted bass will be the most common species they’ll find. The best lures and baits for reeling in bass are rubber worms, spinner baits, and live bait. Anglers are permitted to catch catfish and bullheads after sunset. Anchovies, chicken liver, and stink baits are great for luring in those species. Jigging is a fantastic way to hook crappie. The population of that fish varies, so it’s advisable to check for updates with the California Department of Fish and Game regarding its availability in the reservoir.

Below Shasta Dam, to the west of Shasta Lake, is Moccasin Creek. The creek is home to rainbow trout, largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, black crappie, northern pikeminnow, black bullhead, and skamania trout. This area is an excellent place for spinning and baitcasting. 

Anglers can fish from Keswick Reservoir to the southwest, a fantastic fly fishing destination. The reservoir is also known for its wild trout fishery and producing trophy-sized trout. It is long and deep with vegetation along the steep banks, so a boat is preferable if anglers want to fish from its waters. The boat ramp can be found on the west side of Iron Mountain Road. Drift fishing and trolling are good ways to fish from the reservoir’s swift currents. The best areas to fish are in small, clustered rock gardens where there are seams and feeding lanes set up by the current.

Shasta Lake hosts the Wild West Bass Trail Tournament, held in January in Bridge Bay. Winners are determined by who catches the most and best bass species.  

Top 10 Fish Species in Shasta Lake, CA

The top 10 fish species found in Shasta Lake, California, are rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, chinook salmon, black crappie, channel catfish, white catfish, and brown bullhead.

Seasonal Fishing

Bank anglers can hook rainbow trout, brown trout, and chinook salmon during early spring. Those fish start to move into deeper and cooler waters by late spring and early summer. Bass fishing is good all year, but spring and early summer are the best seasons. Summer is the best time to target catfish. For excellent all-around fishing in local waterways, the best months are usually from March through June and October through November.

Water and Wilderness in Shasta Lake

There are endless opportunities for fun and leisure for those who come to Shasta Lake as it’s surrounded by diverse and panoramic environments.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Shasta Lake has the advantage of being close to Lake Shasta, the largest reservoir in California. Because of this, fishing is the main activity; therefore, fishing charters are readily available. Marinas and resorts offer boat rental services. Local bait and tackle shops can also act as good sources of information and tips for anglers.

2. More Fun in Lake Shasta

Aside from fishing, Lake Shasta is a great attraction for many other water-bound activities. People can go swimming, wakeboarding, water skiing, sky skiing, jet skiing, boating, and more in its waters. Around the reservoir, people can also go camping, hike, mountain bike, picnic, and golf. When one visits Lake Shasta, a terrific thing to try is to rent a houseboat. One can also take a guided tour of the Lake Shasta Caverns, 250 million years old.

3. Tour the Shasta Dam

The dam is the second-largest concrete dam in the US. Woody Guthrie’s song, ‘This Land is Your Land’ was written to help build the dam’s arch barrier. People can take the scenic route to the dam by going through the Shasta Dam Boulevard and Lake Boulevard intersection and passing the vista point overlook or the Route 151 Scenic Highway. The tour is free and offers breathtaking views of Shasta Lake and Mount Shasta.