Fishing Tips to Help You Catch More Fish at Shasta Lake

Access for Fishing by Boat:

There are several public and commercial boat ramps at Shasta Lake. The public ramps, operated by the Shasta Recreation Company are open all year. There is a daily use fee. Commercial ramps associated with marinas or resorts, usually charge a fee, and some close during the winter. Contact the Shasta Lake Ranger Station at (530) 275-1587 for a map and list of boat ramp locations. Rental fishing boats, with or without motors are available at most of the lake’s marinas. A map and list is available at the Ranger Station.

 Access for Fishing from Land:

• The Jones Valley and Silverthorn areas are reached via Bear Mountain Road. The Clikapudi trail is a good way to get away from the heavily skied areas.
• Shoreline access is also good in the Shasta Dam area. The Dry Creek trail provides additional access on the northwest side of the dam. A security access permit must be acquired in advance in order to cross Shasta Dam with a vehicle. For more information, please contact the Bureau of Reclamation at (530) 275-4463.
• To fish under the Pit River Bridge, take the Turntable Bay Exit, then keep right after turning east on Turntable Road.
• At both the Packers Bay and Bailey Cove public ramps, trails follow the shoreline providing access to numerous coves and points.
• At Salt Creek inlet, access is good on either side of the inlet. Follow either the Lower Salt Creek or Conflict Point Roads off Gilman Road/Salt Creek Road exit #698.
• Lakeshore drive, in the Lakehead area, follows the shoreline of the Sacramento River arm for about eight miles. There is some private property along this road. Please respect the owner’s rights.
• Gilman Road follows the McCloud arm for about ten miles. Numerous opportunities occur to get to the shoreline.
• There is also a shoreline trail between Hirz Bay Campground and the Dekkas Rock Day Use Area.

There is no fishing allowed from boat ramps or courtesy docks

Fishing Tips:

Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Salmon

• On the McCloud River Arm, trolling from Turntable Bay to Hirz Bay will usually produce some brown trout.
• The Sacramento River Arm, Dry Fork, Little Squaw creek and Big Backbone Creek will usually produce some rainbows.
• Fishing for rainbows is usually good at Shasta Dam when the releases are high. Remember that tying to the buoy line is illegal.
• During early spring, before the water temperatures start warming up, bank anglers can usually catch rainbows, brown and Chinook salmon in the areas listed above.
• By late spring and early summer the trout are moving to deeper water for the cooler temperatures(50° to 57° F). Marshmallow and egg combinations and live minnows, either from the shore or boat, two to three feet below a bobber in the spring or 50´ to 100´ deep in the summer seem to work fairly well.
• Minnows live longer and have more mobility if they are hooked under the spine in front of the top (dorsal) fin.
• Lures that are proven producers are: Thinfins in varying colors, Kastmasters, Rebels, Flatfish in Z-r or X-5, Rapalas, and Z-Rays.Trolling at depths of 30´ to 70´ seems to be effective.
• During the summer it is advisable to use a diving plane or 18 to 26 pound test lead core line. Lead core line is lead line encased in a Dacron mesh cover. It should be used on a deep sea type of reel and a medium to heavy-duty rod.

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• Bass fishing on Shasta lake can be good year round. Fishing is best in the spring and early summer. Spotted Bass are the most common, but Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass can also be caught. Rubber worms, spinner baits and live bait seem to work best, depending on the time of year.

• Catfishing is best during the summer. Anchovies, chicken liver and “stink” baits are effective. Fishing after sunset is permitted for catfish. Channel Catfish, White Catfish and Bullheads are all found in Shasta Lake.
• Crappie can be abundant in some years. Crappie populations cycle dramatically, so check with the California Department of Fish and Game to determine availability. Crappie jigs and minnows work well. Please check the current California Fishing Regulations to determine limits and any restrictions.
• Local bait shops can be a good source of information as to where the fish are biting and on which bait.

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