How do you fish in Lake Shasta?

Asked by: Donna Range

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. Plastic worms, spinner baits, swim baits and live bait seem to work best, depending on the time of year.

Where is the best fishing on Lake Shasta?

Fishing for rainbows is excellent throughout the Sacramento River Arm, as well as Dry Fork, Little Squaw Creek and Big Backbone Creek. Those in search of big browns typically fare best in the McCloud River Arm, especially in the area between Turntable Bay and Hirz Bay.

Do you need a fishing license to fish Lake Shasta?

This includes rods and reels, bait and tackle, and other little items, like ice to keep your catches nice and cold. Remember that you’ll also need a fishing license before you drop a line! Two-day, 10-day and year-round licenses are available, and can also be easily picked up before you hit the water.

How do you catch salmon on Shasta Lake?

And while Pitt River strain and rainbow trout fishing. But it's also a highly productive landlocked king salmon fishery. Today we're near Shasta Dam headed. Towards the dry creek armed with guide Gary

Are there crappie in Lake Shasta?

Crappie. You will find black and white Crappie in Shasta Lake. Limit is 25. Fish with mini jigs in the colors of yellow and white, minnows are good too.

Can you eat fish from Shasta Lake?

When consuming fish from Shasta Lake, women ages 18-45 and children ages 1-17 may safely eat three servings per week of sunfish species, or two servings per week of Rainbow Trout, or one serving per week of black bass species, carp, or Chinook (King) Salmon.

Can you fish Shasta Dam?

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.

Is it illegal to fish with corn in California?

Answer: Corn is permitted as bait for carp – and any other species of fish and in any type of inland waters where bait is allowed.

How many rods can you fish with in California?

two rods

You may use no more than two rods and lines, two hand lines, or two nets, traps or other appliances used to take crabs. Species-specific gear restrictions (such as for rockfish, lingcod and salmon) do apply when fishing from a pier.

Can you fish with live bait in California?

In general, live fin fish for sale as bait must be obtained from registered aquaculturists, except for longjaw mudsuckers, staghorn sculpins, and yellowfin gobies, which may be taken from the wild under a commercial fishing license.

How do you catch sturgeon in Shasta Lake?

It is legal to fish for sturgeon in Lake Shasta, but anglers must use a single barbless hook and the fish must be between 40 inches and 60 inches long. At one time sturgeon migrated up the Sacramento River and spawned in the Pit River, including the area where Lake Shasta is now.

Are there crawdads in Shasta Lake?

The about 1870 and is presumed extinct the Shasta crayfish is found only in the mid reaches of the Pitt River drainage Fall River Hat Creek and the reach of Pitt that connects them.

What kind of shad are in Shasta Lake?

Thread Fin Shad

First, we see the primary food source for the trout, Thread Fin Shad, during late spring on through late fall in the main body of Shasta Lake. Secondly, the Shad are easily accessible to the trout in very large schools making for a constant food source that keeps the trout in a relatively small area of the lake.

How do you catch shad in California?

How to Catch Shad. Shad will readily attack a variety of lures. Some good places to start for conventional tackle are shad darts, small spinner and spoons, and crappie jig heads with soft plastics. Make sure your lure is fishing deep in the available water since the shad hold close to the bottom at varying depths.

What do threadfin shad look like?

Description of Threadfin Shad



Color is bluish gray on the back with a persistent black or purple spot just behind the head. The lower side is silver to creamy white. The fins have a yellow tint, which gives it the local name of “yellowtails”).