Shasta lake trout bite building!

Nice rainbow trout caught today on Shasta Lake!
Photo Credit: Captain Jeff Goodwin

by Jeff Goodwin
5-9-2019
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Todays winds on Shasta Lake were supposed to be on the high side, but we waited all day for the lake to get bumpy but it never happened.  Wood debris wasn't a huge problem, although it has been on recent trips.  The water is as high as I've ever seen it and its a brilliant color of green.  Perfect conditions, but the bite was less than perfect for sure.  We are seeing a descent early bite, but its short.  The late morning lull can last an hour or three hours or more some days.  Today we got our second bite around 2:00 before calling it a day.  Overall, the bites were about average, but our hook/land ratio was very poor today.  Some days thats just how it goes.  66-67 degree surface temps start the day and we're still seeing bites in the 30-40' foot range.  Shasta is slowly developing a warm layer of surface water and 53 degree water can now be found at around 40'.  Thats all you really need to know to catch fish this time of the year.

Jeff Goodwin is a full time Northern California fishing guide.  He guides year round for salmon, trout, steelhead, Kokanee, and bass on Northern California rivers and lakes. He fishes many bodies of water in the Redding area, but also guides the Sacramento River and Feather River during certain times of the year. Jeff can also be found on the California coast chasing ocean fresh King salmon and steelhead each year. To learn more about the fishing trips Jeff has to offer, please visit Jeff Goodwin's Guide Service.  You can also find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or please feel free to call him anytime at (707) 616-1905.