There are several good boat ramps still useable, and many of the derby participants launched at the Sugarloaf launch ramp with no trouble at all. Most anglers checked in their 2 fish per day for a 4 fish total weight for the derby prize. The weather had been rainy and blustery during the week, but cleared up beautifully Friday night.

Saturday morning found the anglers leaving the boat ramps with clear skies and a sliver moon. A north wind came up for the morning, but calmed down and the lake was calm and beautiful in the aftenoon and all day Sunday.  

Most of the trout were caught down by the dam off Centimudi boat ramp and in the Dry Creek area. The most successful trollers were fishing from the surface down to 20 feet , but in water over 100 feet deep. The trout were caught on a variety of shad imitation lures.  Cripplures, Hum Dingers, Needlefish, Speedy Shiners, Rapalas and River 2 Sea minnows were all found to be consistent producers. The trout seemed to respond to faster moving offerings, with some of the top winners trolling as fast as 4 miles per hour!

I was joined in the new Fish Sniffer 20’ Boulton Skiff by my old friend Dave Barsi of Oak Run. Also in the Fish Sniffer contingent were Bruce Wicks and Al Fiske of Foresthill. We all stayed in a gorgeous houseboat from Antlers Resort that kept us very dry and comfortable – it even had Jacuzzi tub on the roof and a built-in fireplace in the living room.

We joined many of the participants at the Basshole Bar & Grill on Friday night to have dinner and mingle.  Gary Mirales of Shasta Tackle Company gave a short seminar on how to fish Lake Shasta that helped many of the fishermen new to the lake. We had a great steak dinner and settled in at the houseboat early to get a early start on Saturday.

Saturday night the Trout Derby banquet and raffle was held at the Lakehead Lions Club and featured delicious dinner of prime rib, baked chicken and all the fixins. There were a ton of raffle prizes and  many happy winners.

Sunday afternoon the final weigh in began at 1 and closed at 3 pm in the parking lot of the Basshole. The Shasta Lake Trout Derby is sponsored by the Shasta Lake Business Owners Association, Shasta Tackle Company, The Fish Sniffer, and North River Boats.  

Next year’s derby is scheduled for October 11 & 12, 2008.  For more information, contact Harold Jones at Sugarloaf Cottages at (800)953-4432 or Dave Dulon at the Basshole Bar & Grill.

The following is a list of the winners: