The Fish Sniffer

(Redding) This is a great time to visit Lake Shasta. The crowds have thinned, the days have cooled, the lake is only 73 feet from maximum pool and the fishing is very good for both trout and bass.

The rainbow trout bite doesn’t get much better than it is right now. The trout are concentrated in cool water ranging from 40 to 60 feet deep and they are feeding heavily on shad. Shad imitating lures such as Hum Dingers, Wiggle Hoochies, Excels and Apexs are all producing outstanding results when trolled quickly. 

Most days you don’t need to include dodgers in your spread, but if you do decide that you need a blade, 4 or 6 inch UV green Shasta Tackle Sling Blades are the most popular attractor at this time. 

Most of the rainbows run 14 to 16 inches, but some trout ranging up to 3.5 pounds are showing too. There have been few reports of brown trout being caught, but deep water trollers working the main body with Wiggle Hoochies and rigged shad are still hooking the occasional king to 5 pounds.

Bass anglers are doing well all over the lake, but the fishing has been especially productive in the McCloud Arm. The bass are holding off main points, looking to ambush any shad that pass over the top of them. Crankbaits and 4 inch shad colored worms rigged on darter heads have been the best offerings over the past week.

Kokanee fishing is pretty much over at Whiskeytown Reservoir, but there has been some pretty exciting early morning and late evening topwater action for spotted bass ranging up to 4 pounds. Clear plastic walking baits have been the top lure, but poppers and wake baits will work too.