Shasta Lake Fishing Report | March 2026
The report at a glance
Presentation
Focus on the browns while rainbows stage for the spawn. On the river, March is a strong window for wild rainbows despite the low, skinny water. Match trolling spoons to daily conditions.
Water level
River running low around 4000 CFS to build Shasta storage.
Weather
Warm, with hopes for cooler, more normal spring weather.
Advice for this week
Expect the rainbows to be off as they prepare to spawn, so target the browns that are feeding. On the river, work the skinny water carefully with the lower flows in mind.
What is changing
The brown trout bite improved at the tail end of last week and start of this week. The river trout bite has been a touch slower than usual on the low flows.
Next week
The operation transitions into spring striped bass in April, moving from Redding down to the Colusa area. Many Redding venues will sit idle for five or six weeks.
Shasta Lake is set up for better trout fishing in March. Rainbows have been sluggish as they stage for the spring spawn, but the brown trout bite has picked up and more fish are hitting the net. On the Sacramento River near Redding, low flows around 4,000 CFS have left skinny water and a slightly slower wild rainbow bite before the spring striper transition.
What is biting at Shasta Lake right now?
Brown trout have picked up nicely at the tail end of last week and the start of this week, putting more fish in the net. Rainbow trout have been less active, with many staging for their spring spawn. Capt. Jeff Goodwin thinks the trout fishing should improve.
Why are the Shasta rainbows slow right now?
A lot of the rainbows are moving up and getting ready for their spring spawn, which is keeping them less active. That is normal for March. The good news is the browns are biting better and filling the gap while the rainbows stage.
How is the Sacramento River fishing near Redding?
The river is running low, around 4,000 CFS, because they are holding back flows to store water in Shasta. That leaves skinny water in the Redding area and a slightly slower wild rainbow bite than usual, though March is normally a good time for them.
What is coming next for Jeff Goodwin's fishery?
Around mid-March the operation transitions to the spring striped bass fishery. Jeff moves his boats down to the Colusa area for stripers, leaving the Redding-area venues idle for about five or six weeks while he runs striper trips into the second week of May.
What is the outlook for Shasta Lake?
Jeff expects better trout fishing and looks forward to a strong spring striped bass run. Low river releases should continue through April to store water before the wet weather stops. Specific lures, depths, and colors were not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
Shasta Lake March 2026 FAQ
Browns have picked up, while rainbows are slower as they stage for the spring spawn.
Many are moving up and preparing for their spring spawn.
About 4,000 CFS, kept low to store water in Shasta, leaving skinny water near Redding.
Around mid-March, when Jeff moves boats to the Colusa area for spring stripers.
Specific lures were not specified in this report.
Capt. Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Guide Services.
