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Shasta Lake Fishing Report | March 2026

Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin
Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin Guide Services on Shasta Lake and the Sacramento River and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle.
What is working right now

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

From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): I think we could see some better trout fishing on Shasta Lake. The rainbow trout just really haven't been very active, and a lot of those rainbows are getting ready for their spring spawn. We are seeing a better bite with the browns. The river is running pretty low, we're sitting at about 4000 cfs.

Shasta Lake March 2026 FAQ

Are trout biting at Shasta Lake in March?

Browns have picked up, while rainbows are slower as they stage for the spring spawn.

Why are Shasta rainbows less active?

Many are moving up and preparing for their spring spawn.

What is the flow on the Sacramento River?

About 4,000 CFS, kept low to store water in Shasta, leaving skinny water near Redding.

When does the striped bass season start?

Around mid-March, when Jeff moves boats to the Colusa area for spring stripers.

What lures is Jeff recommending?

Specific lures were not specified in this report.

Who guides Shasta Lake for Catch America?

Capt. Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Guide Services.

Tags: jeff-goodwin rainbow-trout shasta-lake
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Sacramento River Fishing Report | August 1, 2026

Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin Guide Service on the upper Sacramento River and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Reach him at (530) 510-2925 to book a trip. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now The upper Sacramento River king salmon season opened August 1, 2026 at the world-famous Barge Hole near Anderson and Cottonwood. It was a slow opener with under a dozen fish caught, but Capt. Jeff Goodwin says prime fishing is only 2 to 3 weeks out. His go-to is back-bouncing Brad's KillerFish KF15 and KF16 plugs on 10 ounce weights, double-wrapped with fresh sardine and wild prawn. What is biting on the upper Sacramento River right now?King salmon are the target at the Barge Hole near Anderson and Cottonwood. August 1, 2026 was the official opener, and Capt. Jeff Goodwin called it a light, slow opener with fewer than a dozen fish caught. His daughter Gracie boxed the first fish. More salmon are arriving as the run builds. What technique is working for Sacramento River king salmon?Back-bouncing Brad's KillerFish KF15 and KF16 plugs on the bottom. Jeff runs 10 ounces of weight to reach bottom in the deep water, with 12 to 18 inch droppers and about a 48 inch leader. The lead gets the plugs down where the fish hold since they will not dive that deep alone. How do you wrap plugs for Sacramento River salmon?Double-wrap the plug with fresh sardine and a piece of wild-caught prawn. Jeff also wraps tuna and squid. Start with a loose wrap that keeps the hooks free so you do not tie them to the plug body, then add a couple of wraps on top. More bait draws more bites as long as it does not kill the action. How do you tune a Brad's KillerFish plug?Wrapping bait shifts the center of gravity, so a plug that ran straight can start leaning one way. The fix is the eye: if the plug swims to the right, turn the eye to the left. Test it beside the boat until it dives straight and dances side to side. Out of tune plugs will not get bit. What does massaging the plug mean?It means keeping continuous action on the plug so it never sits dead on the bottom. Pull up on the rod to make the plug dart to one side, then drop the tip so it flutters back. Salmon often hit on that flutter, so be ready for a hard, full-on strike that takes line right away. What is the guide's outlook for the Barge Hole?Jeff says the area is about 2 to 3 weeks out from really good fishing. August, September, and October are the prime months, and a late fall run from November through the end of December produces some of the biggest fish of the season. Eggs, boondogging, and hover fishing come later in the run. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): One of the favorite techniques for fishing out here in the Barge Hole is to back-bounce Brad's Killerfish. Today, we're using 15s and 16s as far as the size goes. We're running 12 to 18-inch droppers, and then about a 48-inch leader. We're using 10 ounces of weight today because we've got quite a bit of water, and we let out enough line to get down to the bottom. Sacramento River August 1, 2026 FAQ When did the upper Sacramento River salmon season open in 2026?The Barge Hole area opened August 1, 2026. Jeff notes his openers have always been July 16th and August 1st, though an open river does not mean the fishing is great yet. Where is the Barge Hole?On the upper Sacramento River near Anderson and Cottonwood, California, just below where Battle Creek dumps in. Salmon stack here and hold until the first October rains, then turn up Battle Creek to Coleman National Fish Hatchery. What weight do you use to back-bounce at the Barge Hole?Jeff ran 10 ounces of weight on opening day because there was quite a bit of water, letting out enough line to stay on the bottom. What leader and dropper lengths does Jeff Goodwin use?About 12 to 18 inch droppers and roughly a 48 inch leader, sometimes into the 50s. What baits do you wrap on Brad's KillerFish plugs?Fresh sardine and wild-caught prawn are the go-to, and Jeff also wraps tuna and squid. How do you know a plug is tuned correctly?Pull it up toward the bow of the boat. If it stays alongside the boat and dances side to side while diving straight, it is tuned. If it swims to the right, turn the eye to the left. When is the best salmon fishing on the upper Sacramento River?August, September, and October are prime, and a late fall run from November through the end of December brings some of the biggest fish. The opener itself was slow, about 2 to 3 weeks from really good fishing. Who guides the upper Sacramento River Barge Hole?Capt. Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Guide Service. Call or text (530) 510-2925 to book. Shop the Tackle Brad's KillerFish KF15 Brad's KillerFish KF16 Shop Capt. Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop River Salmon Gear

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San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | July 27, 2026

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