Reports From The Water

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | August 11, 2025

Shasta Lake fishing report with newer 2026 report routing and salmon/trout tackle links.

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | July 21, 2025

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | July 14, 2025

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | July 7

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | June 30, 2025

Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin Guide Service on Shasta Lake and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now Shasta Lake is a solid summer fishery in late June 2025, with good kokanee plus rainbows and browns holding 40 to 50 feet deep from the Pit River Bridge to the dam. Run Catch America dodgers with Uncle Larry’s Power Spinner tipped with corn for kokanee. For more trout, switch to a Junior Optimizer or Junior Trigger Spoon to work the shad bite. What is biting at Shasta Lake right now?A solid summer mix. Capt. Jeff Goodwin reports lots of kokanee being caught, plus good trout fishing for rainbows and browns. Kings are still around, though he has not put much effort on them lately. Fishing the lower lake from the Pit River Bridge to the dam has been productive for the mixed bag.What depth are the fish holding at Shasta Lake?The 40 to 50 foot mark has been the productive depth. Jeff is fishing the lower part of the lake, from the Pit River Bridge to the dam. Run your Catch America dodgers and Uncle Larry’s Power Spinner through that band, tipped with corn, for both kokanee and bonus trout.What lures work for kokanee at Shasta Lake?Catch America dodgers paired with Uncle Larry’s spinners tipped with corn are producing kokanee, and catching some trout too. To target more trout than kokanee, switch to a Junior Optimizer or a Junior Trigger Spoon to trigger the shad bite.How do I target trout over kokanee at Shasta Lake?Swap to small spoons like the Junior Optimizer or Junior Trigger Spoon to get the trout going on the shad bite. Watch for bait balls forming as shad drop deeper. The rainbows will key on shad and pack on weight as the true summer pattern sets in.What is the outlook for Shasta Lake?Improving. By the first or second week of July, Jeff expects the true summer pattern and some really nice rainbows. Many bigger rainbows are still post-spawn and skinny now, but they fatten fast once they key on the shad bite. The browns already look great.Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): A lot of kokanee being caught. We're seeing some good trout fishing too, rainbows, browns. That 40 to 50-foot mark, as far as depth goes, has been pretty good. Using a lot of our Catch America Dodgers, Uncle Larry's spinners, and tipping our gear with corn for the kokanee. If you want more trout, try Optimizer Juniors or small spoons on the shad bite.Shasta Lake June 30, 2025 FAQHow deep are the fish at Shasta Lake now?The 40 to 50 foot mark from the Pit River Bridge to the dam has been the productive depth.What lures work for Shasta Lake kokanee?Catch America dodgers with Uncle Larry's Power Spinner tipped with corn are producing kokanee and some trout.How do I catch more trout at Shasta Lake?Switch to a Junior Optimizer or Junior Trigger Spoon to trigger the shad bite for rainbows and browns.Are king salmon biting at Shasta Lake?Kings are still around, but Jeff has not put much effort on them lately with the kokanee and trout going.Why are some Shasta rainbows skinny?Many bigger rainbows are still post-spawn. They fatten quickly once they key on the summer shad bite.Where should I fish on Shasta Lake?The lower part of the lake, from the Pit River Bridge to the dam, at 40 to 50 feet. Shop the Tackle Uncle Larry's Power Spinner Junior Optimizer Spoon Junior Trigger Spoon Shop Capt. Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | June 23, 2025

Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin Guide Service on Shasta Lake and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now Kokanee fishing is especially good at Shasta Lake the week of June 23, 2025, with fish in the 45 to 50 foot range. Run downriggers with small dodgers and Uncle Larry's spinners. Gold 6 inch Catch America dodgers, especially with UV tape, have been really good. Browns and rainbows are showing up and surface bait is piling up. Kings have been scarce. What is biting at Shasta Lake right now?Kokanee fishing is especially good, though the overall day was a little slower than normal. Kings have largely vacated their usual areas and are scarce. Browns are showing up, some big ones in nearby boats, and rainbows are showing up pretty good. Surface bait is finally piling up. What depth are kokanee holding at Shasta Lake?Check the 45 to 50 foot range for both kokanee and rainbows. Capt. Jeff Goodwin is running downriggers to reach that band. As surface bait schools continue to grow, expect the bite to strengthen in the coming weeks. What lures and dodgers are working for Shasta kokanee?Run small dodgers with spinner hoochies and Uncle Larry's spinners. The 6 inch Catch America dodger has been really good, especially in gold and with UV tape added. When the bite slows, switch to smaller 4 inch or teardrop dodgers. How do I adjust when the Shasta bite slows midday?When kokanee stop biting during the day, downsize your dodger. Jeff Goodwin switches to really small teardrop-type dodgers or 4 inch dodgers, which can produce when nothing else works. Keep working the 45 to 50 foot range on downriggers. What is Jeff Goodwin's outlook for Shasta Lake?With bait piling up on the surface, Goodwin expects the bite to keep improving in the coming weeks. Kokanee fishing is holding up really well despite a slightly slower day. Kings should return as conditions settle. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): Kokanee fishing is especially good. We tried for kings a little bit today, and the kings seem to have vacated some of the areas they like to hang out in. Best techniques for the kokanee have been downriggers and just running small dodgers, spinner hoochies, spinners like the Uncle Larry's spinners. Six inch dodgers, Catch America dodgers, have been really good, especially the gold, but some UV tape on them is really good too. Check that 45 to 50 foot range. Shasta Lake June 23, 2025 FAQ How deep are kokanee at Shasta Lake in late June?Kokanee and rainbows are in the 45 to 50 foot range, reached best with downriggers. What dodger color is working at Shasta Lake?The gold 6 inch Catch America dodger has been really good, especially with UV tape added. What do I do when Shasta kokanee stop biting midday?Switch to smaller dodgers, such as teardrop-type or 4 inch dodgers, which can produce when nothing else works. Are king salmon biting at Shasta Lake right now?Kings are scarce. They seem to have vacated their usual areas, so success has been limited this week. Are the browns and rainbows biting at Shasta?Browns are showing up, with some big ones caught in nearby boats, and rainbows are showing up pretty good. Why is the Shasta bite expected to improve?Bait is finally piling up on the surface, which should help get the bite going in the coming weeks. Who guides Shasta Lake for Catch America?Capt. Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Trolling Dodger 6 inch - Kokanee & Trout Shop Capt. Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | June 16, 2025

Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin Guide Service on Shasta Lake and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now Kokanee fishing is fantastic at Shasta Lake the week of June 16, 2025, with fish holding 45 to 50 feet and growing daily. Get any gear down to that depth and slow-troll at 1.2 to 1.4 mph. Rainbows with a few browns are showing 40 to 50 feet in the lower lake between the I-5 bridge and the dam, best at 2.2 to 2.4 mph. Kings are hit or miss on 8 inch flashers with Brad's Kokanee Cut Plugs. What is biting at Shasta Lake right now?Kokanee fishing is fantastic and the fish are growing every day, setting up big quality kokanee by late summer. Rainbows, with a few browns mixed in, are just starting to fire. King salmon is decent but hit or miss. Capt. Jeff Goodwin is putting 15 to 20 fish in the boat per day. What depth are kokanee holding at Shasta Lake?Look for kokanee in the 45 to 50 foot range. Jeff Goodwin is running downriggers, but any gear that reaches that depth gets bites. Rainbows and browns are holding 40 to 50 feet, best in the lower lake between the I-5 bridge and the dam. What trolling speed works for Shasta kokanee and trout?Notch the speed back to 1.2 to 1.4 mph for kokanee. For rainbows and browns, speed up to 2.2 to 2.4 mph, which draws the most bites. Match the speed to the species you are targeting for the best results. What lures are working for Shasta kings?King salmon are coming on 8 inch flashers paired with Brad's Kokanee Cut Plugs or Brad's Super Bait Skinny Minis. Add tuna packed in oil to the bait cavities for the best results. Keeping kings buttoned on the flashers can be a challenge. What is Jeff Goodwin's outlook for Shasta Lake?Goodwin expects the trout fishing to improve with a lot more action in the coming days. Kokanee keep growing and should be big and high quality by late July into September. The bite has been on and off week to week but is holding up well overall. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): Really good kokanee fishing. Kokanee fishing is fantastic. Look for kokanee to be in the 45 to 50 foot mark, and I am using primarily downriggers. We are just now starting to get into some really good trout fishing, the rainbows specifically, with a few browns in the mix, in the 40 to 50 foot range. King salmon is still pretty good, 8 inch flashers and Brads Kokanee Cut Plugs or the Skinny Minnys have been really good. Shasta Lake June 16, 2025 FAQ How deep are kokanee at Shasta Lake in June?Kokanee are holding in the 45 to 50 foot range and growing every day, per Capt. Jeff Goodwin. What is the best trolling speed for Shasta kokanee?Slow-troll kokanee at 1.2 to 1.4 mph. For rainbows and browns, run faster at 2.2 to 2.4 mph. Where are the trout biting on Shasta Lake?Rainbows with a few browns are in the 40 to 50 foot range, best in the lower lake between the I-5 bridge and the dam. What baits work for Shasta king salmon?Eight inch flashers with Brad's Kokanee Cut Plugs or Brad's Super Bait Skinny Minis, with tuna in oil in the bait cavities. How many fish is the guide catching per day at Shasta?Jeff Goodwin is putting 15 to 20 fish a day in the boat depending on how many anglers are aboard. Is king salmon fishing good at Shasta Lake right now?It is decent but hit or miss, with some days off and some days really good. Keeping kings on the flashers can be tough. Who guides Shasta Lake for Catch America?Capt. Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug 2.25 inch Brad's Super Bait Skinny Mini - 2 Pack Shop Capt. Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | June 9, 2025

Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin Guide Service on Shasta Lake and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now The bite is on at Shasta Lake the week of June 9, 2025. The summer pattern has emerged, fish are keying on shad, and the spoon bite is turning on. Most fish are coming from the 40 to 45 foot range at about 2.2 mph on spoons like the Optimizer Junior fished on divers or downriggers. For kokanee, run Uncle Larry's spinners and 6 inch Catch America dodgers. What is biting at Shasta Lake right now?Fishing has been really good despite hot weather. Kokanee are coming steadily, and the trout bite just picked up with nice rainbows and browns. The summer pattern has emerged and fish are feeding on shad, which turns the spoon bite on. Open water is really starting to produce. What depth are the fish holding at Shasta Lake?Most fish are coming from the 40 to 45 foot range, trolling about 2.2 mph. Big rainbows and browns are moving into open water, though some fish are still close to shore. Kokanee are also close to shore and mark well on sonar. What lures are working for Shasta trout?With fish feeding on shad, the spoon bite is on. Capt. Jeff Goodwin likes the Junior Optimizer spoons fished on divers or off downriggers for quality rainbows and browns at 40 to 45 feet and about 2.2 mph. How should I target Shasta kokanee this week?Watch your sonar and when you mark good schools, put kokanee gear down. Run Uncle Larry's spinners behind 6 inch Catch America dodgers, which have been really good. Many kokanee are holding close to shore right now. What is Jeff Goodwin's outlook for Shasta Lake?With the summer pattern set and fish keying on shad, Goodwin expects the spoon bite and open-water action to keep improving. Most of the boats working with him are now on the lake, so more good reports are ahead. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): Fishing has been really good. We have been catching lots of kokanee, and the last couple days we just picked up on the trout bite. That summer pattern has emerged. These fish are feeding on the shad, and when that happens the spoon bite really turns on. I really like the Optimizer Juniors for this fishery. Most of our fish are coming from the 40 to 45 foot range, trolling about 2.2 miles an hour. Shasta Lake June 9, 2025 FAQ How deep are the fish at Shasta Lake in early June?Most fish are coming from the 40 to 45 foot range, trolling about 2.2 mph. What lure is best for Shasta trout right now?Junior Optimizer spoons fished on divers or downriggers, since the fish are feeding on shad and the spoon bite is on. What trolling speed works at Shasta Lake?About 2.2 mph for the rainbows and browns in the 40 to 45 foot range. Where are the kokanee holding at Shasta?Many kokanee are close to shore and mark well on sonar. Put gear down when you see good marks. What kokanee setup does the guide recommend?Uncle Larry's spinners run behind 6 inch Catch America dodgers, which have been really good. Are the trout in open water or near shore at Shasta?Open water is really starting to pick up for big rainbows and browns, though some fish are still close to shore. Who guides Shasta Lake for Catch America?Capt. Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Junior Optimizer 2.25 inch Trolling Spoon Trolling Dodger 6 inch - Kokanee & Trout Shop Capt. Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear

Shasta Lake Fishing Report | June 4, 2025

Shasta Lake is very good with kokanee limits nearly every trip, good rainbows, and consistent king salmon.