It’s a fishing day

Shasta Lake fishing conditions · California

Tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 11 amSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 74.

Log a trip here
Right now: 64 for smallmouth bass, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 64Mon
  2. 64
  3. 64
  4. 643 am
  5. 64
  6. 64
  7. 666 am
  8. 66
  9. 66
  10. 669 am
  11. 66
  12. 66
  13. 6612 pm
  14. 66
  15. 74
  16. 743 pm
  17. 74
  18. 66
  19. 646 pm
  20. 64
  21. 66
  22. 749 pm
  23. 66
  24. 74
  25. 74Tue
  26. 74
  27. 74
  28. 743 am
  29. 74
  30. 74
  31. 746 am
  32. 74
  33. 74
  34. 749 am
  35. 74
  36. 64
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
1 mph

From the northwest

Flow
218 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:32 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
53°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

74Worth the tripTonight 11 pm to tomorrow 11 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lakes, reservoirs and the Delta: 12" minimum, 5 black bass a day, open all year. Rivers, streams and ponds entirely on private land have no size limit (still 5 a day). Hodges, Casitas, Barrett, Upper Otay and a few other waters have their own rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

74Worth the tripTonight 11 pm to tomorrow 11 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lakes, reservoirs and ponds: 5 trout a day, 10 in possession, open all year with no size limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Nov–Apr, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalTonight 11 pm to tomorrow 11 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lakes, reservoirs and the Delta: 12" minimum, 5 black bass a day, open all year. Rivers, streams and ponds entirely on private land have no size limit (still 5 a day). Hodges, Casitas, Barrett, Upper Otay and a few other waters have their own rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalTonight 11 pm to tomorrow 11 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

25 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 25 sunfish and crappie a day combined, no size limit. Hodges and El Capitan have a 10" crappie minimum; Barrett and Upper Otay are catch and release.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Jan, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalTonight 11 pm to tomorrow 11 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No catfish limit in most of California. The Southern and Colorado River districts are 10 a day, and some listed county and park lakes are 5.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Apr–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River218 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.02 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:32 am
  • Sunset today6:13 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarSunday 11:50 pm–1:50 am
  • Minor solunarToday 7:50 am–8:50 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

California's largest reservoir, a sprawling multi-arm lake in the far north — strong spotted and largemouth bass, smallmouth on the rock, plus rainbow trout and catfish.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Trinity River (Lewiston)26 mi · CaliforniaBest today 11 am–8 pm
92Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Shasta Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Shasta Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Shasta Lake?

Shasta Lake is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Crappie, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Shasta Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Shasta Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Shasta Lake have?

Shasta Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Shasta Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Shasta Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Shasta Lake tidal water?

No. Shasta Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.