Fall has arrived here in the north state and while we’re still busy fishing for Sacramento River King salmon, it’s not too early to start the Shasta Lake winter trout fishing conversation’s. Shasta Lake water temps are dropping quickly which will have the trout following the Shad back to the surface of the lake. I love this time of the year because its time to put away the bulky down riggers and pull out the side planers and divers!
Shasta Lake brown trout caught long lining a Trinidad Tackle Optimizer spoon!
When Shasta’s shoreline trees begin to turn its time to chase the big browns headed home to spawn. We still catch a lot of great rainbows during the winter season but its the big adult browns that are the prize this time of the year. Every winter you’ll find big browns headed up the arms of the lake to return to the spawning grounds in the Sacramento and McCloud Rivers. With cooler surface temps and a choppy lake, I like to target these big browns and rainbows trolling fast with big spoons just below the surface, With water temps in the low 50’s and even high 40’s, it definitely pays off to run big presentations in the 4 mph range. One of the best ways to get these big fish to move to your gear when the water is cold is to deploy the side planers. There’s no better way to target these big trout than to run your gear next to the shallows and along the shorelines.
Three side planers trolled near shore is a great way to cover lots of water at once while looking for big Shasta Lake browns!
When the bite is tough, sometimes it pays off to size down your presentations and slow your trolling speed. Some mornings the trout just don’t want to chase big baits fast but will chase a smaller offering thats moving slower and requires less energy spent for a quick meal. It’s all about the mood of the trout and like the old saying goes, let the trout tell you what they want. It’s always changing!
Big Shasta Lake brown caught while trolling with side planers and a spoon close to shore!
I’ve written a bunch of articles on fishing Shasta Lake for trout in the late fall and winter but many people over the years have found that it’s much easier to learn how to catch these great big trout by booking a trip during the winter season with me. My trips are highly instructional and you get a lot for your money. Not only do I get clients into some great Shasta Lake trout during these trips but they also learn a lot during the day and often times are able to find success on their own down the road. Either way it can be a great experience no matter who you are. If you’d like to fish Shasta Lake this winter for big trout give Jaynie a call or click on the BOOK NOW button on our page to get the ball rolling. Thank’s and I’ll look forward to catching some big Shasta Lake browns with some of you this winter season!
