We experienced another great summer season on Shasta Lake this year but change is in the wind.  Cooler nights continue to slowly drive the surface temps down on the lake and its the tell tale sign fall is just around the corner.  A lot of changes will occur on Shasta in the next few months and we'll be switching up our trolling tactics any week now.  We will still see some trout and salmon really deep now but we're going to see a slow shift up near the surface as the Shad rise up to the cooler water again.  This is the time of year we start to see a lot of feeding activity right on the surface so it makes sense to run some lines up top as well.  Don't give up on the deeper fish just yet, we'll still get lots of bites down there in 80'-120' of water.  We'll keep trolling our flasher combos down deep but its time to run small spoons up top as well.  Big browns will start to migrate to their spawning tributaries and the rainbows will come back to the upper reaches of the water column.  A lot of the trout action will center around the tributary mouths and even boat launch areas where trout plants occur every year.  Open water will still produce but you'll definitely notice that those areas of the lake will see a slower bite due to the lower numbers of trout occupying the big, deep water areas of the lake.  With no river salmon fishing again in California this year, we'll be fishing Shasta all fall and winter.  If you'd like to learn haw to catch trout on Shasta Lake during the coldwater months, now is the time to book your fall/winter fishing trip(s) on Shasta Lake.  I have lots of available dates beginning in October and you can grab yours by calling Janie at (530) 510-2925.  Tight Lines!

Captain Jeff Goodwin