The posts here have been following a month to month of spotted bass fishing knowledge I acquired from last season, but it is already the end of February, and the prespawn seems to be starting here on Lake Shasta. I just couldn’t wait to include some current information interesting for readers who fish for these bass. So here is a current fishing report for Lake Shasta March 2018.
Spotted Bass Everywhere
Maybe it is my imagination, or just lots of fish, but there seem to be fish everywhere including the redds I found these past couple of years. The fish near these areas seem to be feeding heavily. I look for an area of shoreline geology that offers a rocky spine that extends out into the lake to at least the 50 foot depth, and fish both sides. Where the bottom leads up to a flat is where I have found spawning redds, and I have found larger fish there.
Late February is an iffy time for bass fishing in most parts of California, but once again the weather has been unseasonably warm. The spotted bass on Lake Shasta seem to be more active than in the really cold conditions, and susceptible to baits dropping into their area.
The water temperature on the lake has been in the low to mid 50’s for a couple of months now, but a cold snap this week may change the temperature to the high 40’s for a while. We will see. The Lake Shasta ‘Spots’ can be found along bank lines that have the longest amount of sun, thus warming them throughout the day. If an angler can imagine the structure that would hold bass along one of these banks, or can see it on sonar, there are bound to be fish to be caught there.
The Right Baits
Long fabled as the “Big Boy’s Candy Store”, Phil’s Propeller in Shasta Lake has selection of baits and current, pertinent information about what is working for these Spots day to day. Phil’s has also just launched a new web store to make it easier for folks to get the Right Stuff that works for these northern California fish.
Fishing At Shasta 3-4-18
Sunday was a day of rest and relaxation on Lake Shasta, with my friend Don, after spending two days on my feet during the Sportsmen Show in the Shasta County Fairgrounds Anderson. Here is what we found.
It was cold, cold, cold, Sunday morning, and we didn’t get on the water until about noon. Fortunately I have some new cold weather gear by Fortress Clothing, and was toasty enough. We were really glad that an eight o’clock start time was not in the cards. There was only a slight breeze, and the water temperature hovered around 49 degrees. It should be a great day!
We went into a couple of creek/coves up in the Pit Arm of Shasta where there is a bunch standing timber, because we had done really well a few weeks ago in similar water. We began at the back end of the first cove where the bottom was only about 25 feet, but could only hook cookie cutter peewee fish in of the 8 inch variety. As we moved out to where the water was deeper, and the timber more prominent, the fish moved into the 10-12 range, and a little farther out we began boating 14-16 inch spot bass.
Don was using a Yamamoto Senko 5 inch Dark Green Pumpkin/SM Green & Purple Flake/Dark Amber #926 Neko rigged. I was using a Yamamoto green pumpkin kuttail 6 1/2 inch that is available as a special item for Phil’s Propeller. I also used a Ned Rig for the first time. We boated 63 fish between us in about 4 1/2 hours. It was a bunch of fun.
The one common thread of information in regards to being successful catching the spotted bass on Lake Shasta in cold water conditions is baits must be worked very slowly. The metabolism of these fish has been slowed by the cold conditions, but they still need to feed, and the aggressive nature of the spotted bass is conducive to some great catches. Work baits slow!
Mr Hook