Kokanee Browns and Bows on the bite

7-5-2025
Scott Caldwell

Shasta Lake and Whiskeytown Reservoir are producing beautiful fish and limits of tasty treats.

Kokanee are on the bite at both bodies of water and the fish are extra fat and healthy. My clients have caught Kokanee that are getting close to 20 inches and 3 pounds. Whiskeytown has produced the biggest for me so far, at 19 inches and weighing 2 pounds 12 ounces. Shasta has kicked out fish in  the16 to 17 inch class and 2 pounds. I expect to see a 3 pound maybe even 4 pounder this summer. 

Shasta Lake is also fishing well for beautiful Brown and Rainbow Trout. On my last trip, my client Joe caught a beautiful mixed bag of fish. 2 Browns at 4 pounds each, at least 6 Rainbows in the 2 pound class and 10 Kokanee up to 2 pound. Joe let most of these fish go, and just kept a few Kokanee and one Trout for the BBQ. 

I have been trolling plugs for the Trout, and Dodgers with various spoons and hootchie trailers tipped with my homemade garlic corn recipe for the kokanee. I caught fish at both lakes between 40 an 85 feet and trolling speeds between 1.5 an 3 mph.

Fishing is going to continue to get better as summer progresses. The Kokanee amd Trout will continue to grow as gorge themselves on plankton blooms and threadfin shad during July, August and September. Those of you that fished with me last Summer know what Im talking about. The Trout fishing was epic, with many tipping the scales between 5 and 9 pounds.

Give me a call 530 905 0758 or book online at Caldwellfishing.com and let's put your next fishing adventure together.