Shasta Lake Brown and Rainbow Trout eating like pigs

8-20-2026
Scott Caldwell

The past couple weeks Shasta Lake Brown and Rainbow trout have changed their eating patterns. They continue to gorge themselves like pigs on shad but the difference is the size of the shad. The shad have spawned and now there are thousands of baby shad all over the lake.

I have noticed while cleaning the trout, that we have harvested, they are mostly full of tiny baby shad. These shad are a quarter inch to one inch in size. What does all this mean? It means I have had to change the size of lures and baits, I have been using, as well as slow down my trolling speeds. The fish have also been deeper, which is probably due to surface temperatures on the lake being near 85 degrees, in the afternoon.

I am now fishing 115 to 140 feet deep and trolling 1 to 1.7 mph for the trout. Where in past weeks, I was trolling 70 to 95 feet and 2 to 3.5 mph. I have down sized my shad imitation plugs to 1/2 to 1 inch in size. Smaller spoons and hootchie spinners tipped with small chunks of nightcrawlers have worked as well. Pro-Cure Anchovy gel scent has worked the best on the everything.

I had been getting a lot of short strikes and fish were pulling my offerings off the downriggers and not hooking up, but once I downsized everything I began to get more solid hook ups. 

Fishing for these fabulous hard fighting piggy trout will continue like this well into fall months. The fish will remain deep until surface temperatures begin to drop.

Check out the pictures and give me a call 530 905 0758 or book online at Caldwellfishing.com with my easy to use booking calendar where all cards are excepted.

I can take care of all your needs obviously I have the fishing part taken care of but I also have food and lodging options. You just need to get yourself here with a fishing license. I will take care of everything else. 

Many Fish On!

Scott