What fish are at Shasta Lake?

Fishing Shasta Lake is most likely to be for Mixed Trout. All 12 plants on record are Mixed Trout. Mixed Trout was last stocked June 7, 2026. Largemouth Bass (Warmwater gamefish present in the reservoir alongside spotted and smallmouth bass; not part of CDFW's trout stocking program here), Smallmouth Bass (Present alongside largemouth and spotted bass; USFS fishing guide notes spotted bass are most common of the three), Spotted Bass (The most common black bass species in the lake per the Forest Service's own fishing guide), and Bluegill (Warmwater panfish present in the reservoir, self-sustaining, not stocked by CDFW), plus 3 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Shasta Lake stocked?

Last stocked June 7, 2026. It is stocked about 6 times a year since 2025, most often in April and May.

Shasta Lake fishing

Fishing at Shasta Lake is on a reservoir, stocked with Mixed Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and 2 more. It is stocked about 6 times a year since 2025, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Spotted Bass, dawn, day, and dusk for Bluegill, and dusk and night for Channel Catfish.

Last stocked

June 7, 2026

Plants on record

Species recorded

Elevation

1,022.2 ft

Common questions

What fish are at Shasta Lake?: Fishing Shasta Lake is most likely to be for Mixed Trout. All 12 plants on record are Mixed Trout. Mixed Trout was last stocked June 7, 2026. Largemouth Bass (Warmwater gamefish present in the reservoir alongside spotted and smallmouth bass; not part of CDFW's trout stocking program here), Smallmouth Bass (Present alongside largemouth and spotted bass; USFS fishing guide notes spotted bass are most common of the three), Spotted Bass (The most common black bass species in the lake per the Forest Service's own fishing guide), and Bluegill (Warmwater panfish present in the reservoir, self-sustaining, not stocked by CDFW), plus 3 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Shasta Lake stocked?: Last stocked June 7, 2026. It is stocked about 6 times a year since 2025, most often in April and May.
How do you get on Shasta Lake?: Shore fishing is available and there is a boat ramp. The nearest town is Redding. California's largest reservoir, formed by damming the Sacramento River. Boat, house boat, and camp access is extensive around 365 miles of shoreline; bank fishing is productive near Shasta Dam when releases are high and along the McCloud and Sacramento River arms.
Which lakes near Shasta Lake were stocked more recently?: Whiskeytown Lake (16.7 mi), Lewiston Lake (25.5 mi), and Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake) (25.8 mi) were stocked more recently. Whiskeytown Lake is also stocked with Mixed Trout, Lewiston Lake is also stocked with Mixed Trout, and Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake) is also stocked with Mixed Trout.

Access and facts

Water type: reservoir
Nearest town: Redding
Shore access: Yes
Boat ramp: Yes

California's largest reservoir, formed by damming the Sacramento River. Boat, house boat, and camp access is extensive around 365 miles of shoreline; bank fishing is productive near Shasta Dam when releases are high and along the McCloud and Sacramento River arms.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 23, 2026 , fs.usda.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 23, 2026

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How Shasta Lake is stocked

Whiskeytown Lake (16.7 mi), Lewiston Lake (25.5 mi), and Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake) (25.8 mi) were stocked more recently. Whiskeytown Lake is also stocked with Mixed Trout, Lewiston Lake is also stocked with Mixed Trout, and Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake) is also stocked with Mixed Trout.

Fish at Shasta Lake

Fishing Shasta Lake is most likely to be for Mixed Trout. All 12 plants on record are Mixed Trout.

Mixed Trout 12 plants

Plants: 12 of 12
Last stocked: June 7, 2026

Stocking history

Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
June 7, 2026	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
May 31, 2026	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
May 3, 2026	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
April 26, 2026	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
April 19, 2026	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
April 5, 2026	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
March 29, 2026	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
December 7, 2025	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
November 30, 2025	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
October 19, 2025	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
October 5, 2025	Mixed Trout	–	–	report
September 28, 2025	Mixed Trout	–	–	report

Species found here

Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.

Largemouth Bass : Warmwater gamefish present in the reservoir alongside spotted and smallmouth bass; not part of CDFW's trout stocking program here. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 23, 2026)
Smallmouth Bass : Present alongside largemouth and spotted bass; USFS fishing guide notes spotted bass are most common of the three. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 23, 2026)
Spotted Bass : The most common black bass species in the lake per the Forest Service's own fishing guide. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 23, 2026)
Bluegill : Warmwater panfish present in the reservoir, self-sustaining, not stocked by CDFW. (usbr.gov, accessed September 23, 2026)
Channel Catfish : Catfishing described as best in spring and summer; channel catfish, white catfish, and bullheads are all found in the lake. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 23, 2026)
Chinook Salmon : Per CDFW's 2026 Provisional Stocking Plan for this water (a planning document, not a confirmed release). (nrm.dfg.ca.gov, accessed September 23, 2026)
Rainbow Trout : Per CDFW's 2026 Provisional Stocking Plan for this water (a planning document, not a confirmed release). (nrm.dfg.ca.gov, accessed September 23, 2026)

Species stocked here

Mixed Trout (12)

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.