Dean's desk
Trip Planner
Home

News
Tournaments
Derbies
Calendar
Links

Fish Tales
Message Board
Talk Fishin'

Information
Reservations
Passes
Ranger Stations
State Park Offices
Fish and Game
About Fish

Lakes
Calif. State Map

Shasta Lake being California's largest man-made lake is a fisherman's dream. With it's four large arms (Pit River Arm, Squaw Creek Arm, McCloud River Arm, and Sacramento River Arm) its like having four different lakes to fish. When full its 370 miles of shoreline, that varies from steep and rocky banks, to coves of wooded flats, provides fishermen with plenty of area to search for the abundant population of fish that inhabit the lake. Also at a maximum depth of 517ft. and 29,500 surface acres, there's a tremendous amount of water to troll or shore-fish for a variety of fish that includes: bass, trout and salmon, catfish, sturgeon, crappie, bluegill, and others.

The Shasta-Trinity National Forests maintains six launching facilities, each charge a small fee for launching. All have paved ramps, a lighted parking area (except Hirz Bay), and restrooms. The ramps are usually open all year, however they may be closed when the parking lots fill up or lake debris causes launching to be hazardous. Centimudi Bay, Jones Valley, and Bailey Cove often fill up on holiday weekends. Many of the commercially-operated marinas also operate launch ramps. Services and fees (if any) vary with each marina.

Camping at Shasta is also excellent. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service the lake has many developed campground as well as walk-in and boat-in campsites. Shasta allows shoreline camping though some areas are restricted. All camping and fire regulation must be followed, including packing out what you pack in. There's also dozens of privately operated resorts, r.v. parks, and campgrounds scattered around the lake.