Lake Siskiyou and Shastina

Lake Siskiyou and Shastina: Mount Shasta Fishing

Lake Siskiyou and Lake Shastina both sit within view of snow-capped, 14,162-foot Mount Shasta. Each lake is worth the trip on its own.

Both offer fine fishing, boat launching, a marina, and a fully developed campground. Add crisp mountain air and sparkling blue water, and you have two of Northern California’s best fishing settings. This guide covers how to make the most of both.

The Mount Shasta Setting

Mount Shasta crowns both lakes and gives every cast an alpine backdrop. The views open up from Siskiyou’s north shore and Shastina’s western hillsides. Sunrise paints the volcano orange — a signal of the calm surface conditions that suit morning trout fishing.

Fir and cedar forests keep both shorelines quiet. The mountain’s glaciers and waterfalls finish the scene, so either lake works as a scenic retreat even on slow fishing days. The 14,162-foot peak makes a striking photo backdrop all day long.

Access and Directions

Lake Siskiyou sits about 2 miles east of I-5. Take Exit 738 (Lake Street) near Mt. Shasta City and follow the signed road past the soccer fields. You’ll reach the resort, campground, and marina in minutes. The road is paved the whole way, so you can tow a loaded rig without cutting through downtown Mt. Shasta.

For Lake Shastina, take the north Weed Boulevard exit off I-5 at Weed. Head east on Lake Shastina Drive across the causeway. Clear signs point you to the gated launch, swim beach, and community docks. The road follows the river floodplain before climbing to the reservoir, so larger trailers get a scenic route with no traffic lights.

Best Fishing Seasons and Water Levels

Lake Siskiyou fishes best in April–May and again in October, when trout bite hard in cooling water. Its spring-fed basins stay deep and fishable even in late summer. Modest late-season drawdowns expose shoals and push trout toward the inflow. Scout the same coves you fish in spring — they still hold fish when levels drop.

Lake Shastina’s trout bite peaks in late spring and early summer, before the lake warms through July. Bass show up in the coves once the cool-water crowd thins out. Shastina doubles as an irrigation reservoir, so the level can fall a few feet after July. Expect shoals on the upper arm while fish stack near the dam and the deeper channels.

Boat Launches and Speed Regulations

Lake Siskiyou Resort runs a single launch ramp that handles medium rigs. Fuel, a pump-out, and winterized parking back it up. The lake-wide 10 mph limit keeps the surface calm for shore anglers and swimmers.

Productive trout water sits a very short troll from the ramp. You can have lines in fast, even on a quick day trip from a nearby town.

Lake Shastina has a larger concrete ramp near the dam with multiple lanes, courtesy docks, and RV parking. Its lake-wide speed limit is 35 mph, with posted no-wake zones around the marina, swim beach, and campgrounds. Watch the shoreline zone markers on the eastern arm, where paddlecraft and inflatable toys mix with anglers.

Tackle and Equipment Recommendations

Lake Siskiyou rewards light to medium-action spinning gear. The clear water makes trout and bass wary, so fish small spoons, inline spinners, and subtle soft plastics — and bring plenty of fluorocarbon leader. A braided main line helps you fight deep-rising browns around the rocky creek inflows while still feeling the first tick of a strike near a snag.

Lake Shastina asks for two setups. Bring casting rods for bass around cover, plus trolling gear for the deeper old river channel where 8 to 10-pound rainbows cruise in summer. Keep articulated cranks, swimbaits, and stout drop-shot rigs handy. That spread covers the trout near the dam and the aggressive bass on the mid-lake points.

Nearby Activities for Non-Anglers

Mt. Shasta City keeps non-anglers busy with artisan shops, galleries, and the Mount Shasta Nordic Center. Easy hikes like the Panther Meadows Trail deliver big volcano views within 20 minutes of the lake. Families can swim at the resort beach, stroll the lakeside paths, or browse the downtown farmers’ market between fishing shifts.

Weed offers the Myrtle Creek Trail, the Lake Shastina water slide, and summer concerts at the Shastina Amphitheater. Golfers get an 18-hole course nearby. History buffs can tour the Weed Historic Lumber Village just north of town.

First-Time Visitor Tips

Expect bright mountain sun and chilly mornings. Pack layers, sunscreen, and bug spray before you leave the interstate. Arrive early to claim a day-use parking spot. Double-check seasonal gate times and reservation rules, and keep a stocked cooler — services outside the resorts are limited.

Lake Siskiyou Fishing

Lake Siskiyou, the smaller of the two lakes, sits about 2 miles from Mt. Shasta City, off I-5. It lies at 3,200 feet elevation, covers 440 surface acres, and has just over 5 miles of shoreline.

There’s a swimming beach, and the boat speed limit is 10 mph. Trout fishing here is very good.

Trout action is usually best in the Sacramento River Arm. Sliding sinker rigs with bait work well at the inlets, early and late in the day.

Trolling also produces in the Sacramento Arm. Fish nightcrawlers and PowerBait on sliding sinker rigs that hold the bait near the bottom current seam while still letting it move.

Pair that with slow troll spreads of small spoons and inline spinners east of the boat ramp, where smelt and shad feed. Early and late in the season, light-line trolling behind planer boards with medium-diving plugs pulls chrome trout suspended above the gravel bars near the head of the arm.

Most rainbows and browns run from 10 inches to 3 pounds. But brood stock from the nearby Mt. Shasta hatchery are sometimes “put out to pasture” in Siskiyou, so be prepared. For trophy browns, work the deep winter flats and ledges. Present large, realistic soft plastics on 8–10-pound braid with a fluorocarbon leader, or dead-drift nightcrawlers near creek inflows where brood stock feed hard before spawning.

Look for pressured browns close to the dam and the Turner Creek channel. Fish the steep, rock-lined banks with slow-rolled jigs or jerkbaits to tempt the bigger, reluctant fish. These trophies demand patience and precise presentation.

Camping and Recreation at Lake Siskiyou

Both lakes offer developed campgrounds with full-hookup sites, showers, and boat ramps. Lake Siskiyou’s Siskiyou Lake Campground sits close to hiking trails, while Lake Shastina adds a marina store, playground, and seasonal boat rentals. Day-use areas and picnic spots make easy family outings.

You can also mix in disc golf, the swimming beaches, or bike routes through the pine forests after a day on the water. The full facilities make multi-day fishing trips comfortable.

Lake Siskiyou Contact Information

Lake Siskiyou at P.O. Box 276, Mt. Shasta, CA, 96067, (916)926-2618

Lake Shastina Fishing

Lake Shastina is about 5 times larger than Siskiyou and sits about 7 miles northeast of Weed, off I-5. It covers 2,700 surface acres and even has a water slide for the kids, plus rental homes for lake visitors.

Shastina is well known for its outstanding trout fishery. Big rainbows from 8–10 pounds have come out of this lake.

Trout fishing is good at the inlets and at the dam. In summer, troll over the old river channel.

Trophy Rainbow Trout Strategies

The 8–10 pound rainbows school around the Shasta River diversion and the Sargent Creek mouths. Cast chartreuse Kastmasters, hootchies, or large float-fished PowerBait early in the morning for aggressive strikes before the afternoon thermocline drops. When the lake stratifies in mid-summer, troll 2–3 feet deep on downriggers with 6–8-inch flashers rigged with Corkies or swimbaits. Work the weed edges near Blowout Point and the saddle between the islands for steady results.

Shastina Creek Brown Trout

Shastina Creek, between I-5 and Lake Shastina, produces many brown trout in the 7–11 inch range, plus some up to 3 pounds. Use small spinners, dark-patterned wet flies, or red worms.

Access is in Edgewood. The browns take small streamers and articulated trout magnets bounced through the slow pools. Worms or salmon eggs under an indicator on 6–8 pound fluorocarbon also work well for resident fish feeding on eggs and insects.

Focus on the riffled section just below the parking area and the bend near the boat launch. Brass or copper jigs imitate the minnows and sculpins these trout key on. This small stream gives patient anglers a real shot at a trophy brown.

Lake Shastina Contact Information

Lake Shastina at 6006 Lake Shastina Dr., Weed, CA. 96064, (916)938-4385.

Related California Lake Guides

Planning a multi-lake trip or exploring more Northern California fishing? Check out these resources:

• California Fishing Guide 2026 - Complete guide to 60+ California lakes, rivers, and fishing spots with species info, seasons, and local tips.
• Lake Shasta & Keswick - California’s largest reservoir with trophy trout, just 45 minutes south.
• Lewiston Lake - Trophy trout and fly fishing paradise west of Redding.
• Lake Almanor - Premier trophy trout destination with German browns over 10 lbs.