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Redding Fishing Guides

Redding fishing guides work the Sacramento River’s steady flows, deep runs, and riffles for rainbow trout, steelhead, salmon, and striped bass, with nearby lakes holding bass, kokanee, and catfish.

Top Rated Charters in Redding

$450.00 - $500.00
Fryes Fishing
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Fryes Fishing

Redding, CA

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Redding, CA Fishing Guide

Redding sits right in the heart of Northern California’s best freshwater fishing, with the Sacramento River running clear and cold through town year-round. Most trips here are on the river, but you’ve also got Shasta Lake, Whiskeytown Lake, and the lower Trinity River close by. Common launch spots are the Posse Grounds Ramp, Bonnyview, or Anderson River Park, with the starting point depending on what’s biting and how the flows look. Some runs put you into fish within minutes, while longer drifts cover stretches loaded with holding water.

The Sacramento is a tailwater fishery, so even in the heat of summer the water stays cool and fish stay active. Deep pools, gravel bars, and riffle sections each have their season. Spring and summer keep the rainbow trout bite steady, often with light tackle or fly gear drifting small nymphs, egg patterns, or plugs. When salmon season is open, guides target deep runs with roe or troll big plugs. Fall and winter bring in steelhead, with side-drifting bait or swinging flies both producing. Striped bass show up in warmer months, hitting live bait or swimbaits in the deeper holes.

Shasta Lake is a year-round option, with spotted bass leading the numbers and largemouth and smallmouth mixed in. Trolling, drop-shotting, and topwater all have their windows. Whiskeytown Lake is known for its hard-fighting kokanee salmon, usually taken on early-morning trolling passes with small dodgers and hoochies. The Trinity River offers a smaller, scenic drift for steelhead in fall and winter.

River conditions can change fast with dam releases, so local guides watch the flows closely. Clear, steady water is best for trout and steelhead, while a little color can fire up the salmon bite. Trips range from short half-day drifts for trout to full-day salmon runs or lake trips for bass and kokanee.

Fishing Seasons in Redding

Spring (March–May)

Spring brings strong rainbow trout fishing on the Sacramento, with fish holding in riffles and seams. Fly anglers work small mayfly and caddis nymphs, while spin anglers drift bait or cast small plugs. Striped bass can push in by late spring, especially in deeper runs downstream. On Shasta Lake, bass move shallow and feed heavily, with spotted bass often the most aggressive. Snowmelt can bump river flows, so guides pick stretches with the best water.

Summer (June–August)

Summer keeps the trout bite steady thanks to cold releases from Shasta Dam. Dry-dropper rigs and drifting bait both put fish in the net. If salmon season is open, boats work deep river slots with roe or troll outside bends. Shasta Lake’s topwater bite peaks early and late in the day, and kokanee fishing in Whiskeytown Lake is at its best with early trolling passes. Hot weather means mornings are prime.

Fall (September–November)

Fall is the multi-species sweet spot. Salmon runs peak, with guides back-bouncing roe or working plugs through staging holes. Steelhead show in better numbers, and trout fishing stays steady in the upper stretches. Bass on Shasta Lake feed hard before winter, hitting crankbaits, swimbaits, and jigs. Cooler air and turning leaves make long days on the river some of the best of the year.

Winter (December–February)

Winter shifts the focus to steelhead on the Sacramento and Trinity Rivers. Roe drifting and fly swinging are both productive in deeper slots and tailouts. Trout remain active in the upper river, especially on small nymphs and egg imitations. On calm days, Shasta Lake gives up deep-water bass and trout to slow trolling. Cold mornings are common, but sunny afternoons can turn the bite on.

Gamefish in Redding

  • Rainbow Trout – 12–20 inches. Year-round in the Sacramento, taken on flies, bait, and small plugs in riffles and seams.
  • Chinook Salmon – 10–30 lbs. Summer and fall in the Sacramento, trolled or back-bounced with roe in deep runs.
  • Steelhead – 4–10 lbs. Fall and winter in the Sacramento and Trinity, caught swinging flies or drifting bait.
  • Striped Bass – 5–20 lbs. Spring and early summer in deep river holes, taken on live bait and swimbaits.
  • Spotted Bass – 1–4 lbs. Year-round in Shasta Lake, caught on drop-shots, jigs, and topwater in summer.
  • Kokanee Salmon – 10–16 inches. Summer in Whiskeytown Lake, taken by trolling dodgers and hoochies.
  • Largemouth Bass – 1–6 lbs. Shasta Lake coves and points, hitting crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics.

Redding Fishing FAQs

Common launch points include the Posse Grounds Ramp, Bonnyview, and Anderson River Park, depending on flows and target species.

Half-day trout or steelhead drifts, full-day salmon trips, and guided lake trips for bass, kokanee, or landlocked salmon.

Yes, most guides supply rods, reels, tackle, and bait. Fly gear is typically available for trout and steelhead trips.

Yes. Anglers 16 and older need a California fishing license, plus a salmon or steelhead report card if targeting those species.

Trout bite all year, salmon run in summer and fall, and steelhead peak in fall and winter. Bass fishing is best in spring and fall.

Fly fishing, side-drifting, back-bouncing, trolling, and lure casting, depending on season and species.

Yes. The Sacramento River has calm stretches for trout and steelhead, and nearby lakes offer easy action for bass and kokanee.

Not common, but some guides offer summer night trips for striped bass or catfish.

Yes, some guides combine a morning river drift with an afternoon lake trip when conditions allow.