We just got back from a trip to Lake Shasta and it was awesome. Mid-April is my favorite time to go. The weather’s a bit of a gamble, but this year it was perfect. Mid-70s, sunny, not too cold, not to hot.

We always rent from Holiday Harbor. They’ve got a good lineup of houseboats, the staff is warm and friendly, and it’s easy to get there. Just a few miles north of the I-5 bridge.

My main goals on these trips are simple: relax, unplug, get out into nature, and fish. And this time, we crushed it. I caught my personal best spotted bass and a 10-pound catfish that was an absolute tank.

We also tried something new. We rented a little fishing boat along with the houseboat. Totally worth it. We trolled speedy shiners with diving discs and landed a 3-pound brown trout and a 2-pound rainbow. No question, we’ll be doing that again next year.

It was only a four-day trip, but man it was exactly what I needed. Restorative. Good for the soul. Already counting down to next time.