Shasta Lake is in really good shape and conditions are shaping up nicely for next months brown trout fishing.  Most years, the last week of February seems to be the start of the spring brown trout season.  By March, big browns will be be hanging in their usual haunts for that time of the year.  Until then, looking for some of the early birds is a good bet, but you've got to put in some time fishing for them before getting bit.  There are still a good number of 12"-16" rainbows hanging around the main lake, but most of the big rainbows are nowhere to be found.  I expect they are up in the tributaries spawning and thats why they are a rare find until about May when they start showing up again.  We're also starting to see some second year King salmon in the lake and thats a good sign for sure.  Shasta Lake has seen King salmon plants the last two years so the populations should be on the rise and last years Kings are now keeper size.  Kings and rainbows are center stage for now and should provide some excitement until the bruiser browns come to life.