Don Pedro Fishing Report | September 15, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
Fish are coming from 40 to 70 feet, with Monte working the 40, 65, and 70 foot range over schools of bait.
Presentation
Fast-troll spoon bite. Run custom homemade spoons alongside the new Optimizer Junior spoons, which are thinner and work at slower and faster speeds. Watch for grebes to find bait and fish.
Lures and baits
Custom homemade spoons
Optimizer Junior spoons
Best time
Cooler mornings.
Water temperature
Surface temperatures cooled to about 75 degrees, down from the 80s.
Water clarity
Around 8 to 9 feet on a shark weight.
Water level
Dropping 4 to 5 inches a day, sitting about 40 feet down.
Weather
Cooler weather with fall hinting at an early arrival.
Advice for this week
Use the grebes as your guide. Find the birds, find the bait, and the fish will be underneath. Do not overthink how long the bite will last. Get out while the action is good. Book with Monte through Gold Country Sport Fishing.
What is changing
Cooler weather has the fish chewing. Surface temps cooled to about 75 degrees from the 80s, with fall hinting at an early arrival.
Next week
The action should continue at least through all of October, and maybe later depending on the weather. With few boats on the water, it is a great time to go.
Don Pedro is fishing great in mid-September 2025 as fall cools the water to about 75 degrees on the surface. Monte Smith is smashing fish trolling his custom homemade spoons and Optimizer Juniors from 40 to 70 feet deep. The lake is stuffed with threadfin shad, so watch for grebes to find the bait schools, then find the fish. Water clarity is 8 to 9 feet.
How is the fishing at Don Pedro right now?
Very good. Monte Smith says they are smashing fish hard as fall arrives early and cools the water. The lake is loaded with threadfin shad, there is hardly any boat traffic, and the action should hold at least through October.
What depth are the fish holding at Don Pedro?
From 40 to 70 feet deep. Monte Smith is running his gear through that band and putting a lot of fish in the boat. Follow the bait and the fish will be nearby.
What lures are working at Don Pedro?
Monte Smith is running his custom homemade spoons alongside Optimizer Juniors, and the Optimizer Juniors are starting to put a lot more fish in the boat. The custom spoons are his own and are not sold by Catch America.
How do I locate fish at Don Pedro?
Hunt down the schools of threadfin shad. Monte Smith watches for grebes, which are a telltale sign of bait. Match the grebes and you will find bait, and where there is bait, there are fish. Note that the target species was not named in this report.
What are the conditions at Don Pedro?
Surface temps are down to about 75 degrees and cooling. Water clarity is 8 to 9 feet. The lake is dropping 4 to 5 inches a day and is about 40 feet down, but it is in great shape with light pressure.
Watch the full report
Don Pedro Reservoir September 15, 2025 FAQ
From 40 to 70 feet deep, per Monte Smith.
Custom homemade spoons and Optimizer Junior spoons, with the Optimizer Juniors producing more fish.
Look for grebes to locate the threadfin shad schools, which lead you to the fish.
About 75 degrees on the surface and cooling as fall arrives.
About 8 to 9 feet of visibility with a shark weight.
Monte Smith expects the action to continue at least through all of October, maybe later depending on weather.
