San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | August 18, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
Fish holding around 70 feet, productive zone 50 to 70 feet. Some scored casting the shoreline when boils broke near the bank.
Presentation
Search and stay mobile as fish chase bait. Troll the 50 to 70 foot zone, cast the shoreline during boils, and jig. Time trips for calm, low-wind days.
Lures and baits
Roger trolled and jigged the deeper fish and cast the shoreline when boils showed. Match the bait the stripers were chasing. Deeper marks will take trolling and jigging spoons.
Water temperature
Surface temps close to 80 degrees depending on the day.
Water clarity
Algae kept getting tougher.
Water level
Water up a little with some fresh inflow.
Weather
Calmer, low-wind days fished best.
Advice for this week
Finding the fish is the whole game right now. Pick a calm day with light wind, stay on the move, and watch for shoreline boils that signal feeding stripers. Put in the hours and the right fish will come.
What is changing
The bite improved considerably. Water was up a little with fresh inflow, algae kept getting tougher, and fish were moving and chasing bait with boils popping up near the shoreline.
Next week
With the water creeping up and the bite already improving, Roger expected it to keep getting better in the near future. The fish were feeding and moving, and the trend pointed up.
Notable catch
The best fish of the day went 17.2 pounds.
The San Luis Reservoir striper bite has improved considerably. Fish are moving around chasing bait from 50 to 70 feet, with boils near shoreline at times. Water temps are near 80 degrees and the lake is coming up gradually. Pick a calm, low-wind day and you can score, including quality fish like the 17.2 pounder Roger George landed.
What is biting at San Luis Reservoir right now?
Stripers, and the bite has improved considerably. Capt. Roger George found a beautiful fish that went 17.2 pounds on this trip. Fish are moving around chasing bait, so you still have to hunt, but the overall bite is much better than it was.
What depth are the stripers holding at San Luis Reservoir?
Roger found the fish at about 70 feet, with fish anywhere from 50 to 70 feet. They are moving quite a bit chasing bait, and there are shoreline boils at times, so cover water and stay ready to react to surface activity.
What techniques work at San Luis Reservoir?
Trolling, casting the shoreline, and jigging can all work. Some anglers are casting to shore during boils. The fish are chasing bait and pushing it up, so keep an eye out for surface action and target it when the wind lays down.
How do conditions affect the San Luis bite?
Water temps are close to 80 degrees depending on the day, and algae is getting tougher. The lake is coming up gradually, which is improving the bite. Your best days are calm ones without heavy wind.
What is the outlook for San Luis Reservoir?
Roger rates trolling, casting, and jigging about a three to four out of ten, and expects it to keep improving in the near future. The gradual rise in lake level is a positive. Specific lures and colors were not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
San Luis Reservoir August 18, 2025 FAQ
Anywhere from 50 to 70 feet, with fish found at about 70 feet on this trip.
Close to 80 degrees, depending on the day.
Yes, it has improved considerably and is expected to keep improving as the lake rises gradually.
A fish that went 17.2 pounds.
On calm days without heavy wind, when boils and bait activity show up near shoreline.
About a three to four out of ten for trolling, casting, and jigging.
