San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | August 25, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
About 70 feet
Presentation
Trolling shad-colored crankbaits and rip baits was the main program. Shore anglers picked up fish on bait, and rip baits produced in the coves in the afternoon when you were in the right place at the right time.
Lures and baits
Lucky Craft, Smithwick, and Rapala baits in shad colors (not carried by Catch America)
Bait from shore
For a shad-pattern alternative, look to the hard-baits collection
Other techniques
Shore fishing with bait; casting rip baits in the coves in the afternoon
Best time
Afternoon in the coves
Water level
About 38 percent, with water pumping in and out day to day
Weather
Wind around 20 mph in the morning shifting northeast; a little overcast after recent monsoon conditions with lightning; air temp near 90
Advice for this week
Cover water and search, since the fish have been tough to pattern. Focus on the coves in the afternoon and be there at the right time.
What is changing
The lake sat at about 38 percent with water pumping in and out day to day, moving fish around; fish have been very hard to pattern this year.
Next week
Roger is hoping conditions stabilize soon. The lake is still in transition, so expect a searching bite until the wind and water settle down.
San Luis Reservoir striper fishing is slow and in transition in late August 2025, rated about a two or three out of ten. Fish are holding around 70 feet. Troll stick baits like Lucky Craft, Smithwick, and Rapala in shad colors, and work coves with rip baits in the afternoon. Wind, monsoon weather, and pumping water are moving fish daily.
How is San Luis Reservoir fishing right now?
Slow. Roger George rates it about a two or three out of ten. He caught a few fish in the morning near the dam, but 20 mph wind, shifting wind direction, overcast, and recent monsoon conditions with lightning have kept it tough. The fish are hard to pattern and require covering ground.
What depth are San Luis stripers holding?
The fish are holding at about 70 feet. Water is being pumped in and out day to day, which changes lake depth and affects where the stripers sit, so plan to search rather than expecting them in the same spot two days running.
What lures work at San Luis Reservoir now?
Troll stick baits from Lucky Craft, Smithwick, and Rapala in shad colors, which are the colors to focus on. Anglers are also catching some from shore on bait, and throwing rip baits in the coves in the afternoon can produce if you are in the right place. These are not Catch America products.
How full is San Luis Reservoir?
The reservoir is at about 38 percent. They are putting water in on and off, pumping day to day, morning and afternoon, which is affecting both the fish and how deep the lake is. That fluctuation is a big reason the stripers have been hard to pattern this year.
What is the outlook for San Luis Reservoir?
Roger hopes for stabilization soon so things start working more normally, and heading into fall the fishing could become awesome. For now, expect a new lake almost every day and be ready to search and cover water. Exact water temperatures were not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
San Luis Reservoir August 25, 2025 FAQ
About 70 feet.
Trolled stick baits from Lucky Craft, Smithwick, and Rapala in shad colors.
About 38 percent, with water pumped in and out day to day.
About a two or three out of ten, because it has been slow and variable.
Wind, monsoon weather with lightning, and pumping water moving the fish.
Shad colors on stick baits.
