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San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | February 8, 2026

Report by Capt. Roger George
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service specializes in San Luis Reservoir stripers for Catch America.
What is working right now

San Luis Reservoir stripers are in a pattern-change mode in early February, with fish up in the upper water column and water warming to 60 degrees. Topwater and ripbaits are producing in the right coves in the morning, while spooning, jigging, and minnows work when you find feeding groups. Watch the weather. Passing fronts and sudden wind shut the bite off fast.

What is biting at San Luis Reservoir right now?

Striped bass. Capt. Roger George reports frequent pattern changes in early February, with some bigger fish taken on topwater and ripbaits in the right cove at the right time. A lot of fish are suspended in the upper level and can be finicky, so timing and location matter.

How deep are the San Luis stripers holding?

Many fish are up in the upper level of the water column, with water warming to as high as 60 degrees. There are suspended fish that will not touch a bait dropped on them, so read conditions. Fog, brightness, and wind all shift their feeding windows.

What is working for San Luis stripers in February?

Topwater and ripbaits in the morning in the right cove for bigger fish. Spooning, jigging, and fishing minnows produce when you locate feeding groups. Trolling has been up and down. Cover water and be ready to change with the conditions.

How does weather affect the San Luis bite?

Strongly. When a low-pressure front pushes through, the fish shut off. One trip went from dead calm to 20 mph west wind and the bite died. Watch your wind apps. Rapid rises and drops signal a front and tough fishing. Fish the windows between storms.

What is the outlook for San Luis Reservoir?

Roger expects change as a storm pattern arrives with rain and snow, which should raise the reservoir and cool the warm coves where algae was growing. He sees great windows between fronts and thinks conditions will look better than they have in a while.

Watch the full report

From the report (Capt. Roger George): There's been a lot of pattern changes that guys are catching. Sometimes on topwater in the morning, but you got to find the right cove and the right time. A lot of those fish are up in the upper level right now. We got water that's getting up as warm as 60 degrees. The other day the fish just weren't biting, and then we realized there was a front going through. It went from dead calm to 20 miles an hour from the west. The fish shut off.

San Luis Reservoir February 8, 2026 FAQ

What species is San Luis Reservoir known for in winter?

Striped bass. Roger George targets stripers here year round.

How warm is the water at San Luis in February 2026?

Up to about 60 degrees, warm enough that algae was growing in some coves.

What lures work for San Luis stripers now?

Topwater, ripbaits, spoons, jigs, and minnows, depending on the day and where feeding fish are found.

Why did the stripers stop biting?

A low-pressure front moved through, with wind jumping from calm to 20 mph, which shut the bite off.

When is the best time to fish San Luis between storms?

During the calm windows between passing fronts, before the wind starts spiking up and down.

What specific lure brand did the guide name?

No specific product was named in this report.

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