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San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | July 25, 2025

Report by Catch America Pro Staff
This report comes from the Catch America pro staff covering San Luis Reservoir.
What is working right now

San Luis Reservoir keeps falling, down nearly 100 vertical feet since April 2 without stabilizing, and the fish do not like it. Fishing has been very difficult with suspended, uncooperative fish. Trolling to cover ground was the best bet, with most fish coming at about 70 feet and a few on a small jig. The crew scratched out 11 fish all day.

What is happening at San Luis Reservoir right now?

The lake keeps dropping. Since April 2 the water has fallen nearly 100 vertical feet and almost a million acre feet in capacity, without any stability. Over a recent week and a half it dropped a foot and a half a day. The bait cannot pattern up and the fish keep moving out farther as the lake falls.

How is the bite at San Luis Reservoir?

Very difficult. Fish are suspended high, medium, and low in the water column, and they look like they have been spawning, bunched in globs rather than schools, which usually means a protective mode. The pro staff fished all day using every trick and came up with 11 fish, one here and one there.

What is working at San Luis Reservoir?

Trolling to cover ground was called one of the very best bets right now. Most fish came trolling at about 70 feet, and covering ground over flats was important. A few fish also came on a small one ounce jig fished vertically, though that was not a reliable pattern.

Guide's outlook for San Luis Reservoir

The lake needs to stabilize and get a little water input, with the wind slowing so temperatures warm and the algae starts growing again. A cooling and windy period is in the forecast, so it may be worth waiting a week or two for things to settle down. If you find fish that are not biting, move and look for active ones.

Watch the full report

From the report (Catch America Pro Staff): The water since April 2nd has gone down nearly 100 vertical feet. It's gone down almost a million acre feet in capacity. The fish don't like it. The bait can't pattern up and the fish keep moving out farther as the lake falls a foot, foot and a half a day. We fished all day, we came up with 11 fish, and we caught most of our fish actually trolling at about 70 feet. Trolling right now might be one of your very best bets to cover ground.

San Luis Reservoir July 25, 2025 FAQ

How much has San Luis Reservoir dropped?

Nearly 100 vertical feet and almost a million acre feet since April 2, without stabilizing.

Why is the fishing tough at San Luis right now?

The constant drop keeps the bait from patterning up and pushes fish out farther, and the fish are suspended and bunched as if spawning.

What depth are the fish at San Luis?

Suspended through the column, with most caught trolling at about 70 feet.

What is the best technique at San Luis now?

Trolling to cover ground over flats, with a small one ounce jig as a secondary option.

How many fish did the crew catch?

Just 11 fish over a full day of hard fishing.

Should you fish San Luis this week?

It may be worth waiting a week or two for the lake to stabilize and the wind to lay down.

Tags: fishing report San Luis Reservoir striped bass
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San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | July 27, 2026

Report by Capt. Roger George Roger George runs Roger George Guide Service and is the exclusive guide on San Luis Reservoir. Reach him at (559) 905-2954 to book a trip. What is working right now San Luis Reservoir is fishing up and down in late July 2026 as heavy wind stirs algae and holds the water temperature at 71 degrees. Capt. Roger George is trolling the main lake flats in 60 to 80 feet of water at 2.2 to 2.4 mph, running lures 120 to 140 feet behind the boat. White belly and chartreuse are the top colors. One recent trip landed fish of 14, 21, and 27 pounds. What is biting at San Luis Reservoir right now?The bite is up and down as constant wind churns the lake. Capt. Roger George had an epic recent trip with guest Bob McGill, landing fish of 14, 21, and 27 pounds, then a tough follow-up trip. Big fish are still figuring out where the bait has moved. The report did not name a specific target species. What depth are the fish holding at San Luis Reservoir in late July?Roger is fishing the main lake flats that run about 70 feet deep, trolling in water 60 to 80 feet deep. As the surface warms toward 80 degrees over the next week, expect fish to slide deeper, likely down to 70 to 80 feet. Watch your sonar daily since depth shifts with wind and overcast. What lure colors are working at San Luis Reservoir?White belly patterns are helping out right now, and chartreuse is producing as well. Colors can change day to day with the wind and light, so Roger's rule is to let the fish tell you what they want rather than committing to one pattern. Specific lure models were not named in this report. How is Roger George rigging and trolling at San Luis Reservoir?He is trolling 2.2 to 2.4 mph and letting lures back 120, 130, and 140 feet behind the boat, running through water 60 to 80 feet deep on the main lake flats. He leans on his sonar to find the depth fish are holding at and whether they are active before committing to a zone. What are conditions like at San Luis Reservoir?The lake is holding stable near 50 percent, with water being pumped in and out, which stirs in grass, debris, and algae. Water temperature is only 71 degrees, well below normal. Heavy wind is the biggest factor, and shore anglers have been doing a little better than boaters because wind limits boat time. What is the guide's outlook for San Luis Reservoir?Roger expects temperatures to rise toward 80 degrees over the next week, which should move fish deeper and change the pattern again. His forecast is decent fishing coming up if you can handle the summer heat. Water clarity beyond the algae mixing was not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Roger George): We're running 2.2, 2.4 mph and we're putting back 120, 130, 140 ft behind the boat and running it in water that's like 60 to 80 ft deep. White bellies right now seem to be helping out. Chartreuse is working as well as the white, but that could change tomorrow. Once again, let the fish tell you what's happening. San Luis Reservoir July 27, 2026 FAQ What is the water temperature at San Luis Reservoir?Water temperature is 71 degrees, well below normal for late July, held down by heavy wind. Roger expects it to rise toward almost 80 degrees over the following week. What lake level is San Luis Reservoir at?The lake is holding stable around 50 percent, with water being pumped in and taken out, which is normal for this time of year and stirs in grass and debris. How fast should you troll at San Luis Reservoir?Roger is trolling 2.2 to 2.4 mph on the main lake flats. How far behind the boat should you run lures at San Luis Reservoir?He is letting lures back 120, 130, and 140 feet behind the boat in 60 to 80 feet of water. What lure colors are working at San Luis Reservoir?White belly patterns and chartreuse are the top colors right now, though Roger says colors can change day to day. Are shore anglers or boaters doing better at San Luis Reservoir?Shore anglers have been doing a little better than boaters because the constant wind limits how and when boats can fish, while shore anglers can fish earlier and later. What size fish are being caught at San Luis Reservoir?One recent trip produced fish of 14, 21, and 27 pounds, though the next trip was much tougher. The specific species was not named in this report. Who guides San Luis Reservoir?Capt. Roger George of Roger George Guide Service, the exclusive guide on San Luis Reservoir. Call (559) 905-2954 to book. Shop the Tackle Trolling Spoons Striped Bass Tackle Shop Striped Bass Gear

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