San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | May 2026
The report at a glance
Depth
As the water falls, fish moving deeper and out into the main lake. Anywhere from 20 or 30 feet down to 50, 60, 70, or even 80 feet.
Presentation
Trolling to find scattered groups that move quickly. Small trolling spoons and small jigs to target located fish. In thick algae, lean on brighter colors that stand out like white, though silver can still work.
Lures and baits
Small spoons and small jigs, fished in brighter colors such as white to cut through the algae, with silver as a backup. No specific named lure beyond that.
Water temperature
68 the other day, climbing back toward 80
Water clarity
Algae getting very thick; wind mixes it into the water and drops visibility
Water level
Falling nearly a foot a day over the last five or six days, sitting at 512 vertical feet, roughly 30-some feet from the top
Weather
Transitioning from a cooler storm into really hot weather
Advice for this week
The spawn has these fish distracted, so do not expect them loaded up on points, islands, or cuts. Cover water by trolling to find the moving groups, bump up your color visibility for the algae, and never give up.
What is changing
Transitioning from a cooler storm into really hot weather. Water falling nearly a foot a day, and algae getting very thick.
Next week
With the water still falling and the heat pushing temperatures toward 80, expect fish to keep sliding deeper and staying scattered out in the main lake. The bite stays a challenge through the spawn.
San Luis Reservoir is changing fast in May 2026. Roger George reports the water falling nearly a foot a day and warming toward 80 degrees, with stripers mid-spawn and more focused on spawning than eating. Trolling to find roaming groups is the play. Fish small spoons and small jigs in bright colors like white through the thickening algae, anywhere from 20 to 80 feet down.
How is the fishing at San Luis Reservoir right now?
Challenging. Roger George says the stripers are mid-spawn since the last full moon and more focused on spawning than eating, so finding an active group willing to feed is harder than normal. The water is falling nearly a foot a day and heat is building, both pushing fish around.
Where are the stripers holding at San Luis?
Out deeper and off structure. Roger says as the water falls, fish move out into the main lake, sometimes in the middle of nowhere, rather than loading up on points, islands, or cuts. That makes them tougher to find, so covering water is key right now.
What lures and colors work at San Luis Reservoir?
Small spoons and small jigs are a good way to target fish as you troll. With algae getting thick and visibility dropping, Roger recommends brighter colors that stand out, like white. Silver can still work too. Fish them anywhere from 20 or 30 feet down to 50, 60, 70, or 80 feet.
What presentation does Roger recommend at San Luis?
Trolling. Because the spawning fish are roaming and moving quickly, trolling is a better tactic than sitting on structure to locate scattered groups. Water temperature is climbing back toward 80 degrees after a recent reading of 68, and the shad are spawning up on top when it is calm.
Watch the full report
San Luis Reservoir May 2026 FAQ
Striped bass, though they are mid-spawn and tougher to tempt, per Roger George.
Anywhere from 20 or 30 feet down to 50, 60, 70, or 80 feet, out in the main lake.
Brighter colors like white that stand out through thick algae, with silver also working.
Climbing back toward 80 degrees after a recent reading of 68.
Trolling, to find roaming spawning fish that are off structure.
Algae is getting thick and wind mixes it into the water, cutting visibility.
