San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | November 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
A lot of fish suspended mid-level, around 40 to 60 feet, and holding there rather than coming up to feed.
Presentation
Trolling about 2 mph, roughly 100 feet back, working over flats where fish are visible. The jig bite has been slower than usual. Brief topwater boils show here and there, then vanish.
Lures and baits
Trolling gear, jigs, and topwater lures all saw time, none firing in the slow conditions. Fish may be keyed on shrimp near the bottom and the lake's newer silverside minnows rather than shad.
Water level
Around 1,050,000 acre-feet, about 50 percent full, with water moving in and out slowly.
Weather
A warming trend in play, but a full moon and an incoming storm front looked likely to knock the bite back for a couple of days.
Advice for this week
When fish are scattered and suspended, keep moving. Troll around 2 mph roughly 100 feet back and cover flats where you mark fish. Watch the weather, since a full moon and passing front can flip the bite off.
Next week
The reward is still out there. Expect scattered, tough fishing with a shot at a true trophy until stable weather groups the fish back up.
Notable catch
During a Catch America filming trip with Cal Kellogg, Robert Barcellos landed a striper over 41 inches and 26 and a half pounds after a 10 minute fight.
Striped bass fishing at San Luis Reservoir is slow in November 2025, rated about three out of ten. Fish are suspended mid-level around 40 to 60 feet and hard to activate. Roger George is trolling near 2 mph about 100 feet back over flats to cover water, with only brief topwater boils. The lake sits near 50 percent full and stable. One giant striper over 41 inches and 26.5 pounds came on a Catch America film trip with Cal Kellogg.
What is the striped bass bite like at San Luis Reservoir right now?
Slow. Roger George rates it about three out of ten in November 2025. The troll bite and shoreline casting have both been sluggish. Fish are scattered, and a full moon plus an incoming storm front are expected to hurt the bite for a few days before possible weather windows open.
What depth are the stripers holding at San Luis Reservoir?
Many fish are suspended mid-level around 40 to 60 feet and have been hard to reach and hard to get active. Roger sees brief topwater boils here and there, but the fish push up then drop back down quickly and do not stay on top.
How is Roger George trolling San Luis Reservoir?
He runs about 2 miles per hour, roughly 100 feet back, working over flats where he can mark fish and cover ground. Jigs have been slower than usual. He suspects fish are feeding on shrimp on the bottom rather than shad or the newer silverside minnows.
What were the notable catches at San Luis Reservoir?
On a Catch America filming trip with Cal Kellogg, angler Robert Barcellos hooked a giant striper that made about four runs over roughly ten minutes. It measured over 41 inches and weighed 26.5 pounds in beautiful shape.
What are the lake conditions at San Luis Reservoir?
The reservoir holds about 1,050,000 acre-feet, near 50 percent full, with water coming in and going out slowly for a stable situation. Weather is the wild card, with a full moon and a storm front moving through as Roger filed this report.
Watch the full report
San Luis Reservoir November 2025 FAQ
Slow, rated about three out of ten, with scattered fish and a full moon and storm front working against the bite.
Many are suspended mid-level around 40 to 60 feet and have been hard to get active.
Roger George runs about 2 miles per hour, roughly 100 feet back, over flats to cover ground.
About 1,050,000 acre-feet, near 50 percent full and stable, with slow inflow and outflow.
A striped bass over 41 inches and 26.5 pounds, landed on a Catch America film trip with Cal Kellogg.
Roger suspects shrimp on the bottom rather than shad or the newer silverside minnows, though that is not confirmed in this report.
Only brief boils that come and go. Fish push up then drop back down and do not stay on top.
