San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | September 22, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
70 to 80 feet on the schools; big striper at about 70 feet
Presentation
Fish spoons and jigs subsurface on the schools, with one ounce dust spoons working well. For trolling, run 5 to 7 inch jointed or straight stick baits about 120 feet behind on a downrigger at 2.2 mph on 20 to 25 pound mono.
Lures and baits
One ounce dust spoons and jigs on the schools. Trolled 5 to 7 inch jointed and straight stick baits. Match speed near 2.2 mph.
Water temperature
About 72 in the morning up to 75 or 76.
Water level
Rising water.
Weather
Wind and rising water.
Advice for this week
Be prepared to search for these fish every day, because the lake is changing almost daily. Stick with it, keep moving, and cover water until you find the schools.
What is changing
Some coves are becoming more defined and fish are moving in. Wind and rising water keep the fish on again, off again.
Next week
We are heading into fall and this could turn into an awesome time on San Luis. Expect the striper bite to strengthen as fish settle into the defined coves.
Notable catch
An 18.5 pound, 36.5 inch striper landed working about 70 feet.
San Luis Reservoir striper fishing has been tough and on-again, off-again in late September 2025, with wind, temperature swings, and rising water moving fish daily. Work spoons and jigs on schools around 70 to 80 feet, or troll 5 to 7 inch stick baits 120 feet back on a downrigger at 2.2 to 2.5 mph. Roger George put one client on an 18.5-pound striper.
How is San Luis Reservoir fishing right now?
Tough. Numbers are hard to come by as the reservoir moves into fall. Wind, rising water temperatures, and incoming water have the striper bite on again, off again. Roger George rates it about a two or three out of ten, so be ready to search and cover ground to find fish.
What depth are San Luis stripers holding?
Fish are being worked around 70 to 80 feet on schools, with the day's better striper coming from about 70 feet. Coves are starting to become more defined and fish are moving in, but the main lake is where most anglers are focusing right now.
What lures and trolling setup work at San Luis?
Use spoons and jigs on schools, with 1-ounce dust-style spoons working well. For trolling, run 5 to 7 inch lures like Rapala, Smithwick, and Yo-Zuri, either jointed or straight stick baits, about 120 feet behind the boat on a downrigger at 2.2 to 2.5 mph on 20 to 25 pound mono. These are not Catch America products.
How big are the San Luis stripers?
Quality is there when you find them. Roger's group landed an 18.5-pound, 36.5-inch striper working about 70 feet, plus another near 30 inches at right around 10 pounds. It took a lot of work and moving from spot to spot to earn those fish.
What is the outlook for San Luis Reservoir?
Roger expects fall to become an awesome time once conditions stabilize. For now the lake is changing almost daily, so plan to search. Water temperatures were 72 in the morning rising to 75 to 76 degrees. The lake was taking on water on and off.
Watch the full report
San Luis Reservoir September 22, 2025 FAQ
Around 70 to 80 feet on schools, with the better fish from about 70 feet.
About 2.2 to 2.5 mph, with lures 120 feet behind the boat on a downrigger.
An 18.5-pound, 36.5-inch striper plus another close to 10 pounds.
About 72 degrees in the morning, rising to 75 to 76 degrees.
20 to 25 pound test monofilament.
Mostly the main lake, with fish starting to move into more defined coves.
