Los Banos, CA (November 19, 2025) — San Luis Reservoir is getting 11,000 to 18,000 acre feet of water input per day over the last week-suddenly raising the reservoir over 5 feet to 1,170,000 acre feet . This should help the overall bite as the fish begin looking for bait in new areas the additional water has covered . This should also lower the visibility, and the water temps – that have been holding near a warm 70 degrees on the surface for some time. Lower water temps in the mid 60’s might just trigger some more topwater action soon .
The bite the last week was tough for just about everyone – whether trolling, soaking minnows or casting the banks with reaction baits due to the incoming storm . I’m hoping this water input will kick the bite into gear very soon.
I expect places like Lone Oak , the western wall, the south end of the dam and Honker Bay to begin getting fish actively searching out baitballs in those coves and areas. During my last trip last week -I saw more baitballs than I have in a while -which is a great sign things are about to change.
We’ve all been waiting for the fall bite to start- I think the starting gun has gone off!
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