Los Banos Reservoir Fishing Report

Paddle Notes: This reservoir is a great mystery to me. On the day I arrived at Los Banos Creek Reservoir the access road was flooded, so I was unable to paddle. But, from what I could see, the reservoir looked like it had at the most, four miles of shoreline. It looked nothing like the shaped of the map nor as if it had 12 miles of shoreline, the info given to me by the park officials. The rest of the reservoir must have been hidden around a bend I was unable to see from my view point. But as I said, it’s a great mystery, and it will most likely remain a mystery because I can t imagine ever going back to this reservoir caused by is lack of scenery, soaring temperatures, and lack of shade. (paddlingcalifornia.com)

Guide Roger George spends his time on the water at San Luis Reservoir and was rewarded recently with a striped bass that was 41 inches long and weighed 30 pounds. George said we fished all day for 8 or 9 keeper-size fish, however only had two good strikes. The 1st good strike was a fish 20 pounds or so that parted the line for us and the next good strike was late in the day and the big fish of the day. (wonews.com)

We were SO excited to get the ship out. 2 days before we were to head out to San Luis, we in depth the ship. Well not only 10 minutes after showing up at check-in at San Luis – we were denied because there was some water left from the detailing. HOW disappointing. There was NO warning while booking our sites. So here is my warning for you – There can not be a drop of water in the ship, if its from a water bottle breaking. And make sure to have your ship covered incase it rains on the way to he reservoir, they’ll turn you back because of that also. Once denied – you’ll be on lock down from boating in any of the reservoirs for 8 days. (yelp.com)

The rainbow bite was stated steady, with some quality holdovers going 4 pounds possible, however most of the fish in the 1- to 2-pound class. Top spots are along the south shore along the river channel to Black Creek. Also some action in Green Springs, stated Danny Layne of Fish’n Dan’s Guide Service. Top offerings were flasher/’crawler combos and thin Willies trailed by an Ex-Cel spoon or rolled shad fished between 15 and 25 feet down. That said, the lake managers were apparently drawing down the lake for repairs, with the intention to drop the level 30 feet. That could affect launching. (Click here to read)

  There are tons of bait in the bay.   The salmon bite is on and off.   Fish the bottom where the the water is the coldest.   Or in front of the harbor in anticipation of intercepting fish moving into the jetty.   also, the size bound has changed to 20 inches as of June first through closing day on Sept. Seventh.   only another week of salmon fishing   So, fish that were once shakers are now keepers!  The halibut fishing is good with fish coming out of the 40′ -60′ line from the cement ship up to 4 mile.   Rockfish/lingcod bite remains steady. (theanglerschoicetackleshop.com)

Just west of Los Banos is San Luis Reservoir. Throughout this time period the impoundment is offering some of the best striped bass fishing. In fact it’s nearly a sure thing with most catching a 5 fish bound daily. Most of the recent catches are in the 22 to 24 group up to an sporadic 17 pounder or better. The trick is to lower a live jumbo golden shiner about 50 feet below the surface at the face of the dam, then let the wind drift the ship or move gradually with an electric trolling motor. This week some number of anglers stated it took about an hour s time to take their 10 fish bound. (californiadelta.org)

Hey guys, Without trying to hog the attention like someone could after seeing that hawg I just wanted to remind you that Hank’s world record Striper was 67. 8 pounds! that’s a big Striper, and caught on 17 pound Berkley XL. The vast knowledge of California Fish & Game people have now tried to enforce a rule to stop fishing at San Luis and O’Neil Forebay when the sun goes down to insure the 50+ pounders will be around for many years to come. Stripers do not breed in San Luis, there’s no flowing water that they require. The Striper fingerlings come up through the pumps from the forebay daily! These guys need help. (fishwithjd.com)

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Striper and largemouth action is really heating up thanks to clearing water conditions. Largemouth bass have been taken in good numbers and many fish are showing in five to 10-feet of water. Jason Mathiot, Highland, landed eight bass exceeded by an 8-0 on plastic worms in 10-feet of water. Striper fishing is really breaking open and fish have been feeding heavily on shad just under the surface. Top baits have been Rat ‘L’ Traps or white bucktails. Most fish have been averaging from 2-0 to 5-0 but fish to 8-0 have been landed. Art Vasquez, Rancho Cucamonga, stated catching and releasing 18 stripers from 2-8 to 8-4 on white bucktails. (976-tuna.com)

The dozen biggest dams and reservoirs, pictured in the gallery below, are key to the California we know today. Long ago, the flow of rivers in a wet winter could turn the Central Valley into a teeming inland sea. Now dammed, diked and tamed, the wild valley and its rivers have been transformed again, into the major engine of an economic powerhouse. Water that used to flow unchecked is diverted to support one of the Earth’s richest farm regions and 38 million people working in the world’s 8th-biggest economy. (ww2.kqed.org)