San Luis Reservoir

Boat Ramps: 2
Access Points: 3
Species: 12

San Luis Reservoir is a large man-made lake located in California's Central Valley, approximately 120 miles from San Francisco and 276 miles from Los Angeles. Nestled in the grassy hills of the western San Joaquin Valley near historic Pacheco Pass, this 12,700-acre reservoir serves as a storage reservoir for the federal Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project. With a maximum depth of 270 feet when full and a surface elevation of 544 feet above sea level, San Luis Reservoir is noted for its excellent fishing opportunities, particularly for striped bass. The reservoir features a 65-mile shoreline with varied fishing environments and is popular among anglers seeking both boat and shore fishing experiences.

California licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at San Luis Reservoir and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

American Shad

Alosa sapidissima

Black Bullhead

Ameiurus melas

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Chinook Salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Spotted Bass

Micropterus punctulatus

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

White Catfish

Ameiurus catus

White Crappie

Pomoxis annularis

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on San Luis Reservoir. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

San Luis Reservoir Access

Access Point

Know where you can legally fish on San Luis Reservoir

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

California licenses and regulations

California Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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California Fishing License Online

In California, anyone under the age of 16 or above is required to get a sport fishing license to take any fish; shell fish, reptile or amphibian in the state.

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California Freshwater Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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California Stream Access Laws

The courts have described the reach of the California public right of navigation as “the right to navigate and to exercise the incidents of navigation in a lawful manner at any point below high water mark” on waters that satisfy California’s small craft test. Thus, property owners cannot interfere with the public’s right to navigate or use shoreline areas below the ordinary high water mark for incidents of navigation. In fact, unauthorized obstruction of the public’s right to access and use a navigable waterway constitutes a public nuisance.

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Take San Luis Reservoir with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around San Luis Reservoir to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for San Luis Reservoir to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.