San Luis Obispo County Fishing Reports

Nacimiento’s bite has been good, especially during windy conditions. Spotted bass are pushing up on rocky points and flats, and they’re eating moving baits with purpose. Bladed jigs are working well... white with a silver blade is a top choice, especially when paired with a trimmed pin-tail trailer to match the forage. No fancy retrieve needed… just cover water and let the wind do the work.

Crappie are also loading up around rocky pockets and wind-protected points. Big slabs are crushing 3-inch swimbaits worked slow and steady, keeping the bait just above them.

White bass are mixed in and taking shots at the same bladed jigs in similar areas as the spots... wind-blown banks. Pearl-colored drop shots and mid-depth crankbaits are also picking up fish, especially in calmer mornings.

Reaction baits are dominating when it’s blowing, and the better fish are keyed in on structure with moving water. Slow it down in calm windows, but when the wind picks up, tie on a bladed jig and start casting.

Santa Margarita’s bass bite is waking up as water temps ease into the high 50s. Fish are clearly staging for prespawn with tight shallow schools and big bellies. Slowly worked jigs and craw tubes cast tight to structure have been best. Some anglers are flipping soft plastics directly into the weedline as well. A few bigger fish have been picked up on shallow-running cranks and dropshots. The last trout stock was at the end of February, and anglers are still picking up fish casting spoons or soaking Powerbait. Catfish action has been slow recently. Quite a few anglers are hitting the lake as the weather warms, so you’ll likely have company.