But striped bass can be a hot bite at this Central California lake, located just outside of Paso Robles near the Monterey-San Luis Obispo county line.
An abundance of shad on the lake is believe to be the reason for the lunker liners. So think shad lookalikes and bright white or silver streamers when fishing here on a fly rod.
The main points on the lake can produce big fish all year, including Twin, Three Fingers, Laguna or Harris creeks and North Shore campground.
The depth of where the fish are holding depends on a number of factors, including the weather. When things warm up, and the fish start coming into shallower water, experienced fly anglers know it’s a good idea to string up extra rods with topwater flies in case baitfish boil at the surface. If you don’t have a topwater setup in the wings, the school can be gone before you know it.
When the fish are deep, anglers try sinking lines to get their streamers down to 20-plus feet of water.
Timing is always the key when heading out to San Antonio. The striper bite is better in the early morning, while largemouth and smallmouth bass start perusing the shallows after about 8 a.m. The wind plays a factor during a lull period from noon to 4 p.m. when the crappie pick up and bass become active in the evening.
Largemouth bass typically hit along the banks and rocky points in warm conditions.
Some smallmouth bass and crappie can also be caught in the creeks. But if you’re searching for stripers, patience is the key. It takes some time, but once you get one, your chances of catching two or three are pretty good.
