Name: San Luis Reservoir/ O'Neil Forebay
Start: 2025-11-06T07:00:00-08:00
End: 2025-11-07T14:00:00-08:00
Location: O'Neill Forebay

This outing is available to AFF Paid Club Members and their guest(s). AFF Paid Members inviting guest(s) are responsible for the needs of their guest(s) and getting the signed Liability Waiver to the AFF Host prior to fishing. Click here for the waiver.

Members and guest(s) of all levels of experience are strongly encouraged to attend.

Contact the AFF Host if you or your guest(s) would like to request instruction or loaner equipment.

San Luis Reservoir and its equalizing body of water O’Neil Forebay are known for trophy size Landlocked Striped Bass. Located west of Los Banos on Hwy. 152. The 2 body of waters hold 7 IGFA records for Landlocked Striped Bass.

We will be meeting just inside the O’Neil Forebay Park Entrance off of Hwy. 152 at 8:00 AM on November 6th and 7:00 AM on November 7th. Park Ranger will be inspecting our gear for invasive species. Anybody with wet gear will not be allowed to fish unless your equipment was inspected the prior day.

O’Neill has roughly 14 miles of shoreline with a maximum depth of around 50ft depending on water fluctuations and demands. The banks of the forebay are slow tapering to the center with mostly a sand/mud bottom substrate. San Luis creek channel and other depressions are spread through out the topography of the lake. The dam consists of most of the eastern side and lined with fish holding rip rap. At fist glance O’Neill is an unassuming body of water, but underneath its surface is home to world class land locked Striped Bass fishing. What’s more amazing is that ALL of the IGFA tippet line class records for landlocked, fly caught Striped Bass come from San Luis or O’Neill Forebay making it a popular destination for Fly and Conventional anglers alike.
Precautions

Both San Luis Reservoir and O’Neil Forebay are susceptible to weather and wind changes. Both lakes have warning lights. On the O'Neill Forebay, wind warning lights are located near the old Medeiros boat ramp and above the South Beach area.

Condition Light Color
Okay All lights off
Use caution Amber
Closed to boating Red

Boats on O’Neil Forebay must travel in a Counter Clockwise Direction around the special marker buoys in the center of the lake.
Gear required: A float tube, kayak, or pontoon boat; chest waders; at least one wading belt; a PFD (to be worn at all times on this water); a 7-9wt fly rod; fast sinking shooting heads such as Type 6 or T-14 ; 15-20# nylon tippet; clousers or other striper flies; stripping fingers, stripping glove, or stretchy tape for this purpose; forceps or pliers; nippers; your own lunch and drinks; and finally, rain and sun protection for on the water, including a hat with straps or a buff to secure a billed hat. You don't need a lot of gear so keep it simple.

Lodging:
There is camping in San Luis Reservoir and O’Neal Forebay Recreation Area. The nearby town of Santa Nella located at Hwy 5 and Hwy 33 has plenty of hotels.

Group Dinner:
Pea Soup Andersen's 12411 CA-33, Santa Nella

Links
San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=558
Fly Fishing Advice:
http://www.danblanton.com/blog/san-luis-reservoir-stripers-on-the-fly/
https://www.flyfisherman.com/editorial/fly-fishing-striped-bass/151749

Robert Chew

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San Luis Reservoir/ O'Neil Forebay

O'Neill Forebay

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San Luis Reservoir/ O'Neil Forebay

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