SF Bay Fly Fishing Report

Lost Coast Outfitters staff reports on October 13th, 2026

If you ever wonder why there is sand all over the floor at the shop and it smells like low tide, it's because our fishy staff just got out of the water and sprinted to work and may even still have wet feet. The MLB league championship series' are heating up and we are in the middle of prime time striper migration through the Bay. Our fish have been mowing food all summer along the coast and are now powering back up to the Delta to overwinter. They feed along the entire migration and offer us anglers multiple shots along the way. 

Crissy Field, the centerpiece to city fishing, has been spotty thus far, but just picked up over the weekend for those anglers braving the deafening roar of the Blue Angels. We and Crissy regulars have just begun picking up fish more consistently and expect it to continue well into November. The consensus seems to be that El Nino is affecting the migration and fishing, not ruining anything, but maybe just delaying migration with warm water temps? No one really knows, but that's what we're positing. Regardless, the wind has laid down for the most part and the fishing is kicking up, so it's time!

East Bay has been more consistent and our shop rats have been getting fish most trips. From Alameda to Berkeley to Pinole, it's all fishing decent to outstanding. We've even seen a few baitfish blitzes, fins and foam and everything. 

North Bay is a bit hit or miss right now, and while it seems to generally fish better spring than fall, there is plenty of bait around and at times, plenty of stripers to abide. You won't know unless you go. 

Our go-to patterns remains the same as always, #2-1/0 Adachi Clousers in chartreuse, Joker & surf brown.