03-30-2007, 09:18 PM
Compiled by Cyndi Gollaz and Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service
The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included n this report. Faxes can be sent to 909-887-8180. E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@earthlink.net and/or Cyndi Gollaz at cagurrola@charter.net.
Other complete versions are posted on a number of Web sites each week, including the Turner's Outdoorsman Web site (www.turners.com) and Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors Web site (www.jesseshunting.com). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning at each of these sites. The Outdoor News Service Web site is www.outdoornewsservice.com.
The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG's Internet web page is located at the following address: www.dfg.ca.gov.
[/url]PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. Diamond Valley Lake’s bass bite is still excellent and just a short notch above everyplace else right now -- although the largemouth bass action is excellent throughout the Southland. More and more bass are moving out of the depths, and there is a good crankbait and swimbait bite in relatively shallow water (10 to 15 feet). The really exceptional catches continue to mount up. Limits of bass that weigh 25 to 30 pounds are reported every week at DVL, and more and more bass quality bass over eight pounds being caught now, too. For updated fishing information, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle in Hemet at 951-658-7410.
2. I'm keeping Pyramid in the No. 2 spot. The striper regulars say the striper bite has been very good with a lot of three to eight-pound fish. Most of the action is on frozen anchovies or shad right now, but there have been some very nice stringers caught for the past month. This remains kind of the "secret" hot bite of the week. You can call the concession at 661-257-2790.
3. OK, so there were only a handful of sturgeon planted at Santa Ana River Lake and Corona Lake on Wednesday this week. They were all huge, freshwater fish running from probably about 70 pounds to at least 150 pounds. The plant was about 3,000 pounds -- distributed between 24 fish. They are catch-and-release only, but where else can you catch a 100-plus pound fish in fresh water. Come armed with 12-pound or heavier line, fish big wads of trout eggs, frozen shad, or anchovies, and hold on. You can get updates on the sturgeon at either lake's tackle shop. The number at SARL is 714-632-7851 and the number at Corona is 951-277-3321.
[/url]FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Still good trout action throughout the region's low elevation, planted waters. Top bets continues to be Santa Ana River Lakes, Corona Lake, Irvine Lake, Laguna Niguel Park Lake, and Hesperia Lake. Angler's Lake in Hemet and Jess Ranch Lake in the high desert also have good bites. There is also a good action on recent plants and holdover fish at Diamond Valley, Silverwood, Piru, and Perris. Virtually all of the urban lakes from San Diego County north into Los Angeles County are now being planted with trout, and the bites are good across the board at these places -- at least for the first couple of days after the plants. Little change in the top picks here. They include Wohlford, Dixon, Poway, Jennings, and Cuyamaca in San Diego County, along with all the San Bernardino County park lakes -- Yucaipa, Glen Helen, Cucamonga-Guasti, and Mojave Narrows.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Bass action is good to excellent with fish flooding the shallows and moving up onto spawning beds throughout the region, especially lower elevation, warmer waters. Diamond Valley has broken wide open with excellent catches for seven weeks now on swimbaits, including a 16 1/2-pound lake record last week and bass to 9 1/2 pounds this week. Casitas has been a consistently good spot with a number of big bass to 12 pounds this past week. El Capitan, San Vicente, and Lower Otay have been good in San Diego County, and Sutherland improved this past week. Bass are showing with increasingly regularity at Perris, Skinner, Piru, Castaic, Silverwood, and Pyramid, all which have pretty good bites. The lower Colorado River is also really turning on with some excellent reports, especially from the warmer backwaters. Also some decent smallmouth catches in this same region. The bass bite is on. Go.
STRIPED BASS: For Southern California waters, Pyramid, Skinner and Castaic are the top picks, in that order, with a number of two to five-pound class fish showing on swimbaits, shad, anchovies, and sardines, with the odd double-digit fish. Silverwood also has a decent bite, also on smaller fish, mostly on cut baits. On the Colorado River, Mead has been spotty but a few good fish reported, spurred on by massive trout plants, and quality fish are always possible at Willow Beach or the upper reaches of Lake Mojave. And the action is improving in Havasu. There were a number of big stripers again this past week at Willow.
PANFISH: A number of crappie bites are starting to take off. El Capitan had an excellent bite. Casitas, Lower Otay, and Sutherland, are all just behind with good bites of their own. The Buena Vista Lakes in the southern San Joaquin Valley is pretty good. On the Central Coast, Lopez Lake has a good crappie bite and the bite at Santa Margarita is ramping up, too. The Nacimiento bite also turned on, and the white bass are starting to run up into the river. There are still no real bluegill or redear bites of note, although a few redear are starting to show at Cachuma and Casitas, and Perris and San Vicente had some decent bluegill action this past week.
CATFISH: On the Colorado River, especially the larger irrigation drainage ditches in the Blythe, Palo Verde, and Yuma areas, the catfish action is started to turn on. The catfish bites at inland lakes are still mostly spotty with the exception of the Hesperia Lake. The bite that broke wide open a month ago. Several more big fish again this week including a couple over 30 pounds. Other bites worth noting include a sleeper bite on catfish at Santa Ana River Lakes, mostly on trout guts, and the beginnings of a bite at Corona Lake. And where do we put sturgeon action? Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake were both planted with 100 to 150 pound sturgeon this week.
[/url]SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: The trout bite is good this week, especially on Super Dupers and nightcrawlers off the docks. Top catch was a five-pound trout by Jim Fields, Adelanto, on a nightcrawler and anchovy. David and Ian Dubler, Wrightwood, caught a double limit of 10 rainbows that weighed 24 pounds total on nightcrawlers and salmon eggs in Miller Canyon off shore. The largemouth bass bite is good and has continued to improve. Fish to two pounds have been reported by anglers fishing plastics off the main lake points and around the marina. The striper bite is good this week, and some fish to nine pounds have been landed mostly on worms and anchovies. An unnamed angler reported catching a nine-pound striper on anchovies. Ted Cramer, Mission Viejo, landed a six-pound striper on an anchovy. The catfish and carp bites are decent. Cats to six pounds have been landed on mackerel, and carp to eight pounds are biting. Bluegill and crappie are still slow. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: The lake is now open from dawn to dusk. The overall action is fair to good. Using Power Bait and nightcrawlers off the bottom at Juniper and Windy points will produce the most fish. Using mini-jigs off the dam is also producing fish. There is also good rainbow trout action in the eastern third of the lake for trollers using Needlefish. Upcoming events: 25th Annual Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic set for May 19 and 20. Information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: Slow fishing with few reports. The boat house is still closed but will reopen next month. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: All facilities are closed, but the lake will reopen May 1, and will be stocked mid-May. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: No reports.
JENKS LAKE: Closed for the season. The lake is set to reopen in April. Information: 909-794-1123, ext. 4.
[/url]HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Good catfish and trout again this week. Dozens of trout over 10 pounds have been landed on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, or plastics. Top trout catch was a 16 pounder by Zeke Musa, Rancho Cucamonga, on Power Bait. Joey Redmund, Hesperia, caught a 15-8 trout. Thomas Kennedy, Riverside, landed fish at 12-8 and 9-8. Jeff Pena, Ventura, landed an 11-8 rainbow, and Nichole Ryba, Rancho Cucamonga, landed a 10-pound trout. Catfish to 30 pounds are hitting shrimp and chicken livers. Ted Lewis, Victorville, caught a 34-pound cat. Catfish will be planted every week through summer. The lake will receive a 2,000-pound plant of Alper's trout this week. This is a first-ever plant of these Eastern Sierra rainbows. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Trout action good on Power Bait (spring green, rainbow and chartreuse), jigs and lures with anglers using a six- to 18-inch leader. Hot spots include the grassy point and western shore of lake three as well as the eastern, western and northern shores of lake two. D.J. Bray, 13, Pomona, caught a 6-1 and a 3-2 rainbow on a silver and blue Super Duper. Mark Callahan, Apple Valley, caught a 4-11 rainbow on spring green Power Bait. Hank Kirkpatrick, West Covina, landed a 4-2 rainbow on spring green Power Bait. Paul Carlson, Fontana caught a 3-9 rainbow on chartreuse Power Bait. Fair bass bite with most fish in the two to three-pound range. Lake hours are Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: A fair to good trout bite on jigs, Power Bait, salmon eggs, or inflated nightcrawlers. Most fish to two pounds. The catfish action is slow to fair with fish showing on nightcrawlers. The lake will continue to be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 by the county. Also a DFG plant this week. Information: 760-245-2226.
[/url]INLAND VALLEY LAKES
[/url]SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Good trout bite on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and small jigs. Lots of fish to 2-0 with some bigger. Top fish reported this week was a six-pound rainbow landed by Vince Olvera, Riverside, on a jig. J.R. Topinio, Corona, landed a five-pounder, also on a small jig. The lake is stocked every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG plant last week. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: The lake will be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG trout plant last week. Entry fee is $10. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Good trout action. Most of the rainbows have been 1-8 to 2-8 and the bite has been best on floating baits. The lake will be stocked with trout again this week and every week through April 19 by the county. DFG trout plant last week. Fishing derby scheduled for March 31 and April 1. Entry fee is $10. Derby or lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Trout bite remains good on jigs and Power Bait. The lake will continue to be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 with county fish. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Fishing still fair. Information: 909-384-5233.
[/url]RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The bass bite is excellent for boat and shore anglers on Senkos, Ikas, and Carolina- or Texas-rigged, six-inch or larger plastics or Creature baits. Bigger is better. The bass have been holding in five to 10 feet of water with gravely and sandy areas the hottest spots for the spawning fish, especially Rawson Cove. Top bass this week was a 9.5 pounder by Mike Morris, Orange, from a bed. Al Lecense, Nuevo, caught a 7.4-pound bass off the west dam. Mark Jarrett, Hesperia, caught a 5.05-pound bass fishing nightcrawlers in the east end. Good trout action for both shore anglers and boat anglers fishing Power Bait, Kastmasters, or Roostertails around the marina. Brian Attadonna, Sun City, caught an 8.46-pound trout while fishing off the bank. Brandon Williams, Lake Elsinore, caught a 7.87-pound trout, while Victor Hernandez, Moreno Valley, landed a 5.5-pound trout. Catfish action fair on nightcrawlers, but bass anglers are also getting them on plastics. Tim Parrish, Huntington Beach, caught a 19.14-pound blue catfish. The crappie are also fair off the southeast shore. Information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait & Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: The bass action is in full swing this week with an excellent bite in eight to 12 feet of water on nightcrawlers, plastics, and crankbaits. Top largemouth was an 8.1 pounder by Terrance Davidson, Beaumont, on a Senko. Mark Harrell, Riverside, landed a 6.6 and a 4.2-pound largemouth. Mike Nellendam, Riverside, caught a 3.1-pound largemouth, and Matthew Quam, 11, Upland, caught a 2.11-pound largemouth. The bluegill bite is also good off the marina docks and the east end. Most fish are in the one-pound range. The trout bite is good at lots 11 and 12 on nightcrawlers. Most fish are less than a pound. DFG trout plant last week. The crappie bite is good on jigs and wax worms off the marina docks. Lorenzo Martinez, Moreno Valley, caught a 2.8-pound crappie. Mark Dominguez, Buena Park, landed a 2.6-pound crappie on a crappie jig, and Clarence Lewis, Fullerton, caught a 2.2 pounder. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: Cooler temperatures have helped keep the trout bite excellent. Plenty of holdover action with some five pounders reported. Dennis Myberger, Wildomar, caught a 2.75-pound trout on a nightcrawler off Ramp 2. Curtis Gardener, Wildomar, caught a 2.15-pound trout on Power Bait. The spawning largemouth action has slowed down, and the overall bass bite is fair. Bud Stephens, Sun City, landed a 3.1-pound bass on an AC Plug from the inlet. Some anglers are enjoying some early season striper action and the bite is good with fish to 2.5 pounds. DFG trout plant last week. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
LAKE ELSINORE: No reports. We're looking for reader help in finding a local source of information that can provide consistent, accurate reports on Elsinore. E-mail suggestions to odwriter@earthlink.net and/or cagurrola@charter.net.
CORONA LAKE: A handful of huge sturgeon -- fish from 100 to 150 pounds -- were planted Wednesday this week. They are catch-and-release only, but anglers will get a $200 tackle and free entrance package when they land one and let it go. The trout and catfish action remains good, and more and more bass, bluegill, and crappie are showing with each warm day. Steelhead will also be planted again this week, the last of a three weeks of plants of these fish. Top rainbow this past week was a 13 1/2-pounder landed by Walt Kelly, Riverside, fishing red Power Bait near the dam, while the top catfish was a 16 1/2-pounder caught by Donnie Ballew, Moreno Valley, on mackerel in the trees. The catfish and bluegill are really turning on with the warm weather. The catfish have been in the flooded trees and lily pads the best action has been on cut mackerel for both shore and boat anglers. The bluegill are moving shallow and have been showing on flooded brush in five to 10 feet of water, mostly on wax worms. Also a few crappie showing in these same brushy areas. Information: 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com.
**EVANS LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Fair to good trout bite on Power Bait or nightcrawlers.
**RANCHO JURUPA: Fair trout action. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 951-684-7032.
**FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Good trout bite from all three lakes on pieces of nightcrawlers, Power Bait, mackerel or anchovies. Upcoming events: Fishing derby every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 909-795-2411.
**ANGLER'S LAKE: Trout bite fair to good with most fish to three pounds and the best bite on lime twist or spring green Power Bait. Nightcrawlers also good. Catfish action still slow, but a more fish are still showing on the M&M (marshmallow and meal worm) combo, mackerel or nightcrawlers. Information: 951-927-2614.
**REFLECTION LAKE: Lots of three- to five-pound rainbows all over the lake and plenty were caught during last week’s derby. Every other week over 1,000 pounds of trout are planted. Derby and lake information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
**JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Still a good trout bite, with a few larger ones starting to bite. The catfish are hungry after the winter’s hibernation, and are biting Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Most catfish are in the two-pound range. The pond will be stocked regularly with rainbow trout through the end of March and then catfish plants take over April 4. Lake open daily Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on all Monday holidays. The lake has a sonar sensor, which can detect the size of the fish in addition to the location of the fish on the lake. This is a pay-by-the-pound fishery. Information: 951-679-6562.
[/url]SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
**LAKE HEMET: The trout bite is good on inflated nightcrawlers. Pulling lures by the dam is also a sure bet. Al Poston, Anza, landed a stringer of ten trout. Jared Eck, and Make Steffen, Romaland, caught four three-pound trout. Jared Lowe, Hemet, caught a 2.7-pound rainbow. DFG trout plant this week. Some catfish have also been landed. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Fridays until 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
**FULMOR LAKE: No DFG plants in nearly three months. Information: 951-659-2117.
[/url]ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Sturgeon from 70 to 150 pounds or more were planted here Wednesday this week. They are catch-and-release only but represent the largest fish ever planted in Southern California. The trout action is also still fair to good, and another dozen rainbows over 10 pounds were landed this week, including a pair of matching 17 1/2-pounders, one landed by Paul Dao, Orange, and the other by Andy and Ivan Galaviz, Arcadia. The Galaviz also had an eight-pound rainbow, and both of the 17 1/2-pounder were caught on Lip Ripperz plastics. Trout at 16 1/2 pounds were caught by Gene Lamanna, Tujunga, and Richard Ishikawa, Anaheim Hills, while Jess Flores, Rosemead, landed a 16-pounder. The rainbow bite has been best on small jigs and plastics, like the Lip Ripperz, but a good number of fish are also showing on floating baits -- both Nitro Bait and Power Bait -- in rainbow, yellow, and chartreuse or inflated nightcrawlers. Adding Nitro Gravy to all the baits will improve your catch rates. While Chris' Pond has been a hot spot this past week, the rainbows are still showing from all around the lakes' complex. The catfish bite is pretty fair, but few anglers are fishing the whiskerfish right now. Jimmy Suchy, Anaheim, and Tony Avila, La Habra, fished the Bubble Hole with the marshmallow-meal worm combination doused with shrimp Catfish Gravy to land 10 catfish that weighed 60 1/2 pounds. Quite a few catfish from four to five pounds have also been landed by trout anglers in the past week. Information: 714-632-7830 or www.fishinglakes.com.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or www.fishinglakes.com.
IRVINE LAKE: Rising water levels have helped keep the bass action good. Most largemouth are in the two to four-pound range, and quite a few to over five pounds have been landed. Most bass have been caught on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and dropshot baits, with the red clay cliffs the hottest spot. The trout action is good, especially with firetiger-color Rapalas at mid-lake and along the dam restriction lines at Sierra Cove. Most trout are in the one to four-pound range, but some larger fish are coming to the scales. Power Bait or other trout dough baits and nightcrawlers are best. Kelly Nolan, and Don Gurt, Fullerton, caught a limit of trout on Power Bait at the Sierra Cove buoys. Repairs are being made to the Kid’s Lagoon, and all stocking is on hold until the repairs are completed. Some trout are still being landed in the lagoon, however. A bonus stocking with trout to 15 pounds will go in this week in preparation for Saturday’s Sport Chalet Trout Tournament. Some crappie are showing on mini-jigs or meal worms. Information: 714-649-9111.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Trout fishing fair to good at the launch ramp and by the point on Power Bait or inflated nightcrawlers with garlic sauce. The lake will be stocked with trout this week. Gold-bead olive midges and zebra midges are best for fly fishermen. Gold Kastmasters, Power Worms, Roostertails, and Thomas Buoyants are the most successful lures. The largemouth bite is good and fish in the one to three-pound range have been landed. The largest bass caught was a 6-8. Hot spots for bass are around the big island and in deeper water on assorted spinner baits. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.
[/url]LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: Trout bite the best. Trollers are having success in five to 10 feet of water with Needlefish at the east end. Drifting Power Bait in Cachuma Bay or in the backside of the island has produced some limits. Largemouth bite slow to fair, but the action is expected to pick up in the next week. Redear, crappie, and catfish are quiet. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: It’s all about the crappie and bass here. A lot of bass action with quality fish routine. The fish are in the shallows, in five to 10 feet of water, and the bite is best on Stocker Trout-type lures, nightcrawlers, live crawdads, or plastic worms. Linn True, Carpenteria, caught a 12-11 bass on a swimbait. Julio Maldonado, Whittier, landed an 11 1/4-pound bass on a swimbait. Ray Perry, Carson, caught an 11 and a 10-pound bass on crawdads. Brian Mitchell, Ventura, caught an 11-pound bass on a plastic worm. Lee Wax, Redondo Beach, had a pair of 10-pound largemouth. Crappie bite decent on white, 1/16th-ounce mini-jigs in five feet of water. Bluegill and redear biting on pieces of nightcrawlers. John Karayan, Santa Paula, caught 25 crappie. Top fish was three pounds. Jim Mason, Oak View, caught a stringer of 20 crappie, and his top fish was 2 1/2 pounds, all on crappie jigs. Trout plant last week at the Fillmore Ramp, however the action has been fair to slow, and the only action has come from the ramp area. Over 600 kids showed up for the fishing day last Saturday. An entire area off the docks was netted off, and each kid had the opportunity to catch at least one fish. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The largemouth bass bite is fair, and the fish are shallow making spawning beds in the lagoon. Both boat and shore anglers are having success on plastics or Creature Baits. Dick Gruliani, Eagle Rock, caught an 11.7-pound largemouth on a Huddleston. The striper action is slow, however, some double digit catches were made from the west ramp areas. John Sherman, Santa Clarita, caught a 13.7-pound striper on an anchovy. Jared Tubecus, Long Beach, landed a 12.1-pound striper on anchovies off the west ramp. No more trout plants in the upper lake until October, but the lagoon was planted with trout last week and providing fair action. All other species are slow. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: Fishing is good overall. Bass bite best on nightcrawlers, plastic worms, drop-shotting, or deep running plugs. Most fish are 1-8 to 2-8. The bass are biting in the shallows with a lot of fish already on beds. Tom Roberston, Fillmore, caught five bass in Santa Felicia. Many limits of crappie, mostly from 1/2 to 3/4 pounds, on crappie jigs. Greg Waggoner, Redondo Beach, caught a 25-pound stringer of crappie on jigs in Cow Cove. The trout bite is good off shore trolling, or on worms, Power Bait, and Needlefish. The water is still cold, so the trout are up shallow. DFG trout plant this week. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: park 805-521-1500, marina 805-521-1231.
PYRAMID: Striper bite good on anchovies. Tim Flannigan, Quartz Hill, caught a 60- pound stringer of 12 fish. Top fish was 12 pounds. Michael Gaona, Van Nuys, landed five fish on anchovies in the channel. Top fish was 4.4 pounds. The trout and catfish action is fair. Trout biting best on Power Worms and Power Bait. DFG trout plant this week. Cats best on anchovies in a spotty bite. Water levels are up and boats are able to launch. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: USFS 661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.
QUAIL LAKE: Few reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: A 1,450-pound trout plant went in last week, and the trout bite improved. Trout and cats are still the best bites. The catfish are biting cut mackerel and nightcrawlers, while the trout are hitting green Power Bait. Bass are starting to spawn, and there have also been reports of bluegill and crappie showing with the occasional redear. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.
SANTA FE DAM: Still a slow to fair trout action mostly on floating baits and inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Also a few cats showing, but that bite has slowed way down. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No reports.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant last week.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week, and last week. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over two months.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Trout action decent on Power Bait. DFG plant last week. Information: 818-448-7317.
[/url]SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: The lake is closed but set to open May 2. Reservations for all of May go on sale 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 through Ticketmaster at 619-220-8497. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: Fair bass and crappie bite. There were 170 anglers who reported 174 bass, 75 crappie, and seven channel catfish. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
EL CAPITAN: Good bass and crappie action. This past week, there were 547 anglers who reported catching 984 bass, 443 crappie, 26 channel catfish, 18 bluegill, and 17 blue catfish. Bill Talmadge, Chula Vista, caught a 3.65-pound largemouth on a shiner from Chocolate Arm. No rental boats are available. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
LOWER OTAY: Fair to good bass and crappie action. This week 267 anglers reported catching 298 bass, 133 crappie, 29 rainbow trout, 15 channel catfish, and one bluegill. The Harvey Arm and the Otay Arm are still hot spots. Top fish was an 11.10-pound largemouth by Phong Sithites, San Diego, on a crawdad. Cezar Gutierrez, Jamul, landed a 9.65-pound channel catfish on mackerel. Kent Howard, Lemon Grove, landed a 6.95-pound largemouth bass on a plastic worm, and Bella Davis, Jamul, caught a 6.85 pounder on a shiner. Alfonso Johnson, San Diego, caught a stringer of 10 crappie weighing 12.15 pounds. Top fish was 2.15 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
UPPER OTAY: There were 39 anglers who reported 52 bass in a fair to good catch-and-release bite. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
SAN VICENTE: Excellent bass action, everything else slow. In all, there were 217 anglers who reported 840 bass, 39 bluegill, 10 channel catfish, and five redear. Top fish was a 6.2-pound largemouth by Anthony Tejeda, Santee, on a Senko. John Getgen, El Cajon, landed a 5.85-pound largemouth on jerk bait. The lake is open Saturday and Sunday only, and the boat launch is open for private boaters. Lake information: 619-465- 3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
MURRAY: Slowto fair bite. This past week, there were 120 anglers who reported catching 42 bass and 23 rainbow trout. Ashley Bates, Lemon Grove, landed a 3.8-pound largemouth on a crawdad. The lake is open only for shore fishing on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. The launch ramp is temporarily closed due to low water levels. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
MIRAMAR: No reports this week, other than a 4.3-pound rainbow trout landed by Benny Megale, San Diego, on Power Bait. The lake’s launch ramp and boat dock is closed due to low water levels, and will remain closed for another week or two. No rental boats will be available until the water levels come back up. No plants this week. The lake is open to fishing Saturday through Tuesday. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
SUTHERLAND: Excellent bass, and good crappie action. This week the 219 anglers checked reported catching 897 bass, 409 crappie, 13 channel catfish, six bluegill, and one carp. Top fish was an 8.65-pound carp by Andrea Gritzal, 7, Rancho Cucamonga, on bread off the shoreline. Jason Spaniol, Ramona, landed a 6.8-pound largemouth, and Jason Fook, Chula Vista, caught a 6.4-pound largemouth on a worm. Ryan Cole, El Cajon, 13, caught a 2.3-pounnd crappie on a jig. The lake is on a Friday through Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
WOHLFORD: The trout fishing is excellent. Best action is on green Power Bait, and inflated nightcrawlers, especially off the north shoreline, east of Willow Cove, and in Boatdock Cove. The bass are moving into the shallows to spawn, and the best bite is on Rapalas and swimbaits. Crappie have also moved into the shallows and have been landed off Bass Point and off the west buoy line. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant last week.
DIXON: Trout action has been good on rainbows to five pounds with the best action between piers 3 and 4, at the buoy line, and in Trout Cove. Top baits have been rainbow Power Bait or Power Worms. The lake was stocked with 1,200 last week and another one is slated for this week. Still a slow bass bite due to a drop in water level. No catfish reported this week. The lake is open daily to 7 p.m. Information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: A number of large trout were pulled from the lake at last weekend’s Open Trout Derby. Over 500 anglers participated. Steve Yeargin, San Diego, was the grand prize winner with an 11.66-pound trout caught on Power Bait. Scott Dalton, Vista, was the first place winner from the men’s division with a 10.85-pound trout on Power Bait. Karen Warner, Enciniatas, took first in the women’s division with an 11.11-pound trout on Power Bait. Ryan Krawczyk, San Marcos, took first in the youth division, with an 11.28-pound trout on Power Bait. The hot spots for the anglers were Jump Off Point and in Half Moon Bay. Anglers also had success on nightcrawlers from boats at mid-lake. Other notable catches include a 10.7-pound trout by Dave Stout, San Diego, on Power Bait. Bob Steilen, Carslbad, landed a 9.71-pound trout on a Rapala. The bass slowed this week. The lake was planted with 2,800 pounds of trout last week, and will be planted next week with 1,200 pounds of rainbow trout. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset. Derby or lake information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770, concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: The lake’s big bass are becoming more active, especially on swimbaits. The trout action is fair, also on swimbaits. A 2,000-pound plant from Mt. Lassen will go in this week. The lake is open on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedule. Upcoming events: free fishing class 1 p.m. Sunday will give instruction fishing floating baits and Trout Teaser-type jigs for trout. Information: 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
MORENA: Plenty of trout in the four-pound range have been landed on nightcrawlers. No reported catches this week, however. Some bluegill reports have been made, but not too many are sharing bait success stories. The catfish and bass bites are slow. The boat launch is open, but no boats over 19-feet recommended due to low water levels. Boat rentals are limited to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-694-3049.
CUYAMACA: Good trout bite with lots of two-pound fish reported. Top spots have been the lone pine tree, Chambers Park, or the tee dock with inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent, yellow Power Bait, and salmon eggs. Trollers are seeing improved action on Roostertails and Panther Martins. John Davison, Vista, caught two rainbow trout on yellow Power Bait. Rick Jeffrier, El Centro, landed a 3-12 trout on a mini-jig off the north shore. Janine Jangkeit, Carlsbad, caught a 3-8 thunder trout. Riley Schultz, 12, Bonita, landed a 2-8 trout on the Power Bait and nightcrawler combo. Best areas for fly fishing is in Azalea Creek's mouth for staging spawners. DFG trout plant this week. Crappie are starting to show in decent numbers around the boat dock. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Catfish bite fair on shrimp for boat anglers. Carp and crappie are also improving on anchovies. Information: 760-782-3501.
[/url]COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: Striper bite good, especially in Saddle Cove and Hemmingway. A 28-pound striper was reported this week. The Vegas and Government Wash areas are also hot. The Black Island area is also producing a number of small fish to three pounds on small swimbaits. The action is best on imitation shad and trout-like lures. Most fish are three to 13 pounds. Overton and Echo Bay are producing the most largemouth bass.
WILLOW BEACH: The striper action is hot. Albert Renaldi, Bishop, caught 16 and 18-pound stripers on a Rago Trout in front of the hatchery. Roberto Camt’m, Las Vegas, caught five and six-pound stripers on an A.C. plug. Trout bite decent. Information: 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: A good striper bite on A.C. Plugs and L.A. Sliders on fish ranging from three to 13 pounds. Smaller stripers showing on cut baits. Placer and Aztec are the hottest spots. Top fish reported was a 22-pound striper landed on an LA slider. The largemouth bite is also starting to improve in the coves as the fish move up to spawn and the waters warm. Also a few catfish starting to show. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: Fair rainbow trout bite near Davis Camp and Riverside Resort thanks to recent plants. Some trout have also been reported from the Arizona side across from Riverside. Fair striper bite in the morning. Water levels are higher during the day for boat fishing, but have been fluctuating.
NEEDLES: Topock area remains the best spot for stripers, with a pretty decent bite on small fish. Information: Premier Sports 760-326-2727, Golden Shores 760-768-2325.
TOPOCK MARSH: The crappie bite from boats has improved. Catfish and bass bites fair, mostly along the shorelines. Some catfish over 10 pounds with a fair bite on anchovies and chicken liver dipped in stink bait. Decent striper bite. The marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: 928-768-2350.
HAVASU: Bite has improved with the striper and bass bites pretty fair. Anchovies best for stripers and nightcrawlers best for bass, but plastics and small jigs also working. The water temperature is in the upper 50s. Shad are still showing at Sand Point and a few stripers have been landed there on shad-like lures. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Fair action on smallmouth bass in the main river on mealworms or nightcrawlers, but otherwise slow fishing throughout this stretch of river. Catfish very spotty.
BLYTHE: The fish are starting to bite, especially in the area ditches and backwaters where the water warms sooner than the main river. Some decent bass catches are being made, and a few flatheads are starting to show. Information: 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Fair smallmouth bass bite in the main river channel, and a fair largemouth bite in the backwaters. Channel and flathead catfish are slow to fair with most of the flathead and channel cats small, with nothing over five pounds reported. Cibola Lake is open, but the largemouth bass bite is still spotty due to cold water. Warm weather this week should turn that around.
PICACHO AREA: Very light fishing pressure, but overall fair fishing with a few flatheads, channel cats, largemouth, bluegill, and stripers reported. The largemouth bite is really starting to take off with the warm weather.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Still light fishing pressure but improving fishing and the warmer temps are helping the situation. Largemouth are biting on cranks, spinnerbaits and plastics. Channel catfish bite decent on anything that stinks, and the crappie bite is also fair on small live minnows. Information: 928-783-9589 or www.martinezlake.com.
YUMA AREA: The Gila Main Canal in East Yuma is still fair for channel catfish and large redear and bluegill. All biting on worms. In the main Colorado River, the catfish bite has been fair on chicken liver or worms dipped in stink bait, but there is very light fishing pressure and very few flatheads have been reported.
[/url]LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: Slow fishing. Nothing reported this week. Information: Red Hill Marina 760-348-2310, Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052. Weather information: 760-352-3360, Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast 760-398-7211. Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one.
ALAMO RIVER: Few reports. Channel catfish are fair on mackerel or anchovies.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports but some channel cats and the odd bass have been reported.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: Very little fishing pressure.
FINNEY-RAMER: No report.
WEIST LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
SUNBEAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 760-352-3308.
LAKE CAHUILLA: Good trout action with a plant two weeks ago. The trout are running from one to four pounds with a few even bigger. Almost all of the action has been at the outlet this past week, with Power Baits and nightcrawlers doused with scent the hot baits. DFG trout plant this week. Catfish derby set for April 20-21. Information: 760-564-4712.
[/url]EASTERN SIERRA
GENERAL: General trout season opens April 28 throughout Inyo and Mono county. Only selected waters in the two counties remain open to fishing year around. For updated road and camping information: Interagency Visitor Center 760-876-6222, Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405, or www.bishopvisitor.com.
BRIDGEPORT AREA: In the newly-opened catch-and-release stretch of the East Walker River below the Bridgeport Reservoir Dam the action is good. Small nymphs, Red Discos patterns, lightning bugs, and flashback emergers are producing. Flows are at 90 cfs, and the weather is good.
MAMMOTH AREA: The new catch-and-releases, year-around fishing areas on Hot Creek and the upper Owens River above the Benton Crossing Bridge were consistent this past week. Hot Creek has been very good, producing some outsize fish from five to seven pounds, although smaller fish are the norm. Nymphing under indicators and fishing emergers have been the best bets. The upper Owens River had a better bite this week. A lot of good fish are up out of Crowley in a spawning mode, with the best bite on nymphs and egg patterns.
BISHOP AREA: The overall fly fishing is good, especially with emergers, stonefly, and caddis patterns in the Lower Owens. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is open to shore fishing and float tubing. People are throwing lures, including small Rapalas and Needlefish. Pulling streamers with a sinking line will also work. Good bite on worms and Power Bait off shore. The Owens River gorge above Pleasant Valley is fair for browns from eight to 12 inches on just about any dry fly -- but the fish are spooky. Information: Culver's 760-872- 8361 or Brock's 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Lower Owens Valley streams fair to good, and plants are going into Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Shepherds Creek, Symmes Creek, and Tuttle Creek again this week. The lower Owens has been slow. Information: 760-876-4444.
[/url]WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: The bass bite is good on jerk bait and jigs. Plenty of fish to eight pounds, especially in the north fork area. Catfish bite good and with the best bite on clams and shad by the dam. Fair trout action. Derby set for this weekend. Derby or lake information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Decent trout bite in the upper Kern River on salmon eggs and crickets. The river below Isabella has also been fair with some good flurries of action on crickets and salmon eggs. Bass are also biting on silver spinners and nightcrawlers. The flows are perfect for fishing in both reaches. Information: James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The striper bite is good with a decent number of keeper-sized fish on lug worms, and live minnows, and an occasional catfish is biting on Sonny’s dip bait or shad. Chris Wellman, Bakersfield, caught a 24-pound striper on a Bucktail jig. Information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Good bass on minnows, nightcrawlers, and jigs. The bluegill are fair on wax worms and crickets. An occasional trout bite.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Good crappie and bass bite on minnows. Some bluegill action on wax worms and crickets, and an oddball trout. Dylan Trubdolbd, Bakersfield, caught a three-pound bass on jerk bait.
MING LAKE: Some trout on Power Bait and garlic oil, but the bass are dominating with the best bite on minnows, nightcrawlers and jigs. Nicole Sztorc, Bakersfield, caught a 1 3/4-pound bass on a nightcrawler.
BRITE LAKE: Decent bass bite. The trout bite is slow to fair on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and spinners.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Bass bite good on minnows, plastics, and nightcrawlers Some catfish were landed on shad. The bluegill are biting fair on wax worms, and the crappie are fair on minnows. A few trout biting here and there. Information: Concession 661-763-1268, Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
WOLLOMES LAKE: Trout bite slow. Bass and bluegill action have improved to fair, with the bass showing on plastics and nightcrawlers and the bluegill still best on wax and meal worms.
SUCCESS LAKE: Crappie bite good at the boat docks on minnows. A lot of good bass action this week on plastics worms, jigs, and minnows. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: A good bass bite betwe
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Outdoor News Service
The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included n this report. Faxes can be sent to 909-887-8180. E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@earthlink.net and/or Cyndi Gollaz at cagurrola@charter.net.
Other complete versions are posted on a number of Web sites each week, including the Turner's Outdoorsman Web site (www.turners.com) and Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors Web site (www.jesseshunting.com). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning at each of these sites. The Outdoor News Service Web site is www.outdoornewsservice.com.
The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG's Internet web page is located at the following address: www.dfg.ca.gov.
[/url]PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. Diamond Valley Lake’s bass bite is still excellent and just a short notch above everyplace else right now -- although the largemouth bass action is excellent throughout the Southland. More and more bass are moving out of the depths, and there is a good crankbait and swimbait bite in relatively shallow water (10 to 15 feet). The really exceptional catches continue to mount up. Limits of bass that weigh 25 to 30 pounds are reported every week at DVL, and more and more bass quality bass over eight pounds being caught now, too. For updated fishing information, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle in Hemet at 951-658-7410.
2. I'm keeping Pyramid in the No. 2 spot. The striper regulars say the striper bite has been very good with a lot of three to eight-pound fish. Most of the action is on frozen anchovies or shad right now, but there have been some very nice stringers caught for the past month. This remains kind of the "secret" hot bite of the week. You can call the concession at 661-257-2790.
3. OK, so there were only a handful of sturgeon planted at Santa Ana River Lake and Corona Lake on Wednesday this week. They were all huge, freshwater fish running from probably about 70 pounds to at least 150 pounds. The plant was about 3,000 pounds -- distributed between 24 fish. They are catch-and-release only, but where else can you catch a 100-plus pound fish in fresh water. Come armed with 12-pound or heavier line, fish big wads of trout eggs, frozen shad, or anchovies, and hold on. You can get updates on the sturgeon at either lake's tackle shop. The number at SARL is 714-632-7851 and the number at Corona is 951-277-3321.
[/url]FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Still good trout action throughout the region's low elevation, planted waters. Top bets continues to be Santa Ana River Lakes, Corona Lake, Irvine Lake, Laguna Niguel Park Lake, and Hesperia Lake. Angler's Lake in Hemet and Jess Ranch Lake in the high desert also have good bites. There is also a good action on recent plants and holdover fish at Diamond Valley, Silverwood, Piru, and Perris. Virtually all of the urban lakes from San Diego County north into Los Angeles County are now being planted with trout, and the bites are good across the board at these places -- at least for the first couple of days after the plants. Little change in the top picks here. They include Wohlford, Dixon, Poway, Jennings, and Cuyamaca in San Diego County, along with all the San Bernardino County park lakes -- Yucaipa, Glen Helen, Cucamonga-Guasti, and Mojave Narrows.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Bass action is good to excellent with fish flooding the shallows and moving up onto spawning beds throughout the region, especially lower elevation, warmer waters. Diamond Valley has broken wide open with excellent catches for seven weeks now on swimbaits, including a 16 1/2-pound lake record last week and bass to 9 1/2 pounds this week. Casitas has been a consistently good spot with a number of big bass to 12 pounds this past week. El Capitan, San Vicente, and Lower Otay have been good in San Diego County, and Sutherland improved this past week. Bass are showing with increasingly regularity at Perris, Skinner, Piru, Castaic, Silverwood, and Pyramid, all which have pretty good bites. The lower Colorado River is also really turning on with some excellent reports, especially from the warmer backwaters. Also some decent smallmouth catches in this same region. The bass bite is on. Go.
STRIPED BASS: For Southern California waters, Pyramid, Skinner and Castaic are the top picks, in that order, with a number of two to five-pound class fish showing on swimbaits, shad, anchovies, and sardines, with the odd double-digit fish. Silverwood also has a decent bite, also on smaller fish, mostly on cut baits. On the Colorado River, Mead has been spotty but a few good fish reported, spurred on by massive trout plants, and quality fish are always possible at Willow Beach or the upper reaches of Lake Mojave. And the action is improving in Havasu. There were a number of big stripers again this past week at Willow.
PANFISH: A number of crappie bites are starting to take off. El Capitan had an excellent bite. Casitas, Lower Otay, and Sutherland, are all just behind with good bites of their own. The Buena Vista Lakes in the southern San Joaquin Valley is pretty good. On the Central Coast, Lopez Lake has a good crappie bite and the bite at Santa Margarita is ramping up, too. The Nacimiento bite also turned on, and the white bass are starting to run up into the river. There are still no real bluegill or redear bites of note, although a few redear are starting to show at Cachuma and Casitas, and Perris and San Vicente had some decent bluegill action this past week.
CATFISH: On the Colorado River, especially the larger irrigation drainage ditches in the Blythe, Palo Verde, and Yuma areas, the catfish action is started to turn on. The catfish bites at inland lakes are still mostly spotty with the exception of the Hesperia Lake. The bite that broke wide open a month ago. Several more big fish again this week including a couple over 30 pounds. Other bites worth noting include a sleeper bite on catfish at Santa Ana River Lakes, mostly on trout guts, and the beginnings of a bite at Corona Lake. And where do we put sturgeon action? Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake were both planted with 100 to 150 pound sturgeon this week.
[/url]SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: The trout bite is good this week, especially on Super Dupers and nightcrawlers off the docks. Top catch was a five-pound trout by Jim Fields, Adelanto, on a nightcrawler and anchovy. David and Ian Dubler, Wrightwood, caught a double limit of 10 rainbows that weighed 24 pounds total on nightcrawlers and salmon eggs in Miller Canyon off shore. The largemouth bass bite is good and has continued to improve. Fish to two pounds have been reported by anglers fishing plastics off the main lake points and around the marina. The striper bite is good this week, and some fish to nine pounds have been landed mostly on worms and anchovies. An unnamed angler reported catching a nine-pound striper on anchovies. Ted Cramer, Mission Viejo, landed a six-pound striper on an anchovy. The catfish and carp bites are decent. Cats to six pounds have been landed on mackerel, and carp to eight pounds are biting. Bluegill and crappie are still slow. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: The lake is now open from dawn to dusk. The overall action is fair to good. Using Power Bait and nightcrawlers off the bottom at Juniper and Windy points will produce the most fish. Using mini-jigs off the dam is also producing fish. There is also good rainbow trout action in the eastern third of the lake for trollers using Needlefish. Upcoming events: 25th Annual Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic set for May 19 and 20. Information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: Slow fishing with few reports. The boat house is still closed but will reopen next month. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: All facilities are closed, but the lake will reopen May 1, and will be stocked mid-May. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: No reports.
JENKS LAKE: Closed for the season. The lake is set to reopen in April. Information: 909-794-1123, ext. 4.
[/url]HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Good catfish and trout again this week. Dozens of trout over 10 pounds have been landed on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, or plastics. Top trout catch was a 16 pounder by Zeke Musa, Rancho Cucamonga, on Power Bait. Joey Redmund, Hesperia, caught a 15-8 trout. Thomas Kennedy, Riverside, landed fish at 12-8 and 9-8. Jeff Pena, Ventura, landed an 11-8 rainbow, and Nichole Ryba, Rancho Cucamonga, landed a 10-pound trout. Catfish to 30 pounds are hitting shrimp and chicken livers. Ted Lewis, Victorville, caught a 34-pound cat. Catfish will be planted every week through summer. The lake will receive a 2,000-pound plant of Alper's trout this week. This is a first-ever plant of these Eastern Sierra rainbows. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Trout action good on Power Bait (spring green, rainbow and chartreuse), jigs and lures with anglers using a six- to 18-inch leader. Hot spots include the grassy point and western shore of lake three as well as the eastern, western and northern shores of lake two. D.J. Bray, 13, Pomona, caught a 6-1 and a 3-2 rainbow on a silver and blue Super Duper. Mark Callahan, Apple Valley, caught a 4-11 rainbow on spring green Power Bait. Hank Kirkpatrick, West Covina, landed a 4-2 rainbow on spring green Power Bait. Paul Carlson, Fontana caught a 3-9 rainbow on chartreuse Power Bait. Fair bass bite with most fish in the two to three-pound range. Lake hours are Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: A fair to good trout bite on jigs, Power Bait, salmon eggs, or inflated nightcrawlers. Most fish to two pounds. The catfish action is slow to fair with fish showing on nightcrawlers. The lake will continue to be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 by the county. Also a DFG plant this week. Information: 760-245-2226.
[/url]INLAND VALLEY LAKES
[/url]SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Good trout bite on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and small jigs. Lots of fish to 2-0 with some bigger. Top fish reported this week was a six-pound rainbow landed by Vince Olvera, Riverside, on a jig. J.R. Topinio, Corona, landed a five-pounder, also on a small jig. The lake is stocked every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG plant last week. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: The lake will be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG trout plant last week. Entry fee is $10. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Good trout action. Most of the rainbows have been 1-8 to 2-8 and the bite has been best on floating baits. The lake will be stocked with trout again this week and every week through April 19 by the county. DFG trout plant last week. Fishing derby scheduled for March 31 and April 1. Entry fee is $10. Derby or lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Trout bite remains good on jigs and Power Bait. The lake will continue to be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 with county fish. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Fishing still fair. Information: 909-384-5233.
[/url]RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The bass bite is excellent for boat and shore anglers on Senkos, Ikas, and Carolina- or Texas-rigged, six-inch or larger plastics or Creature baits. Bigger is better. The bass have been holding in five to 10 feet of water with gravely and sandy areas the hottest spots for the spawning fish, especially Rawson Cove. Top bass this week was a 9.5 pounder by Mike Morris, Orange, from a bed. Al Lecense, Nuevo, caught a 7.4-pound bass off the west dam. Mark Jarrett, Hesperia, caught a 5.05-pound bass fishing nightcrawlers in the east end. Good trout action for both shore anglers and boat anglers fishing Power Bait, Kastmasters, or Roostertails around the marina. Brian Attadonna, Sun City, caught an 8.46-pound trout while fishing off the bank. Brandon Williams, Lake Elsinore, caught a 7.87-pound trout, while Victor Hernandez, Moreno Valley, landed a 5.5-pound trout. Catfish action fair on nightcrawlers, but bass anglers are also getting them on plastics. Tim Parrish, Huntington Beach, caught a 19.14-pound blue catfish. The crappie are also fair off the southeast shore. Information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait & Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: The bass action is in full swing this week with an excellent bite in eight to 12 feet of water on nightcrawlers, plastics, and crankbaits. Top largemouth was an 8.1 pounder by Terrance Davidson, Beaumont, on a Senko. Mark Harrell, Riverside, landed a 6.6 and a 4.2-pound largemouth. Mike Nellendam, Riverside, caught a 3.1-pound largemouth, and Matthew Quam, 11, Upland, caught a 2.11-pound largemouth. The bluegill bite is also good off the marina docks and the east end. Most fish are in the one-pound range. The trout bite is good at lots 11 and 12 on nightcrawlers. Most fish are less than a pound. DFG trout plant last week. The crappie bite is good on jigs and wax worms off the marina docks. Lorenzo Martinez, Moreno Valley, caught a 2.8-pound crappie. Mark Dominguez, Buena Park, landed a 2.6-pound crappie on a crappie jig, and Clarence Lewis, Fullerton, caught a 2.2 pounder. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: Cooler temperatures have helped keep the trout bite excellent. Plenty of holdover action with some five pounders reported. Dennis Myberger, Wildomar, caught a 2.75-pound trout on a nightcrawler off Ramp 2. Curtis Gardener, Wildomar, caught a 2.15-pound trout on Power Bait. The spawning largemouth action has slowed down, and the overall bass bite is fair. Bud Stephens, Sun City, landed a 3.1-pound bass on an AC Plug from the inlet. Some anglers are enjoying some early season striper action and the bite is good with fish to 2.5 pounds. DFG trout plant last week. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
LAKE ELSINORE: No reports. We're looking for reader help in finding a local source of information that can provide consistent, accurate reports on Elsinore. E-mail suggestions to odwriter@earthlink.net and/or cagurrola@charter.net.
CORONA LAKE: A handful of huge sturgeon -- fish from 100 to 150 pounds -- were planted Wednesday this week. They are catch-and-release only, but anglers will get a $200 tackle and free entrance package when they land one and let it go. The trout and catfish action remains good, and more and more bass, bluegill, and crappie are showing with each warm day. Steelhead will also be planted again this week, the last of a three weeks of plants of these fish. Top rainbow this past week was a 13 1/2-pounder landed by Walt Kelly, Riverside, fishing red Power Bait near the dam, while the top catfish was a 16 1/2-pounder caught by Donnie Ballew, Moreno Valley, on mackerel in the trees. The catfish and bluegill are really turning on with the warm weather. The catfish have been in the flooded trees and lily pads the best action has been on cut mackerel for both shore and boat anglers. The bluegill are moving shallow and have been showing on flooded brush in five to 10 feet of water, mostly on wax worms. Also a few crappie showing in these same brushy areas. Information: 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com.
**EVANS LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Fair to good trout bite on Power Bait or nightcrawlers.
**RANCHO JURUPA: Fair trout action. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 951-684-7032.
**FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Good trout bite from all three lakes on pieces of nightcrawlers, Power Bait, mackerel or anchovies. Upcoming events: Fishing derby every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 909-795-2411.
**ANGLER'S LAKE: Trout bite fair to good with most fish to three pounds and the best bite on lime twist or spring green Power Bait. Nightcrawlers also good. Catfish action still slow, but a more fish are still showing on the M&M (marshmallow and meal worm) combo, mackerel or nightcrawlers. Information: 951-927-2614.
**REFLECTION LAKE: Lots of three- to five-pound rainbows all over the lake and plenty were caught during last week’s derby. Every other week over 1,000 pounds of trout are planted. Derby and lake information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
**JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Still a good trout bite, with a few larger ones starting to bite. The catfish are hungry after the winter’s hibernation, and are biting Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Most catfish are in the two-pound range. The pond will be stocked regularly with rainbow trout through the end of March and then catfish plants take over April 4. Lake open daily Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on all Monday holidays. The lake has a sonar sensor, which can detect the size of the fish in addition to the location of the fish on the lake. This is a pay-by-the-pound fishery. Information: 951-679-6562.
[/url]SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
**LAKE HEMET: The trout bite is good on inflated nightcrawlers. Pulling lures by the dam is also a sure bet. Al Poston, Anza, landed a stringer of ten trout. Jared Eck, and Make Steffen, Romaland, caught four three-pound trout. Jared Lowe, Hemet, caught a 2.7-pound rainbow. DFG trout plant this week. Some catfish have also been landed. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Fridays until 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
**FULMOR LAKE: No DFG plants in nearly three months. Information: 951-659-2117.
[/url]ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Sturgeon from 70 to 150 pounds or more were planted here Wednesday this week. They are catch-and-release only but represent the largest fish ever planted in Southern California. The trout action is also still fair to good, and another dozen rainbows over 10 pounds were landed this week, including a pair of matching 17 1/2-pounders, one landed by Paul Dao, Orange, and the other by Andy and Ivan Galaviz, Arcadia. The Galaviz also had an eight-pound rainbow, and both of the 17 1/2-pounder were caught on Lip Ripperz plastics. Trout at 16 1/2 pounds were caught by Gene Lamanna, Tujunga, and Richard Ishikawa, Anaheim Hills, while Jess Flores, Rosemead, landed a 16-pounder. The rainbow bite has been best on small jigs and plastics, like the Lip Ripperz, but a good number of fish are also showing on floating baits -- both Nitro Bait and Power Bait -- in rainbow, yellow, and chartreuse or inflated nightcrawlers. Adding Nitro Gravy to all the baits will improve your catch rates. While Chris' Pond has been a hot spot this past week, the rainbows are still showing from all around the lakes' complex. The catfish bite is pretty fair, but few anglers are fishing the whiskerfish right now. Jimmy Suchy, Anaheim, and Tony Avila, La Habra, fished the Bubble Hole with the marshmallow-meal worm combination doused with shrimp Catfish Gravy to land 10 catfish that weighed 60 1/2 pounds. Quite a few catfish from four to five pounds have also been landed by trout anglers in the past week. Information: 714-632-7830 or www.fishinglakes.com.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or www.fishinglakes.com.
IRVINE LAKE: Rising water levels have helped keep the bass action good. Most largemouth are in the two to four-pound range, and quite a few to over five pounds have been landed. Most bass have been caught on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and dropshot baits, with the red clay cliffs the hottest spot. The trout action is good, especially with firetiger-color Rapalas at mid-lake and along the dam restriction lines at Sierra Cove. Most trout are in the one to four-pound range, but some larger fish are coming to the scales. Power Bait or other trout dough baits and nightcrawlers are best. Kelly Nolan, and Don Gurt, Fullerton, caught a limit of trout on Power Bait at the Sierra Cove buoys. Repairs are being made to the Kid’s Lagoon, and all stocking is on hold until the repairs are completed. Some trout are still being landed in the lagoon, however. A bonus stocking with trout to 15 pounds will go in this week in preparation for Saturday’s Sport Chalet Trout Tournament. Some crappie are showing on mini-jigs or meal worms. Information: 714-649-9111.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Trout fishing fair to good at the launch ramp and by the point on Power Bait or inflated nightcrawlers with garlic sauce. The lake will be stocked with trout this week. Gold-bead olive midges and zebra midges are best for fly fishermen. Gold Kastmasters, Power Worms, Roostertails, and Thomas Buoyants are the most successful lures. The largemouth bite is good and fish in the one to three-pound range have been landed. The largest bass caught was a 6-8. Hot spots for bass are around the big island and in deeper water on assorted spinner baits. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.
[/url]LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: Trout bite the best. Trollers are having success in five to 10 feet of water with Needlefish at the east end. Drifting Power Bait in Cachuma Bay or in the backside of the island has produced some limits. Largemouth bite slow to fair, but the action is expected to pick up in the next week. Redear, crappie, and catfish are quiet. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: It’s all about the crappie and bass here. A lot of bass action with quality fish routine. The fish are in the shallows, in five to 10 feet of water, and the bite is best on Stocker Trout-type lures, nightcrawlers, live crawdads, or plastic worms. Linn True, Carpenteria, caught a 12-11 bass on a swimbait. Julio Maldonado, Whittier, landed an 11 1/4-pound bass on a swimbait. Ray Perry, Carson, caught an 11 and a 10-pound bass on crawdads. Brian Mitchell, Ventura, caught an 11-pound bass on a plastic worm. Lee Wax, Redondo Beach, had a pair of 10-pound largemouth. Crappie bite decent on white, 1/16th-ounce mini-jigs in five feet of water. Bluegill and redear biting on pieces of nightcrawlers. John Karayan, Santa Paula, caught 25 crappie. Top fish was three pounds. Jim Mason, Oak View, caught a stringer of 20 crappie, and his top fish was 2 1/2 pounds, all on crappie jigs. Trout plant last week at the Fillmore Ramp, however the action has been fair to slow, and the only action has come from the ramp area. Over 600 kids showed up for the fishing day last Saturday. An entire area off the docks was netted off, and each kid had the opportunity to catch at least one fish. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The largemouth bass bite is fair, and the fish are shallow making spawning beds in the lagoon. Both boat and shore anglers are having success on plastics or Creature Baits. Dick Gruliani, Eagle Rock, caught an 11.7-pound largemouth on a Huddleston. The striper action is slow, however, some double digit catches were made from the west ramp areas. John Sherman, Santa Clarita, caught a 13.7-pound striper on an anchovy. Jared Tubecus, Long Beach, landed a 12.1-pound striper on anchovies off the west ramp. No more trout plants in the upper lake until October, but the lagoon was planted with trout last week and providing fair action. All other species are slow. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: Fishing is good overall. Bass bite best on nightcrawlers, plastic worms, drop-shotting, or deep running plugs. Most fish are 1-8 to 2-8. The bass are biting in the shallows with a lot of fish already on beds. Tom Roberston, Fillmore, caught five bass in Santa Felicia. Many limits of crappie, mostly from 1/2 to 3/4 pounds, on crappie jigs. Greg Waggoner, Redondo Beach, caught a 25-pound stringer of crappie on jigs in Cow Cove. The trout bite is good off shore trolling, or on worms, Power Bait, and Needlefish. The water is still cold, so the trout are up shallow. DFG trout plant this week. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: park 805-521-1500, marina 805-521-1231.
PYRAMID: Striper bite good on anchovies. Tim Flannigan, Quartz Hill, caught a 60- pound stringer of 12 fish. Top fish was 12 pounds. Michael Gaona, Van Nuys, landed five fish on anchovies in the channel. Top fish was 4.4 pounds. The trout and catfish action is fair. Trout biting best on Power Worms and Power Bait. DFG trout plant this week. Cats best on anchovies in a spotty bite. Water levels are up and boats are able to launch. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: USFS 661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.
QUAIL LAKE: Few reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: A 1,450-pound trout plant went in last week, and the trout bite improved. Trout and cats are still the best bites. The catfish are biting cut mackerel and nightcrawlers, while the trout are hitting green Power Bait. Bass are starting to spawn, and there have also been reports of bluegill and crappie showing with the occasional redear. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.
SANTA FE DAM: Still a slow to fair trout action mostly on floating baits and inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Also a few cats showing, but that bite has slowed way down. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No reports.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant last week.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week, and last week. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over two months.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Trout action decent on Power Bait. DFG plant last week. Information: 818-448-7317.
[/url]SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: The lake is closed but set to open May 2. Reservations for all of May go on sale 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 through Ticketmaster at 619-220-8497. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: Fair bass and crappie bite. There were 170 anglers who reported 174 bass, 75 crappie, and seven channel catfish. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
EL CAPITAN: Good bass and crappie action. This past week, there were 547 anglers who reported catching 984 bass, 443 crappie, 26 channel catfish, 18 bluegill, and 17 blue catfish. Bill Talmadge, Chula Vista, caught a 3.65-pound largemouth on a shiner from Chocolate Arm. No rental boats are available. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
LOWER OTAY: Fair to good bass and crappie action. This week 267 anglers reported catching 298 bass, 133 crappie, 29 rainbow trout, 15 channel catfish, and one bluegill. The Harvey Arm and the Otay Arm are still hot spots. Top fish was an 11.10-pound largemouth by Phong Sithites, San Diego, on a crawdad. Cezar Gutierrez, Jamul, landed a 9.65-pound channel catfish on mackerel. Kent Howard, Lemon Grove, landed a 6.95-pound largemouth bass on a plastic worm, and Bella Davis, Jamul, caught a 6.85 pounder on a shiner. Alfonso Johnson, San Diego, caught a stringer of 10 crappie weighing 12.15 pounds. Top fish was 2.15 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
UPPER OTAY: There were 39 anglers who reported 52 bass in a fair to good catch-and-release bite. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
SAN VICENTE: Excellent bass action, everything else slow. In all, there were 217 anglers who reported 840 bass, 39 bluegill, 10 channel catfish, and five redear. Top fish was a 6.2-pound largemouth by Anthony Tejeda, Santee, on a Senko. John Getgen, El Cajon, landed a 5.85-pound largemouth on jerk bait. The lake is open Saturday and Sunday only, and the boat launch is open for private boaters. Lake information: 619-465- 3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
MURRAY: Slowto fair bite. This past week, there were 120 anglers who reported catching 42 bass and 23 rainbow trout. Ashley Bates, Lemon Grove, landed a 3.8-pound largemouth on a crawdad. The lake is open only for shore fishing on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. The launch ramp is temporarily closed due to low water levels. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
MIRAMAR: No reports this week, other than a 4.3-pound rainbow trout landed by Benny Megale, San Diego, on Power Bait. The lake’s launch ramp and boat dock is closed due to low water levels, and will remain closed for another week or two. No rental boats will be available until the water levels come back up. No plants this week. The lake is open to fishing Saturday through Tuesday. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
SUTHERLAND: Excellent bass, and good crappie action. This week the 219 anglers checked reported catching 897 bass, 409 crappie, 13 channel catfish, six bluegill, and one carp. Top fish was an 8.65-pound carp by Andrea Gritzal, 7, Rancho Cucamonga, on bread off the shoreline. Jason Spaniol, Ramona, landed a 6.8-pound largemouth, and Jason Fook, Chula Vista, caught a 6.4-pound largemouth on a worm. Ryan Cole, El Cajon, 13, caught a 2.3-pounnd crappie on a jig. The lake is on a Friday through Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
WOHLFORD: The trout fishing is excellent. Best action is on green Power Bait, and inflated nightcrawlers, especially off the north shoreline, east of Willow Cove, and in Boatdock Cove. The bass are moving into the shallows to spawn, and the best bite is on Rapalas and swimbaits. Crappie have also moved into the shallows and have been landed off Bass Point and off the west buoy line. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant last week.
DIXON: Trout action has been good on rainbows to five pounds with the best action between piers 3 and 4, at the buoy line, and in Trout Cove. Top baits have been rainbow Power Bait or Power Worms. The lake was stocked with 1,200 last week and another one is slated for this week. Still a slow bass bite due to a drop in water level. No catfish reported this week. The lake is open daily to 7 p.m. Information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: A number of large trout were pulled from the lake at last weekend’s Open Trout Derby. Over 500 anglers participated. Steve Yeargin, San Diego, was the grand prize winner with an 11.66-pound trout caught on Power Bait. Scott Dalton, Vista, was the first place winner from the men’s division with a 10.85-pound trout on Power Bait. Karen Warner, Enciniatas, took first in the women’s division with an 11.11-pound trout on Power Bait. Ryan Krawczyk, San Marcos, took first in the youth division, with an 11.28-pound trout on Power Bait. The hot spots for the anglers were Jump Off Point and in Half Moon Bay. Anglers also had success on nightcrawlers from boats at mid-lake. Other notable catches include a 10.7-pound trout by Dave Stout, San Diego, on Power Bait. Bob Steilen, Carslbad, landed a 9.71-pound trout on a Rapala. The bass slowed this week. The lake was planted with 2,800 pounds of trout last week, and will be planted next week with 1,200 pounds of rainbow trout. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset. Derby or lake information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770, concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: The lake’s big bass are becoming more active, especially on swimbaits. The trout action is fair, also on swimbaits. A 2,000-pound plant from Mt. Lassen will go in this week. The lake is open on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedule. Upcoming events: free fishing class 1 p.m. Sunday will give instruction fishing floating baits and Trout Teaser-type jigs for trout. Information: 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
MORENA: Plenty of trout in the four-pound range have been landed on nightcrawlers. No reported catches this week, however. Some bluegill reports have been made, but not too many are sharing bait success stories. The catfish and bass bites are slow. The boat launch is open, but no boats over 19-feet recommended due to low water levels. Boat rentals are limited to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-694-3049.
CUYAMACA: Good trout bite with lots of two-pound fish reported. Top spots have been the lone pine tree, Chambers Park, or the tee dock with inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent, yellow Power Bait, and salmon eggs. Trollers are seeing improved action on Roostertails and Panther Martins. John Davison, Vista, caught two rainbow trout on yellow Power Bait. Rick Jeffrier, El Centro, landed a 3-12 trout on a mini-jig off the north shore. Janine Jangkeit, Carlsbad, caught a 3-8 thunder trout. Riley Schultz, 12, Bonita, landed a 2-8 trout on the Power Bait and nightcrawler combo. Best areas for fly fishing is in Azalea Creek's mouth for staging spawners. DFG trout plant this week. Crappie are starting to show in decent numbers around the boat dock. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Catfish bite fair on shrimp for boat anglers. Carp and crappie are also improving on anchovies. Information: 760-782-3501.
[/url]COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: Striper bite good, especially in Saddle Cove and Hemmingway. A 28-pound striper was reported this week. The Vegas and Government Wash areas are also hot. The Black Island area is also producing a number of small fish to three pounds on small swimbaits. The action is best on imitation shad and trout-like lures. Most fish are three to 13 pounds. Overton and Echo Bay are producing the most largemouth bass.
WILLOW BEACH: The striper action is hot. Albert Renaldi, Bishop, caught 16 and 18-pound stripers on a Rago Trout in front of the hatchery. Roberto Camt’m, Las Vegas, caught five and six-pound stripers on an A.C. plug. Trout bite decent. Information: 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: A good striper bite on A.C. Plugs and L.A. Sliders on fish ranging from three to 13 pounds. Smaller stripers showing on cut baits. Placer and Aztec are the hottest spots. Top fish reported was a 22-pound striper landed on an LA slider. The largemouth bite is also starting to improve in the coves as the fish move up to spawn and the waters warm. Also a few catfish starting to show. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: Fair rainbow trout bite near Davis Camp and Riverside Resort thanks to recent plants. Some trout have also been reported from the Arizona side across from Riverside. Fair striper bite in the morning. Water levels are higher during the day for boat fishing, but have been fluctuating.
NEEDLES: Topock area remains the best spot for stripers, with a pretty decent bite on small fish. Information: Premier Sports 760-326-2727, Golden Shores 760-768-2325.
TOPOCK MARSH: The crappie bite from boats has improved. Catfish and bass bites fair, mostly along the shorelines. Some catfish over 10 pounds with a fair bite on anchovies and chicken liver dipped in stink bait. Decent striper bite. The marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: 928-768-2350.
HAVASU: Bite has improved with the striper and bass bites pretty fair. Anchovies best for stripers and nightcrawlers best for bass, but plastics and small jigs also working. The water temperature is in the upper 50s. Shad are still showing at Sand Point and a few stripers have been landed there on shad-like lures. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Fair action on smallmouth bass in the main river on mealworms or nightcrawlers, but otherwise slow fishing throughout this stretch of river. Catfish very spotty.
BLYTHE: The fish are starting to bite, especially in the area ditches and backwaters where the water warms sooner than the main river. Some decent bass catches are being made, and a few flatheads are starting to show. Information: 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Fair smallmouth bass bite in the main river channel, and a fair largemouth bite in the backwaters. Channel and flathead catfish are slow to fair with most of the flathead and channel cats small, with nothing over five pounds reported. Cibola Lake is open, but the largemouth bass bite is still spotty due to cold water. Warm weather this week should turn that around.
PICACHO AREA: Very light fishing pressure, but overall fair fishing with a few flatheads, channel cats, largemouth, bluegill, and stripers reported. The largemouth bite is really starting to take off with the warm weather.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Still light fishing pressure but improving fishing and the warmer temps are helping the situation. Largemouth are biting on cranks, spinnerbaits and plastics. Channel catfish bite decent on anything that stinks, and the crappie bite is also fair on small live minnows. Information: 928-783-9589 or www.martinezlake.com.
YUMA AREA: The Gila Main Canal in East Yuma is still fair for channel catfish and large redear and bluegill. All biting on worms. In the main Colorado River, the catfish bite has been fair on chicken liver or worms dipped in stink bait, but there is very light fishing pressure and very few flatheads have been reported.
[/url]LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: Slow fishing. Nothing reported this week. Information: Red Hill Marina 760-348-2310, Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052. Weather information: 760-352-3360, Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast 760-398-7211. Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one.
ALAMO RIVER: Few reports. Channel catfish are fair on mackerel or anchovies.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports but some channel cats and the odd bass have been reported.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: Very little fishing pressure.
FINNEY-RAMER: No report.
WEIST LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
SUNBEAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 760-352-3308.
LAKE CAHUILLA: Good trout action with a plant two weeks ago. The trout are running from one to four pounds with a few even bigger. Almost all of the action has been at the outlet this past week, with Power Baits and nightcrawlers doused with scent the hot baits. DFG trout plant this week. Catfish derby set for April 20-21. Information: 760-564-4712.
[/url]EASTERN SIERRA
GENERAL: General trout season opens April 28 throughout Inyo and Mono county. Only selected waters in the two counties remain open to fishing year around. For updated road and camping information: Interagency Visitor Center 760-876-6222, Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405, or www.bishopvisitor.com.
BRIDGEPORT AREA: In the newly-opened catch-and-release stretch of the East Walker River below the Bridgeport Reservoir Dam the action is good. Small nymphs, Red Discos patterns, lightning bugs, and flashback emergers are producing. Flows are at 90 cfs, and the weather is good.
MAMMOTH AREA: The new catch-and-releases, year-around fishing areas on Hot Creek and the upper Owens River above the Benton Crossing Bridge were consistent this past week. Hot Creek has been very good, producing some outsize fish from five to seven pounds, although smaller fish are the norm. Nymphing under indicators and fishing emergers have been the best bets. The upper Owens River had a better bite this week. A lot of good fish are up out of Crowley in a spawning mode, with the best bite on nymphs and egg patterns.
BISHOP AREA: The overall fly fishing is good, especially with emergers, stonefly, and caddis patterns in the Lower Owens. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is open to shore fishing and float tubing. People are throwing lures, including small Rapalas and Needlefish. Pulling streamers with a sinking line will also work. Good bite on worms and Power Bait off shore. The Owens River gorge above Pleasant Valley is fair for browns from eight to 12 inches on just about any dry fly -- but the fish are spooky. Information: Culver's 760-872- 8361 or Brock's 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Lower Owens Valley streams fair to good, and plants are going into Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Shepherds Creek, Symmes Creek, and Tuttle Creek again this week. The lower Owens has been slow. Information: 760-876-4444.
[/url]WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: The bass bite is good on jerk bait and jigs. Plenty of fish to eight pounds, especially in the north fork area. Catfish bite good and with the best bite on clams and shad by the dam. Fair trout action. Derby set for this weekend. Derby or lake information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Decent trout bite in the upper Kern River on salmon eggs and crickets. The river below Isabella has also been fair with some good flurries of action on crickets and salmon eggs. Bass are also biting on silver spinners and nightcrawlers. The flows are perfect for fishing in both reaches. Information: James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The striper bite is good with a decent number of keeper-sized fish on lug worms, and live minnows, and an occasional catfish is biting on Sonny’s dip bait or shad. Chris Wellman, Bakersfield, caught a 24-pound striper on a Bucktail jig. Information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Good bass on minnows, nightcrawlers, and jigs. The bluegill are fair on wax worms and crickets. An occasional trout bite.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Good crappie and bass bite on minnows. Some bluegill action on wax worms and crickets, and an oddball trout. Dylan Trubdolbd, Bakersfield, caught a three-pound bass on jerk bait.
MING LAKE: Some trout on Power Bait and garlic oil, but the bass are dominating with the best bite on minnows, nightcrawlers and jigs. Nicole Sztorc, Bakersfield, caught a 1 3/4-pound bass on a nightcrawler.
BRITE LAKE: Decent bass bite. The trout bite is slow to fair on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and spinners.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Bass bite good on minnows, plastics, and nightcrawlers Some catfish were landed on shad. The bluegill are biting fair on wax worms, and the crappie are fair on minnows. A few trout biting here and there. Information: Concession 661-763-1268, Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
WOLLOMES LAKE: Trout bite slow. Bass and bluegill action have improved to fair, with the bass showing on plastics and nightcrawlers and the bluegill still best on wax and meal worms.
SUCCESS LAKE: Crappie bite good at the boat docks on minnows. A lot of good bass action this week on plastics worms, jigs, and minnows. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: A good bass bite betwe
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