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FISH REPORT -- ONS-matthews-gollaz 7mar07 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 http://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.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. Casitas Lake earns top honors again this week for its consistently good action on big largemouth bass. For the six week in a row, Casitas has produced largemouth bass over 10 pounds and the bite on smaller fish remains very good. The biggest fish was a 14-0 this week, but a local bass tournament with 64 boats reported 747 pounds of bass for a three-pound average. Big tournament fish was a 10-8. Most big-fish anglers are hurling the big, trout-like cranks and swimbaits, while the crawdad and plastic anglers are getting more smaller fish, along with an occasional big fish. For an update, check with the marina staff at 805-649-2043.
2. Diamond Valley Lakes bass bite is excellent with more and more fish moving out of the depths. There is a good crankbait and swimbait bite now in relatively shallow water (10 to 15 feet), and the really exceptional catches continue to mount up. There were a couple of 10-fish double limits posted that weighed over 50 pounds. For updated fishing information, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle in Hemet at 951-658-7410.
3. Hesperia Lake broke wide open for big catfish this past week after a big plant of trophy fish. The warm weather didnt hurt things either. There were 30 catfish over 30 pounds reported, including three fish that broke the lake record -- a 54, a 58, and a 59 1/2-pound catfish. The trout bite is pretty good, too, and sturgeon will be planted the end of this month. Call the lake at for information at 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Still good trout action throughout the region's low elevation, planted waters. Top bets continues to be Corona Lake, Irvine Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes, Laguna Niguel Park Lake, Jess Ranch Lakes, and Hesperia Lake. Angler's Lake in Hemet also has a good bite. There is also a good bite on recent plants and holdover fish at Diamond Valley and Silverwood. Perris has been good, too. 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 especially Mojave Narrows.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Bass action is starting to kick into gear with the pre-spawn bass action taking off throughout the region. Casitas has been a consistently good spot with a number of big bass to 14 pounds this past week. Diamond Valley has broken wide open with excellent catches for four weeks now on swim baits. El Capitan, San Vicente, and Lower Otay have been good in San Diego County, but Sutherlands opener last week was just fair. Bass are showing with increasingly regularity at Perris, Castaic, Silverwood, Piru, Pyramid, and Murry. There are also some signs the lower Colorado River is also starting to shift out of the winter doldrums, too, with some largemouth starting to show in the lower river in good numbers. Also some decent smallmouth catches in this same region.
STRIPED BASS: For Southern California waters, Castaic, Skinner and Pyramid are the top picks with a number of two to five-pound class fish showing on swimbaits, shad, anchovies, and sardines, with the odd double-digit fish. Silverwood has had 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. A few small stripers to four pounds are showing in Havasu in a spotty bite.
PANFISH: A number of crappie bites are starting to take off. 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 this week, and the white bass are starting to run up into the river. Also a few crappie showing at El Capitan in San Diego County. But there are still no bluegill or redear bites of note, although a few redear are starting to show at Cachuma.
CATFISH: Overall, the catfish bites are still mostly spotty with the exception of the Hesperia Lake bite that broke wide open this past week with 30 fish over 30 pounds, including three 50-pound class fish. Other bites worth noting include a sleeper bite on catfish at Santa Ana River Lakes, mostly on trout guts. The lower Colorado River, especially in irrigation ditches around Blythe and Palo Verde, the flathead action is starting to go. There was one 40-pounder reported this past week.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: Trout bite still excellent off the docks and by the boat launch on nightcrawlers and Super Duper lures. Kane Tucker, Santa Ana, caught a 15-pound stringer of trout on nightcrawlers and anchovies. The carp, catfish and striper bites are good. The catfish are deep in the channels and are hitting anchovies. The stripers are best on spinners, gold Kastmasters and swimbaits. Jack Gonzalez, Hesperia, caught an eight-pound striper on an anchovy, and Jim Hernandez, Hesperia, caught a 3-8 striper on anchovies by the launch ramp. DFG trout plant last week. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: Slow trout action over most of the lake. A few fish are showing at the dam and in the Stanfield area on Power Bait or inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent. No DFG trout plant in over two months. 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 now closed for the season. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: No reports. All facilities are closed until spring. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: No reports.
JENKS LAKE: Closed for the season. Information: 909-794-1123, ext. 4.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Phil Hilderbrant, Anaheim, broke the lake record this week with a 59-8 catfish. The catfish are doing best on the M&M (marshmallow and meal worm) combo. Nearly 30 cats over 30 pounds were brought in this week. Last weeks plant helped the bite. Billy Netlles, Lancaster, caught a 58-pound catfish on mackerel off Catfish Point. Sid Jones, Hesperia, caught a 54-pound catfish on the M&M combo, also off Catfish Point. Carl Washington, San Bernardino, caught a 36-pound catfish on mackerel off Sandy Point, while Kenny Anderson, North Hills, caught a 35-pound catfish on the M&M combo off the north shore. Leonerd Brown, North Hills, caught a 32-pound cat, while Calvin and Charlotte Sanders, San Bernardino, had a 33-pounder and a 31-8. Ralph Corral, Hesperia, caught a 29-8. The trout are biting best on Power Bait and Lip Ripperz plastics. Mark Thompson, Rialto, caught a 14-12 trout on a Lip Ripperz plastic in Finger Cove, while Jim Roark, Hesperia, caught a 13-8 trout on Power Bait. Charles Moree, Irvine, caught a 12-8 trout, and Gabriel Mendoza, Apple Valley, and Bill Dobbs, Hesperia, each landed a 12-8 rainbows. Juliene Orona, 6, San Bernardino, caught a 12-4, and Gabriel Rodriguez, San Bernardino, caught a 12-pounder. Ray Kimnra, Valencia, caught an 11-4. Each week 4,500 pounds of trout are planted, including trophy fish. Catfish will also be planted every week through summer. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Trout action good on Power Bait (spring green, rainbow and lemon twist), jigs and lures with anglers using a six to an 18-inch leader. Hot spots include the northern shore, the eastern shore and the western shore near the bridge of lake 3 as well as the northern and eastern shores and the inlets of lake 2. Don Chantler, Chino, caught a 6-13 trout, while Fred Wintersywk, Rancho Cucamonga, caught a 5-9 steelhead. Fred Buhl, Hesperia, landed a 5-7 steelhead, and Bob Williams, Hesperia, caught a 3-5 rainbow. Ray Hueta, Fontana, caught a 3-4 rainbow. Lake hours are Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: The trout bite remains good on yellow and white trout jigs, Power Bait, salmon eggs, or inflated nightcrawlers with fish from one to two pounds. The catfish action is slow to fair with a fish showing on nightcrawlers. The lake will continue to be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG trout plant this week. Trout derby set for this Saturday and Sunday. Information: 760-245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Fair to good trout bite on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and small jigs. Miguel Viramonties, Fontana, landed a 2-0 rainbow. The lake is stocked every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG plant this week. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: The lake will be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG plant two weeks ago. DFG trout plant this 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 this week. 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. Also a DFG trout plant this 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 this week. Fishing improved to fair. Information: 909-384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: Excellent bass bite on swimbaits, Senkos, Ikas, and Carolina- or Texas-rigged, six-inch or larger plastics or Creature baits. Bigger is better. Boat anglers have had the most success, but shore fishermen have had luck with live crawdads. The bass have been holding in 10 to 30 feet of water off the main points, submerged mounds, and coves with heavy structure. David Blankenhorn, Orange, caught a 7.6 and a 6.5-pound bass. Johnny Ybanez, Hemet, caught a six-pound bass on a green Power worm off shore. Art Berry and Shane Spencer, Hemet, caught a 65.5-pound limit of bass on Baby-E swimbaits. Bobby E. Lyons, Corona, caught a five-pound bass 20 feet down in Rawson Cove. Trout fishing improved this week with shoreline and boat anglers catching limits on Kastmasters, Power Bait and Roostertails. The marina has been the top spot for fresh stockers, but few holdover rainbows have been landed. Most trout have been pulled from 10 to 20 feet of water. Emanuel Olaga, San Bernardino, caught a 4.9-pound trout fishing off shore on rainbow Power Bait. Christopher Olson, Sage, caught a three-pound holdover trout while trolling the west dam on the surface with a rainbow trout-pattern crankbait. George Herrick, Upland, landed a limit of trout using crappie jigs near the marina 10 feet down. His biggest three fish weighed slightly over five pounds each. The lake will be planted with 2,400 pounds of rainbow trout this week. No striper action this week. Not too much catfish this action, and not crappie or bluegill reported. Information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait & Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: The bass action slowed over the past week due to wind, but some nice fish are still being landed in 10 to 14 feet of water on darker plastics, and the action has been improving this week with the better weather. Paul Cluff, Perris, caught a 6-2 largemouth on a green plastic off the marina. The trout are moving west for deeper water and the action is just fair. Bluegill action poor, however the action is picking up in the far east end of the lake on meal worms. Eric Langer, Riverside, caught a 3-7 bluegill from the east end on meal worms. DFG trout plant this week. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: Excellent striper and trout bites. Two weeks ago, the lake received a 2,400-pound rainbow trout plant that has made for an excellent bite. Plenty of holdover fish are being landed. Don Thompson, Vista, caught a 5.3-pound stringer of rainbow trout near Ramp 2. His top fish was a 3.2 pounder. Jack Lund, Parma, Ohio, caught a 3.1-pound rainbow trout on a nightcrawler. The striper bite is best when trolling plugs. Kurt Haggstrom, Palm Springs, caught an eight-pound and a 10-pound striper off the north shore. DFG trout plant this week. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
LAKE ELSINORE: No reports.
CORONA LAKE: Good trout action and a lot of Lightning Trout continue to show in the catch. Top fish this past week was a 12-8 rainbow landed by Tommy Evans, Corona, on corn yellow Nitro Bait fishing from shore. Donnie Ballew, Moreno Valley, and brother Wayne Ballew, Pennsylvania, fished every day this past week, posting limits of one to two-pound trout each day, with a three-pounder the top fish. The catfish action has also been improving with the warm weather this week, and the lake was planted with cats this week. Best action has been on cut mackerel and shrimp. Information: 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com.
EVANS LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Fair trout bite on Power Bait.
RANCHO JURUPA: Fair trout action. DFG trout plant this 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 have also been successful. Catfish action slowed, but a few 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 are all over the lake. Each week over 1,000 pounds of trout are planted. Upcoming events: Fishing derby set for Saturday and for March 24. Lots of prizes and $100 can be won. Derby and lake information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Still a good trout bite, especially with warmer temps. The lake has a new sonar sensor, which can detect the size of the fish in addition to the location of the fish on the lake. Catfish still snoozing. The pond will be stocked regularly with rainbow trout through March. Lake open daily Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on all Monday holidays. This is a pay-by-the-pound fishery. Information: 951-679-6562.
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: The trout bite is good on nightcrawlers, and most fish are feeding off the bottom in three to four feet of water at Camp 5 and off the south side of the peninsula (Camp 2). Jim Halper, Indian Wells, caught a 2-8 trout and a two-pound trout. Emilio Herrera, Indian Wells, caught two 1-8 pound trout on nightcrawlers. 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 over two months. Information: 951-659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Trout action remains good, but the winds have pushed the fish to deeper water. Anglers are making long casts to reach deeper water and then using a short leader to keep the bait near the bottom, and the floating baits and inflated nightcrawlers have been the top baits with fewer fish caught on small trout jigs or small lures. There were eight trout over 10 pounds reported this past week. Clinton Whisler, Placentia, had two of the big ones -- one at 13 pounds and the other at 11 1/2 pounds. Both were taken from the Bubble Hole on green Nitro Bait. Roy Ogata, Los Angeles, landed a 12 3/4-pounder, while Dan Faneuf, Costa Mesa, landed an 11 1/2 pounder. Catfish action is also improving with the best action on trout guts or the M&M (marshmallow-meal worm) combo with Nitro Gravy. The cats have been best at the Bubble Hole or the road. 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: Water levels jumped because of a large influx of water for agricultural use by the Irvine Ranch. This has resulted in an extremely strong current coming out of the inflow pipe at Sierra Cove, and nearly the entire cove is now closed and buoyed off. Once the lake level covers the pipe, the lines will be moved in closer. A hot spot is along the buoys at the mouth to Sierra Cove, but even more fish have been landed by trollers using firetiger Rapalas, with the smaller lures getting the nod due to the extremely clear water. Most bait anglers have had success on the Power Bait/nightcrawler combination. Clyde Ito, Diamond Bar, caught a 6.4-pound trout on a mini jig at Trout Island. Scott Nakata, Garden Grove, caught a 6.12-pound trout on nightcrawlers off the west shore, and Al Rotta, Lomita, landed a five-pound trout on a nightcrawler at Trout Island. The bass fishing is decent, despite the rising water levels. The largemouth are moving up, with lots of three and four pounders on crankbaits or Rapalas. Information: 714-649-9111.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Trout fishing fair due to rainy weather. This weeks plant should help improve the bite. Best fishing has been at the launch ramp, off the point, and at the concession stand. Nightcrawlers dipped in sauce, Power Bait and Power Worms are best. Fly fishermen are having success behind the big island with olive midges. Bass bite fair with fish in the one to two-pound range. Bite best on assorted plastics. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.
LOS ANGELES AREA
LAKES CACHUMA: Trout action good, especially when trolling at the east end in five to ten feet of water with Needlefish. Only a few bass have been showing, also from the east end. The bass action is expected to pick up. Redear, crappie, and catfish are quiet. DFG plant three weeks ago. Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: A lot of bass action with quality fish routine. Best fish was a 14-pound bass caught by Norbert Osborn, Los Angeles, on a crawdad. Osborn also landed a seven-pound bass. Ed Wenke, Los Angeles, caught a 12-4 bass and an eight-pound bass on swimbaits. Larry Boughton, Las Vegas, caught a 10-pound bass on a swimbait. Rod Thigpin, Santa Paula, caught two nine-pound bass on swimbaits, and his brother, Todd Thigpin, Santa Paula, caught a 10-3 bass on a swimbait. Last Saturdays bass tournament was a success with 64 boats on the lake and 747 pounds of fish caught. The average being three pounds. Top tournament fish was a 10.54-pound bass by Mike Hart, Los Angeles. This Monday trout were planted at the Coyote Launch Ramp, and fish have been caught off the shoreline in that area on spinner, Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Trollers, however, are not having too much luck. Crappie bite slow, and only a few odd catches. Vern Fields, Ojai, landed a three-pound crappie trolling for trout, which was half a pound shy of the lake record. Redear are quiet. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: Trout action fair in the upper lake, but better in the lagoon. No more plants in the upper lake until October. A 9.8-pound trout was caught by Scott Lizakowski, Canyon Country, in the lagoon. The striper action is also fair, especially in the Fish Arm. Top catch was a seven-pound striper by Song Ko, Los Angeles, on anchovies. Largemouth bass are still spotty. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: Decent trout action with several limits with fish in the one to three-pound range reported this week. The trout bite is best for trollers using Needlefish or Kastmasters. The bass bite is starting to kick into gear, but still just fair. Abe Navarro, Woodland Hills, caught a three-pound bass. A few catfish are also showing. Matt Labonte, Simi Valley, caught a 7-8 catfish trolling a Rapala near the dam. DFG trout plant last week. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: park 805-521-1500, marina 805-521-1231.
PYRAMID: Striper bite decent on anchovies. James Nelson, Chula Vista, caught a six-pound striper on Robo worms off the point. Trout planted on Feb. 28 and Power Bait is best. There have been some catfish landed. 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: Trout and cats have the best bites. The catfish are biting cut mackerel and nightcrawlers, while the trout are hitting green Power Bait. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Bass are spawning yet, but more and more fish are showing, and there have also been reports of bluegill and crappie showing with the occasional redear. In the next two weeks things should open up. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.
SANTA FE DAM: Slow to fair trout action mostly on floating baits and inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent. DFG trout plant this week. Also a few cats showing, but that bite has slowed way down. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No reports.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant this week.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over two months.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Trout action decent on Power Bait. DFG plant this week. Information: 818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA
LAKES BARRETT: The lake is closed. 2007 opening day not announced yet, but it will be in May. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: The lake opened three weeks ago and the overall bite is still slow. There were 134 anglers who reported 37 bass. John Curry, San Marcos, landed a 5.6-pound largemouth bass on a nightcrawler in the narrows. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
EL CAPITAN: Fair bass and crappie bite with the odd catfish showing. This past week, there were 376 anglers who reported catching 358 bass, 218 crappie, 19 blue catfish, 16 channel catfish, one carp, and one bluegill. Top catch was a 4.25-pound largemouth bass landed by Stewart Reid, San Diego, on a crawdad off the east end of the dock. The lake is open on Thursdays and Saturdays for fishing and boating only. 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 bass and crappie action. This week 264 anglers reported catching 152 bass, 53 crappie, 21 channel catfish, and 11 rainbow trout. Top fish was a 14.31-pound channel catfish by Humberto Castaneda, Chula Vista, on mackerel. Lonnie Wheaton, Lakeside, caught a 6.4-pound largemouth bass on a crawdad. Steve McMinn, Spring Valley, caught a 5.9-pound largemouth bass on a shiner. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
UPPER OTAY: There were 20 anglers who reported 36 bass in a pretty good catch-and-release bite. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
SAN VICENTE: Good bass action and fair bluegill action, but very few crappie reports this week. In all, there were 127 anglers who reported 287 bass, 52 bluegill, and five crappie. Top fish was an 8.5-pound largemouth by Chris Scruggs, Ramona, on a plastic. Chris Pennington, Poway, caught a 6.5-pound largemouth, and Joe Marshall, Ramona, caught a 5.75-pound largemouth off the east bank. The lake is open Saturday and Sunday only, and the boat launch reopened for private boaters this past Saturday. Lake information: 619-465- 3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
MURRAY: Still a slow to fair overall bite with only a few bass and rainbow trout showing. This past week, there were 251 anglers who reported catching 141 bass, 18 rainbow trout, and one bluegill. The lake is open only for shore fishing seven days a week. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
MIRAMAR: Slow fishing. This week the 62 anglers checked reported catching 13 bass. A 4,700-pound rainbow trout plant slated for this week should help the bite improve. 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: The lake opened last week and the bass bite is decent. This week the 127 anglers checked reported catching 119 bass, three channel catfish, and one crappie. The lake is on a Friday through Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
WOHLFORD: Trout fishing has been very good with many nice sized rainbows caught on green Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers. Hot spots have been the East of Willow Cove. Top trout was a 2-12 rainbow landed by Bill Pewker, Escondido, on rainbow Power Bait off the Senior Shoreline. Better bass action this week on swimbaits. Mike Koestial, Oceanside, caught a 6-2 bass on a swimbait near the west buoy Line. James Jones, Poway, caught a 4-3 bass on a crawdad at Twin Peaks. The lake was stocked with 1,200 last week, 500 pounds of rainbows and 700 pounds of Thunder Trout. Another plant of 1,200 is slated for this week . Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant this week. DIXON: Trout action has been good on rainbows to five pounds with the best action between piers 3 and 4 and at the buoy line. Theres also a decent bite in Trout Cove. Top baits have been rainbow Power Bait or nightcrawlers. The lake was stocked with 1,200 last week and with another one slated for this week. The bass slowed this week. Lots of fish are in the pre-spawn mode. Fair numbers of bass were caught 35 feet deep this weekend. No catfish reported this week. The lake is open daily to 7 p.m. Information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: The lake will receive 1,000 pounds of Lightning Trout this week, and received 1,000 pounds of Thunder Trout last week. However, Santa Ana winds played havoc on the fishing last week, and the action is just fair. Still a few limits of trout from the wind-protected areas on the east side of the lake. Boat anglers fishing Boulder Bay area and Jump Off Point had the best luck. Power Bait and Nightcrawlers were the choices for best bait, although broken-back Rapalas and Kastmasters were also good. The catfish bite is still good along the log boom with mackerel the best bait. The Bass are starting to stir as the water warms up. The Bluegill bite remains slow. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset. Information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770, concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: The lakes water level continues to rise in time for the spawning season and anglers are having lots of luck. The trout bite is good on Chartreuse Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers under a water float at Cactus Patch and in Hermit Cove. The bite is best before 7:30 a.m. and after 4:30 p.m. The bass bite is better this week with some big fish biting on jigs. Arden Hanline Jr., Spring Valley, landed a 16-6 bass on a Rago swimbait at the catctus patch. 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: Good rainbow and thunder trout bites. Soaking baits in Yum Trout Killa is best. DFG trout plant three weeks ago. The boat launch is open, but no boats over 19-feet recommended. Boat rentals are limited to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-694-3049.
CUYAMACA: Still plenty of Mt. Lassen trout and rainbows from the past few weeks plants, however recent windy conditions have made it hard for some. Inflated nightcrawlers smeared with Pautzke's Krill gel or scent, Power Bait, or salmon eggs have been the best baits while gold Panther Martins and silver Kastmasters are the top lures. Another 1,200-pound plant of Mt. Lassen scheduled for this week. Top spots have been the lone pine tree, the north shore, or the tee dock. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Catfish bite fair on shrimp for boat anglers. Carp and crappie are both very spotty with just a few of each showing. Information: 760-782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: Fishing has been lousy, due to the full moon. A lot of trout have been planted, and the action was improving Monday with trout from four to six pounds reported at Saddle Cove. Other than that action, the fishing has been generally slow, however, an 18-8 striper was landed by Bob Wood, Henderson, on an LA Slider. As soon as the full moon clears, the fishing should improve. Rainbows are still being planted on Monday and Friday. Information: 702-564-3058.
WILLOW BEACH: Little to no fishing pressure. No catches reported. Information: 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The lake is being stocked with trout on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week, and the action is good. Mostly slow striper action, but few fish are biting on A.C. plugs or similar baits. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: A spotty trout bite near Davis Camp and Riverside Resort thanks to recent plants. Fair striper bite in the morning and evenings along the river near Bullhead. Most of the stripers are small, but a few bigger fish were reported. Water levels are higher during the day for boat fishing.
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: 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: Shad are showing at Sand Point and a few stripers have been landed there on shad-like lures. Overall bite slow and very few fishermen have been out. The water is still about 50 degrees. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Slow to fair action on smallmouth bass in the main river, 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. Jess Deis, San Bernardino, landed a 40-pound flathead on Saturday fishing a local backwater with a goldfish. 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.
PICACHO AREA: Very light fishing pressure, but overall fair fishing with a few flatheads, channel cats, largemouth, bluegill, and stripers reported.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Still light fishing pressure and slow overall action, although 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.
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 this week.
SUNBEAM LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Information: 760-352-3308.
LAKE CAHUILLA: Good trout action with plants the past two weeks. 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. Jose Avela, Coachella, landed five trout topped by a 7-6 rainbow. Lou Domingues, Indio, landed a 5-15, while Robert Patterson landed a 5-11. DFG trout plant this week. Catfish derby set for April 20-21. Information: 760-564-4712.
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 fishing has been tough due to low water flows and cold water temperatures.
MAMMOTH AREA: The new catch-and-releases, year-around fishing areas on Hot Creek and the upper Owens River above the Benton Crossing Bridge have been a contrast. Hot Creek has been very good, producing some outside fish from five to seven pounds, although smaller fish are the norm. Nymphing under indicators and fishing emergers have been the best bets. Meanwhile, the upper Owens River is tougher. A lot of good fish are up out of Crowley in a spawning mode, but the water is cold and the fish are tough with only a few being caught on nymphs and egg patterns.
BISHOP AREA: Pleasant Valley Reservoir is fishing good and open to shore fishing and float tubing. People are also 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 for browns from eight to 12 inches on just about any dry fly -- but the fish are spooky. The Wild Trout section of the Owens has been good to excellent. Nice warm weather and a lot of dry fly hatches have made for excellent action. Information: Culver's 760-872- 8361 or Brock's 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: The early trout opener on the lower Owens Valley streams was good, and plants are going into Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Sheperds Creek, Symmes Creek, and Tuttle Creek again this week. The lower Owens has been slow. Information: 760-876-4444.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: The trout and catfish bites are good. Catfish best on minnows and shad. 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. Bass are also biting on silver spinners and nightcrawlers. The flows are perfect for fishing in both reaches. DFG trout plant this week. Information: James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The striper bite good on lug worms, and live minnows, and an occasional catfish biting on Sonnys stink bait. Don Wilkerson, Bakersfield, caught a five-pound striper on a lugworm. Information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Trout planted last week and the bite remains good on Power Bait and garlic oil. Crappie and bass action good on small live minnows. DFG trout plant this week.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Trout bite still fair on Power Bait and spinners. Good crappie and bass bite on minnows. DFG trout plant this week.
MING LAKE: Plenty of trout have been landed here on Power Bait with garlic oil. DFG trout plant this week. The bass bite picked up due to warmer temps and the bite is good on nighcrawlers, swimbaits and jigs.
BRITE LAKE: The trout bite is good on Power Bait and spinners.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Bass bite improved this week and the bite is best on large minnows and jigs. Still very good trout action, although no more large trout will be planted. Best bite on spinners, Kastmasters, or Power Bait with garlic oil. Crappie bite also good. Most fish 1-8 to two pounds on live minnows. Information: Concession 661-763-1268, Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
WOLLOMES LAKE: Trout bite fair. Bass and bluegill action is slow to fair, with the bass showing on plastics and nightcrawlers and the bluegill still best on wax and meal worms. DFG trout plant this week.
SUCCESS LAKE: Fishing remains tough due to low water levels. Some trout have been landed. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Trout bite fair and steady. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. A good bass bite between 10:30 a.m. and noon on plastic worms. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: Few report and very light fishing pressure. Information: 805-472-2818.
SANTA MARGARITA: Crappie biting fair on jigs and worms, and the bass bite spotty on Senkos. Trout bite fair. DFG trout plant last week. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
NACIMIENTO: The fishing is good. The water is clear and the temp is around 55 degrees. White bass have been landed in the narrows, and the fish are moving toward their spawning areas. Most white bass are in the two-pound range. Some crappie have been landed near the dam. Town Creek, Las Tables, and Christmas Cove have been the areas with the most action. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.
LOPEZ: Trout bite still good off shore or in Cottonwood Cove on nightcrawlers or on rainbow or green Power Bait. DFG trout plant last week. Good crappie bite in 35 to 40 feet of water at the dam on jigs and live minnows. The fish are running from one to two pounds, and a few bass are showing up in the catch. Information: 805-489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water, road conditions, and the availability of trucks and personnel, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked this with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Arroyo Seco Creek, Belvedere Lake, Big Tujunga Creek (lower & upper), Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lakes, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lakes, Lincoln Park Lake, Magic Johnson Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake, San Gabriel River (east & west forks), Santa Fe Reservoir.
ORANGE: Carr Park Lake, Eisenhower Park Lake, Greer Park Lake, Huntington Park Lake, Laguna Lake, Yorba Linda Park Lake.
RIVERSIDE: Cahuilla Park Lake, Evans Lake, Perris Lake, Rancho Jurupa Park Pond, Skinner Lake
SAN BERNARDINO: Cucamonga Guasti Park Lake, Glen Helen Park Lake, Mojave Narrows Regional Park, Prado Park Lake, Seccombe Park Lake, Yucaipa Lake.
SAN DIEGO: Chollas Park Lake, Doane Pond, Lindo Lake, Lower Otay Lake, Murray Lake.
IMPERIAL: Sunbeam Lake, Weist Lake INYO: Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Sheperds Creek, Symmes Creek, Tuttle Creek.
FRESNO: Avocado Lake, Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, Pine Flat Reservoir, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam.
KERN: Hart Park Lake (Bakersfield), Kern River (KR#3 to Riverside Park, Kernville), Lake Ming (Bakersfield), Lake Woollomes (Delano), Truxton Lake.
MADERA: Bass Lake, Eastman Lake, Hensley Lake.
MARIPOSA: Merced River from Redbud Bridge Downstream to South Fork.
MONTEREY: El Estero Lake.
TULARE: Kaweah Lake Reservoir, Kern River (Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge, Brush Creek to Fairview Dam), Success Reservoir.
TUOLUMNE: Don Pedro Reservoir, Melones Reservoir.
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 http://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.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. Casitas Lake earns top honors again this week for its consistently good action on big largemouth bass. For the six week in a row, Casitas has produced largemouth bass over 10 pounds and the bite on smaller fish remains very good. The biggest fish was a 14-0 this week, but a local bass tournament with 64 boats reported 747 pounds of bass for a three-pound average. Big tournament fish was a 10-8. Most big-fish anglers are hurling the big, trout-like cranks and swimbaits, while the crawdad and plastic anglers are getting more smaller fish, along with an occasional big fish. For an update, check with the marina staff at 805-649-2043.
2. Diamond Valley Lakes bass bite is excellent with more and more fish moving out of the depths. There is a good crankbait and swimbait bite now in relatively shallow water (10 to 15 feet), and the really exceptional catches continue to mount up. There were a couple of 10-fish double limits posted that weighed over 50 pounds. For updated fishing information, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle in Hemet at 951-658-7410.
3. Hesperia Lake broke wide open for big catfish this past week after a big plant of trophy fish. The warm weather didnt hurt things either. There were 30 catfish over 30 pounds reported, including three fish that broke the lake record -- a 54, a 58, and a 59 1/2-pound catfish. The trout bite is pretty good, too, and sturgeon will be planted the end of this month. Call the lake at for information at 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Still good trout action throughout the region's low elevation, planted waters. Top bets continues to be Corona Lake, Irvine Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes, Laguna Niguel Park Lake, Jess Ranch Lakes, and Hesperia Lake. Angler's Lake in Hemet also has a good bite. There is also a good bite on recent plants and holdover fish at Diamond Valley and Silverwood. Perris has been good, too. 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 especially Mojave Narrows.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Bass action is starting to kick into gear with the pre-spawn bass action taking off throughout the region. Casitas has been a consistently good spot with a number of big bass to 14 pounds this past week. Diamond Valley has broken wide open with excellent catches for four weeks now on swim baits. El Capitan, San Vicente, and Lower Otay have been good in San Diego County, but Sutherlands opener last week was just fair. Bass are showing with increasingly regularity at Perris, Castaic, Silverwood, Piru, Pyramid, and Murry. There are also some signs the lower Colorado River is also starting to shift out of the winter doldrums, too, with some largemouth starting to show in the lower river in good numbers. Also some decent smallmouth catches in this same region.
STRIPED BASS: For Southern California waters, Castaic, Skinner and Pyramid are the top picks with a number of two to five-pound class fish showing on swimbaits, shad, anchovies, and sardines, with the odd double-digit fish. Silverwood has had 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. A few small stripers to four pounds are showing in Havasu in a spotty bite.
PANFISH: A number of crappie bites are starting to take off. 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 this week, and the white bass are starting to run up into the river. Also a few crappie showing at El Capitan in San Diego County. But there are still no bluegill or redear bites of note, although a few redear are starting to show at Cachuma.
CATFISH: Overall, the catfish bites are still mostly spotty with the exception of the Hesperia Lake bite that broke wide open this past week with 30 fish over 30 pounds, including three 50-pound class fish. Other bites worth noting include a sleeper bite on catfish at Santa Ana River Lakes, mostly on trout guts. The lower Colorado River, especially in irrigation ditches around Blythe and Palo Verde, the flathead action is starting to go. There was one 40-pounder reported this past week.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: Trout bite still excellent off the docks and by the boat launch on nightcrawlers and Super Duper lures. Kane Tucker, Santa Ana, caught a 15-pound stringer of trout on nightcrawlers and anchovies. The carp, catfish and striper bites are good. The catfish are deep in the channels and are hitting anchovies. The stripers are best on spinners, gold Kastmasters and swimbaits. Jack Gonzalez, Hesperia, caught an eight-pound striper on an anchovy, and Jim Hernandez, Hesperia, caught a 3-8 striper on anchovies by the launch ramp. DFG trout plant last week. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: Slow trout action over most of the lake. A few fish are showing at the dam and in the Stanfield area on Power Bait or inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent. No DFG trout plant in over two months. 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 now closed for the season. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: No reports. All facilities are closed until spring. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: No reports.
JENKS LAKE: Closed for the season. Information: 909-794-1123, ext. 4.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Phil Hilderbrant, Anaheim, broke the lake record this week with a 59-8 catfish. The catfish are doing best on the M&M (marshmallow and meal worm) combo. Nearly 30 cats over 30 pounds were brought in this week. Last weeks plant helped the bite. Billy Netlles, Lancaster, caught a 58-pound catfish on mackerel off Catfish Point. Sid Jones, Hesperia, caught a 54-pound catfish on the M&M combo, also off Catfish Point. Carl Washington, San Bernardino, caught a 36-pound catfish on mackerel off Sandy Point, while Kenny Anderson, North Hills, caught a 35-pound catfish on the M&M combo off the north shore. Leonerd Brown, North Hills, caught a 32-pound cat, while Calvin and Charlotte Sanders, San Bernardino, had a 33-pounder and a 31-8. Ralph Corral, Hesperia, caught a 29-8. The trout are biting best on Power Bait and Lip Ripperz plastics. Mark Thompson, Rialto, caught a 14-12 trout on a Lip Ripperz plastic in Finger Cove, while Jim Roark, Hesperia, caught a 13-8 trout on Power Bait. Charles Moree, Irvine, caught a 12-8 trout, and Gabriel Mendoza, Apple Valley, and Bill Dobbs, Hesperia, each landed a 12-8 rainbows. Juliene Orona, 6, San Bernardino, caught a 12-4, and Gabriel Rodriguez, San Bernardino, caught a 12-pounder. Ray Kimnra, Valencia, caught an 11-4. Each week 4,500 pounds of trout are planted, including trophy fish. Catfish will also be planted every week through summer. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Trout action good on Power Bait (spring green, rainbow and lemon twist), jigs and lures with anglers using a six to an 18-inch leader. Hot spots include the northern shore, the eastern shore and the western shore near the bridge of lake 3 as well as the northern and eastern shores and the inlets of lake 2. Don Chantler, Chino, caught a 6-13 trout, while Fred Wintersywk, Rancho Cucamonga, caught a 5-9 steelhead. Fred Buhl, Hesperia, landed a 5-7 steelhead, and Bob Williams, Hesperia, caught a 3-5 rainbow. Ray Hueta, Fontana, caught a 3-4 rainbow. Lake hours are Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: The trout bite remains good on yellow and white trout jigs, Power Bait, salmon eggs, or inflated nightcrawlers with fish from one to two pounds. The catfish action is slow to fair with a fish showing on nightcrawlers. The lake will continue to be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG trout plant this week. Trout derby set for this Saturday and Sunday. Information: 760-245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Fair to good trout bite on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and small jigs. Miguel Viramonties, Fontana, landed a 2-0 rainbow. The lake is stocked every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG plant this week. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: The lake will be stocked with trout every Thursday through April 19 by the county. DFG plant two weeks ago. DFG trout plant this 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 this week. 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. Also a DFG trout plant this 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 this week. Fishing improved to fair. Information: 909-384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: Excellent bass bite on swimbaits, Senkos, Ikas, and Carolina- or Texas-rigged, six-inch or larger plastics or Creature baits. Bigger is better. Boat anglers have had the most success, but shore fishermen have had luck with live crawdads. The bass have been holding in 10 to 30 feet of water off the main points, submerged mounds, and coves with heavy structure. David Blankenhorn, Orange, caught a 7.6 and a 6.5-pound bass. Johnny Ybanez, Hemet, caught a six-pound bass on a green Power worm off shore. Art Berry and Shane Spencer, Hemet, caught a 65.5-pound limit of bass on Baby-E swimbaits. Bobby E. Lyons, Corona, caught a five-pound bass 20 feet down in Rawson Cove. Trout fishing improved this week with shoreline and boat anglers catching limits on Kastmasters, Power Bait and Roostertails. The marina has been the top spot for fresh stockers, but few holdover rainbows have been landed. Most trout have been pulled from 10 to 20 feet of water. Emanuel Olaga, San Bernardino, caught a 4.9-pound trout fishing off shore on rainbow Power Bait. Christopher Olson, Sage, caught a three-pound holdover trout while trolling the west dam on the surface with a rainbow trout-pattern crankbait. George Herrick, Upland, landed a limit of trout using crappie jigs near the marina 10 feet down. His biggest three fish weighed slightly over five pounds each. The lake will be planted with 2,400 pounds of rainbow trout this week. No striper action this week. Not too much catfish this action, and not crappie or bluegill reported. Information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait & Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: The bass action slowed over the past week due to wind, but some nice fish are still being landed in 10 to 14 feet of water on darker plastics, and the action has been improving this week with the better weather. Paul Cluff, Perris, caught a 6-2 largemouth on a green plastic off the marina. The trout are moving west for deeper water and the action is just fair. Bluegill action poor, however the action is picking up in the far east end of the lake on meal worms. Eric Langer, Riverside, caught a 3-7 bluegill from the east end on meal worms. DFG trout plant this week. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: Excellent striper and trout bites. Two weeks ago, the lake received a 2,400-pound rainbow trout plant that has made for an excellent bite. Plenty of holdover fish are being landed. Don Thompson, Vista, caught a 5.3-pound stringer of rainbow trout near Ramp 2. His top fish was a 3.2 pounder. Jack Lund, Parma, Ohio, caught a 3.1-pound rainbow trout on a nightcrawler. The striper bite is best when trolling plugs. Kurt Haggstrom, Palm Springs, caught an eight-pound and a 10-pound striper off the north shore. DFG trout plant this week. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
LAKE ELSINORE: No reports.
CORONA LAKE: Good trout action and a lot of Lightning Trout continue to show in the catch. Top fish this past week was a 12-8 rainbow landed by Tommy Evans, Corona, on corn yellow Nitro Bait fishing from shore. Donnie Ballew, Moreno Valley, and brother Wayne Ballew, Pennsylvania, fished every day this past week, posting limits of one to two-pound trout each day, with a three-pounder the top fish. The catfish action has also been improving with the warm weather this week, and the lake was planted with cats this week. Best action has been on cut mackerel and shrimp. Information: 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com.
EVANS LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Fair trout bite on Power Bait.
RANCHO JURUPA: Fair trout action. DFG trout plant this 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 have also been successful. Catfish action slowed, but a few 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 are all over the lake. Each week over 1,000 pounds of trout are planted. Upcoming events: Fishing derby set for Saturday and for March 24. Lots of prizes and $100 can be won. Derby and lake information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Still a good trout bite, especially with warmer temps. The lake has a new sonar sensor, which can detect the size of the fish in addition to the location of the fish on the lake. Catfish still snoozing. The pond will be stocked regularly with rainbow trout through March. Lake open daily Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on all Monday holidays. This is a pay-by-the-pound fishery. Information: 951-679-6562.
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: The trout bite is good on nightcrawlers, and most fish are feeding off the bottom in three to four feet of water at Camp 5 and off the south side of the peninsula (Camp 2). Jim Halper, Indian Wells, caught a 2-8 trout and a two-pound trout. Emilio Herrera, Indian Wells, caught two 1-8 pound trout on nightcrawlers. 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 over two months. Information: 951-659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Trout action remains good, but the winds have pushed the fish to deeper water. Anglers are making long casts to reach deeper water and then using a short leader to keep the bait near the bottom, and the floating baits and inflated nightcrawlers have been the top baits with fewer fish caught on small trout jigs or small lures. There were eight trout over 10 pounds reported this past week. Clinton Whisler, Placentia, had two of the big ones -- one at 13 pounds and the other at 11 1/2 pounds. Both were taken from the Bubble Hole on green Nitro Bait. Roy Ogata, Los Angeles, landed a 12 3/4-pounder, while Dan Faneuf, Costa Mesa, landed an 11 1/2 pounder. Catfish action is also improving with the best action on trout guts or the M&M (marshmallow-meal worm) combo with Nitro Gravy. The cats have been best at the Bubble Hole or the road. 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: Water levels jumped because of a large influx of water for agricultural use by the Irvine Ranch. This has resulted in an extremely strong current coming out of the inflow pipe at Sierra Cove, and nearly the entire cove is now closed and buoyed off. Once the lake level covers the pipe, the lines will be moved in closer. A hot spot is along the buoys at the mouth to Sierra Cove, but even more fish have been landed by trollers using firetiger Rapalas, with the smaller lures getting the nod due to the extremely clear water. Most bait anglers have had success on the Power Bait/nightcrawler combination. Clyde Ito, Diamond Bar, caught a 6.4-pound trout on a mini jig at Trout Island. Scott Nakata, Garden Grove, caught a 6.12-pound trout on nightcrawlers off the west shore, and Al Rotta, Lomita, landed a five-pound trout on a nightcrawler at Trout Island. The bass fishing is decent, despite the rising water levels. The largemouth are moving up, with lots of three and four pounders on crankbaits or Rapalas. Information: 714-649-9111.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Trout fishing fair due to rainy weather. This weeks plant should help improve the bite. Best fishing has been at the launch ramp, off the point, and at the concession stand. Nightcrawlers dipped in sauce, Power Bait and Power Worms are best. Fly fishermen are having success behind the big island with olive midges. Bass bite fair with fish in the one to two-pound range. Bite best on assorted plastics. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.
LOS ANGELES AREA
LAKES CACHUMA: Trout action good, especially when trolling at the east end in five to ten feet of water with Needlefish. Only a few bass have been showing, also from the east end. The bass action is expected to pick up. Redear, crappie, and catfish are quiet. DFG plant three weeks ago. Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: A lot of bass action with quality fish routine. Best fish was a 14-pound bass caught by Norbert Osborn, Los Angeles, on a crawdad. Osborn also landed a seven-pound bass. Ed Wenke, Los Angeles, caught a 12-4 bass and an eight-pound bass on swimbaits. Larry Boughton, Las Vegas, caught a 10-pound bass on a swimbait. Rod Thigpin, Santa Paula, caught two nine-pound bass on swimbaits, and his brother, Todd Thigpin, Santa Paula, caught a 10-3 bass on a swimbait. Last Saturdays bass tournament was a success with 64 boats on the lake and 747 pounds of fish caught. The average being three pounds. Top tournament fish was a 10.54-pound bass by Mike Hart, Los Angeles. This Monday trout were planted at the Coyote Launch Ramp, and fish have been caught off the shoreline in that area on spinner, Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Trollers, however, are not having too much luck. Crappie bite slow, and only a few odd catches. Vern Fields, Ojai, landed a three-pound crappie trolling for trout, which was half a pound shy of the lake record. Redear are quiet. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: Trout action fair in the upper lake, but better in the lagoon. No more plants in the upper lake until October. A 9.8-pound trout was caught by Scott Lizakowski, Canyon Country, in the lagoon. The striper action is also fair, especially in the Fish Arm. Top catch was a seven-pound striper by Song Ko, Los Angeles, on anchovies. Largemouth bass are still spotty. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: Decent trout action with several limits with fish in the one to three-pound range reported this week. The trout bite is best for trollers using Needlefish or Kastmasters. The bass bite is starting to kick into gear, but still just fair. Abe Navarro, Woodland Hills, caught a three-pound bass. A few catfish are also showing. Matt Labonte, Simi Valley, caught a 7-8 catfish trolling a Rapala near the dam. DFG trout plant last week. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: park 805-521-1500, marina 805-521-1231.
PYRAMID: Striper bite decent on anchovies. James Nelson, Chula Vista, caught a six-pound striper on Robo worms off the point. Trout planted on Feb. 28 and Power Bait is best. There have been some catfish landed. 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: Trout and cats have the best bites. The catfish are biting cut mackerel and nightcrawlers, while the trout are hitting green Power Bait. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Bass are spawning yet, but more and more fish are showing, and there have also been reports of bluegill and crappie showing with the occasional redear. In the next two weeks things should open up. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.
SANTA FE DAM: Slow to fair trout action mostly on floating baits and inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent. DFG trout plant this week. Also a few cats showing, but that bite has slowed way down. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No reports.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant this week.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over two months.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Trout action decent on Power Bait. DFG plant this week. Information: 818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA
LAKES BARRETT: The lake is closed. 2007 opening day not announced yet, but it will be in May. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: The lake opened three weeks ago and the overall bite is still slow. There were 134 anglers who reported 37 bass. John Curry, San Marcos, landed a 5.6-pound largemouth bass on a nightcrawler in the narrows. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
EL CAPITAN: Fair bass and crappie bite with the odd catfish showing. This past week, there were 376 anglers who reported catching 358 bass, 218 crappie, 19 blue catfish, 16 channel catfish, one carp, and one bluegill. Top catch was a 4.25-pound largemouth bass landed by Stewart Reid, San Diego, on a crawdad off the east end of the dock. The lake is open on Thursdays and Saturdays for fishing and boating only. 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 bass and crappie action. This week 264 anglers reported catching 152 bass, 53 crappie, 21 channel catfish, and 11 rainbow trout. Top fish was a 14.31-pound channel catfish by Humberto Castaneda, Chula Vista, on mackerel. Lonnie Wheaton, Lakeside, caught a 6.4-pound largemouth bass on a crawdad. Steve McMinn, Spring Valley, caught a 5.9-pound largemouth bass on a shiner. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
UPPER OTAY: There were 20 anglers who reported 36 bass in a pretty good catch-and-release bite. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
SAN VICENTE: Good bass action and fair bluegill action, but very few crappie reports this week. In all, there were 127 anglers who reported 287 bass, 52 bluegill, and five crappie. Top fish was an 8.5-pound largemouth by Chris Scruggs, Ramona, on a plastic. Chris Pennington, Poway, caught a 6.5-pound largemouth, and Joe Marshall, Ramona, caught a 5.75-pound largemouth off the east bank. The lake is open Saturday and Sunday only, and the boat launch reopened for private boaters this past Saturday. Lake information: 619-465- 3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
MURRAY: Still a slow to fair overall bite with only a few bass and rainbow trout showing. This past week, there were 251 anglers who reported catching 141 bass, 18 rainbow trout, and one bluegill. The lake is open only for shore fishing seven days a week. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
MIRAMAR: Slow fishing. This week the 62 anglers checked reported catching 13 bass. A 4,700-pound rainbow trout plant slated for this week should help the bite improve. 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: The lake opened last week and the bass bite is decent. This week the 127 anglers checked reported catching 119 bass, three channel catfish, and one crappie. The lake is on a Friday through Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
WOHLFORD: Trout fishing has been very good with many nice sized rainbows caught on green Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers. Hot spots have been the East of Willow Cove. Top trout was a 2-12 rainbow landed by Bill Pewker, Escondido, on rainbow Power Bait off the Senior Shoreline. Better bass action this week on swimbaits. Mike Koestial, Oceanside, caught a 6-2 bass on a swimbait near the west buoy Line. James Jones, Poway, caught a 4-3 bass on a crawdad at Twin Peaks. The lake was stocked with 1,200 last week, 500 pounds of rainbows and 700 pounds of Thunder Trout. Another plant of 1,200 is slated for this week . Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant this week. DIXON: Trout action has been good on rainbows to five pounds with the best action between piers 3 and 4 and at the buoy line. Theres also a decent bite in Trout Cove. Top baits have been rainbow Power Bait or nightcrawlers. The lake was stocked with 1,200 last week and with another one slated for this week. The bass slowed this week. Lots of fish are in the pre-spawn mode. Fair numbers of bass were caught 35 feet deep this weekend. No catfish reported this week. The lake is open daily to 7 p.m. Information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: The lake will receive 1,000 pounds of Lightning Trout this week, and received 1,000 pounds of Thunder Trout last week. However, Santa Ana winds played havoc on the fishing last week, and the action is just fair. Still a few limits of trout from the wind-protected areas on the east side of the lake. Boat anglers fishing Boulder Bay area and Jump Off Point had the best luck. Power Bait and Nightcrawlers were the choices for best bait, although broken-back Rapalas and Kastmasters were also good. The catfish bite is still good along the log boom with mackerel the best bait. The Bass are starting to stir as the water warms up. The Bluegill bite remains slow. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset. Information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770, concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: The lakes water level continues to rise in time for the spawning season and anglers are having lots of luck. The trout bite is good on Chartreuse Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers under a water float at Cactus Patch and in Hermit Cove. The bite is best before 7:30 a.m. and after 4:30 p.m. The bass bite is better this week with some big fish biting on jigs. Arden Hanline Jr., Spring Valley, landed a 16-6 bass on a Rago swimbait at the catctus patch. 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: Good rainbow and thunder trout bites. Soaking baits in Yum Trout Killa is best. DFG trout plant three weeks ago. The boat launch is open, but no boats over 19-feet recommended. Boat rentals are limited to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-694-3049.
CUYAMACA: Still plenty of Mt. Lassen trout and rainbows from the past few weeks plants, however recent windy conditions have made it hard for some. Inflated nightcrawlers smeared with Pautzke's Krill gel or scent, Power Bait, or salmon eggs have been the best baits while gold Panther Martins and silver Kastmasters are the top lures. Another 1,200-pound plant of Mt. Lassen scheduled for this week. Top spots have been the lone pine tree, the north shore, or the tee dock. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Catfish bite fair on shrimp for boat anglers. Carp and crappie are both very spotty with just a few of each showing. Information: 760-782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: Fishing has been lousy, due to the full moon. A lot of trout have been planted, and the action was improving Monday with trout from four to six pounds reported at Saddle Cove. Other than that action, the fishing has been generally slow, however, an 18-8 striper was landed by Bob Wood, Henderson, on an LA Slider. As soon as the full moon clears, the fishing should improve. Rainbows are still being planted on Monday and Friday. Information: 702-564-3058.
WILLOW BEACH: Little to no fishing pressure. No catches reported. Information: 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The lake is being stocked with trout on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week, and the action is good. Mostly slow striper action, but few fish are biting on A.C. plugs or similar baits. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: A spotty trout bite near Davis Camp and Riverside Resort thanks to recent plants. Fair striper bite in the morning and evenings along the river near Bullhead. Most of the stripers are small, but a few bigger fish were reported. Water levels are higher during the day for boat fishing.
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: 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: Shad are showing at Sand Point and a few stripers have been landed there on shad-like lures. Overall bite slow and very few fishermen have been out. The water is still about 50 degrees. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Slow to fair action on smallmouth bass in the main river, 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. Jess Deis, San Bernardino, landed a 40-pound flathead on Saturday fishing a local backwater with a goldfish. 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.
PICACHO AREA: Very light fishing pressure, but overall fair fishing with a few flatheads, channel cats, largemouth, bluegill, and stripers reported.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Still light fishing pressure and slow overall action, although 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.
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 this week.
SUNBEAM LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Information: 760-352-3308.
LAKE CAHUILLA: Good trout action with plants the past two weeks. 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. Jose Avela, Coachella, landed five trout topped by a 7-6 rainbow. Lou Domingues, Indio, landed a 5-15, while Robert Patterson landed a 5-11. DFG trout plant this week. Catfish derby set for April 20-21. Information: 760-564-4712.
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 fishing has been tough due to low water flows and cold water temperatures.
MAMMOTH AREA: The new catch-and-releases, year-around fishing areas on Hot Creek and the upper Owens River above the Benton Crossing Bridge have been a contrast. Hot Creek has been very good, producing some outside fish from five to seven pounds, although smaller fish are the norm. Nymphing under indicators and fishing emergers have been the best bets. Meanwhile, the upper Owens River is tougher. A lot of good fish are up out of Crowley in a spawning mode, but the water is cold and the fish are tough with only a few being caught on nymphs and egg patterns.
BISHOP AREA: Pleasant Valley Reservoir is fishing good and open to shore fishing and float tubing. People are also 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 for browns from eight to 12 inches on just about any dry fly -- but the fish are spooky. The Wild Trout section of the Owens has been good to excellent. Nice warm weather and a lot of dry fly hatches have made for excellent action. Information: Culver's 760-872- 8361 or Brock's 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: The early trout opener on the lower Owens Valley streams was good, and plants are going into Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Sheperds Creek, Symmes Creek, and Tuttle Creek again this week. The lower Owens has been slow. Information: 760-876-4444.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: The trout and catfish bites are good. Catfish best on minnows and shad. 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. Bass are also biting on silver spinners and nightcrawlers. The flows are perfect for fishing in both reaches. DFG trout plant this week. Information: James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The striper bite good on lug worms, and live minnows, and an occasional catfish biting on Sonnys stink bait. Don Wilkerson, Bakersfield, caught a five-pound striper on a lugworm. Information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Trout planted last week and the bite remains good on Power Bait and garlic oil. Crappie and bass action good on small live minnows. DFG trout plant this week.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Trout bite still fair on Power Bait and spinners. Good crappie and bass bite on minnows. DFG trout plant this week.
MING LAKE: Plenty of trout have been landed here on Power Bait with garlic oil. DFG trout plant this week. The bass bite picked up due to warmer temps and the bite is good on nighcrawlers, swimbaits and jigs.
BRITE LAKE: The trout bite is good on Power Bait and spinners.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Bass bite improved this week and the bite is best on large minnows and jigs. Still very good trout action, although no more large trout will be planted. Best bite on spinners, Kastmasters, or Power Bait with garlic oil. Crappie bite also good. Most fish 1-8 to two pounds on live minnows. Information: Concession 661-763-1268, Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
WOLLOMES LAKE: Trout bite fair. Bass and bluegill action is slow to fair, with the bass showing on plastics and nightcrawlers and the bluegill still best on wax and meal worms. DFG trout plant this week.
SUCCESS LAKE: Fishing remains tough due to low water levels. Some trout have been landed. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Trout bite fair and steady. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. A good bass bite between 10:30 a.m. and noon on plastic worms. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: Few report and very light fishing pressure. Information: 805-472-2818.
SANTA MARGARITA: Crappie biting fair on jigs and worms, and the bass bite spotty on Senkos. Trout bite fair. DFG trout plant last week. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
NACIMIENTO: The fishing is good. The water is clear and the temp is around 55 degrees. White bass have been landed in the narrows, and the fish are moving toward their spawning areas. Most white bass are in the two-pound range. Some crappie have been landed near the dam. Town Creek, Las Tables, and Christmas Cove have been the areas with the most action. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.
LOPEZ: Trout bite still good off shore or in Cottonwood Cove on nightcrawlers or on rainbow or green Power Bait. DFG trout plant last week. Good crappie bite in 35 to 40 feet of water at the dam on jigs and live minnows. The fish are running from one to two pounds, and a few bass are showing up in the catch. Information: 805-489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water, road conditions, and the availability of trucks and personnel, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked this with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Arroyo Seco Creek, Belvedere Lake, Big Tujunga Creek (lower & upper), Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lakes, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lakes, Lincoln Park Lake, Magic Johnson Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake, San Gabriel River (east & west forks), Santa Fe Reservoir.
ORANGE: Carr Park Lake, Eisenhower Park Lake, Greer Park Lake, Huntington Park Lake, Laguna Lake, Yorba Linda Park Lake.
RIVERSIDE: Cahuilla Park Lake, Evans Lake, Perris Lake, Rancho Jurupa Park Pond, Skinner Lake
SAN BERNARDINO: Cucamonga Guasti Park Lake, Glen Helen Park Lake, Mojave Narrows Regional Park, Prado Park Lake, Seccombe Park Lake, Yucaipa Lake.
SAN DIEGO: Chollas Park Lake, Doane Pond, Lindo Lake, Lower Otay Lake, Murray Lake.
IMPERIAL: Sunbeam Lake, Weist Lake INYO: Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Sheperds Creek, Symmes Creek, Tuttle Creek.
FRESNO: Avocado Lake, Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, Pine Flat Reservoir, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam.
KERN: Hart Park Lake (Bakersfield), Kern River (KR#3 to Riverside Park, Kernville), Lake Ming (Bakersfield), Lake Woollomes (Delano), Truxton Lake.
MADERA: Bass Lake, Eastman Lake, Hensley Lake.
MARIPOSA: Merced River from Redbud Bridge Downstream to South Fork.
MONTEREY: El Estero Lake.
TULARE: Kaweah Lake Reservoir, Kern River (Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge, Brush Creek to Fairview Dam), Success Reservoir.
TUOLUMNE: Don Pedro Reservoir, Melones Reservoir.
