April 25, 2011

            Hot trout action continues at Santa Ana River Lakes
     A big plant of Nebraska Tailwalkers this past Wednesday led to another good weekend of trout action at Santa Ana River Lakes, and the catfish plant two weeks ago has sparked some good catches of whiskerfish as well.
     The top trout reported this week was a 7 3/4-pounder caught by Santiago Osnay, Anaheim, while fishing chartreuse floating dough bait off La Palma Point. Vincent Virgen, Fullerton, had a 6 3/4-pounder, while Frank Fabiani, Anaheim, landed a 6 1/2-pounder, both fish caught at the Pump House. William Wright, Anaheim, landed a 5 1/2-pound rainbow to top off his 11 1/4-pound stringer of rainbows.
     The best trout action has been with garlic-flavored floating dough baits, small trout jigs, trout plastics, inflated nightcrawlers, and the marshmallow-meal worm combo, which also has been catching the catfish. The cats are also showing on mackerel chunks, garlic marshmallows, and shrimp and marshmallow combo.
     Santiago Palacios and Trino Magana, both La Habra, were fishing at the road to land 12 catfish for a 21 1/2-pound stringer, all on marshmallow shrimp and meal worm combos. Louie, Emily, and Joe Anthony, all of East Los Angeles, landed seven catfish to 3 3/4-pounds fishing from a boat with mackerel. E.J. Manzo, Rico Rivera, had four catfish up to 2 1/2 pounds on garlic marshmallows and nightcrawlers near the boat docks.
     This year’s Angler Appreciation Day will be held this Saturday, the trout opener in the Sierra Nevada. Anglers who are looking for a way to save gas money by skipping the opener this year can come to Santa Ana River Lakes and buy one permit and get a second permit free. Trout plants will continue each week into at least mid-May.
     Santa Ana River Lakes is open seven days a week with fishing allowed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on day passes or from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on an evening pass. Each of these passes is $22. Seniors pay only $20. All of these passes have a five-fish limit. For kids 4 to 13, a three-fish pass is just $9. There are 24-hour passes available the weekend nearest the full moon during trout season, with the next overnight fishing tentatively set for May 13-14. These 24-hour passes cost $60 and anglers can bring a spouse and up to three kids to help fill the 24-hour pass 15-fish limit. Camping at SARL is also free with a 24-hour pass. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.

                Two whopper rainbows landed at Corona Lake
     A pair of giant rainbow trout, one at 16 pounds and one at 12 1/4 pounds, was caught at Corona Lake this past during a good trout bite. There was a large plant of Nebraska Tailwalkers last Wednesday and weekly plants are continuing into May.
     The 16-pound rainbow was landed by Alfred Rocha of Temple City while fishing a Kastmaster from a boat last Wednesday, while the 12 1/4-pounder was caught by Jason Walsh of Murrieta, on a trout jig, also at mid-lake.
     One of the best five-fish limits was posted by Paul Waters, Hacienda Heights, using Eagle Claw chartreuse garlic floating bait at the dam. The stringer weighed 14 pounds and his top fish was a four-pounder. Mike Brown, Corona, landed five rainbows for a 12 1/2-pound total on nightcrawlers dipped in garlic Gravy. Johnny and Shane Cisneros, Ontario, have five rainbows for a nine-pound total.
     The best trout action continues to be on floating dough baits, especially those scented or doused with garlic, garlic nightcrawlers, or small trout jigs and plastic trout worms. Boat and float tube anglers are doing a little better than shore anglers, but the shore bite is pretty fair, especially in deeper water nearer the dam.
     The annual Angler Appreciation Day, where fishermen buying one permit get a second permit for free, is set for this Saturday. The two-for-one deal is designed for anglers who are skipping the Eastern Sierra trout opener because of this economy and the sky-high gas prices.
     Corona Lake is open seven days a week with fishing allowed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on day passes or from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on an evening pass. Each of these passes is $22. Seniors pay only $20. All of these passes have a five-fish limit. For kids 4 to 13, a three-fish pass is just $9. The 24-hour passes are available the weekend nearest the full moon each month, with the next overnight fishing is tentatively set May 13-14. These passes cost $60 and anglers can bring a spouse and up to three kids to help fill the 24-hour pass 15-fish limit. Camping at Corona Lake is also free with a 24-hour pass. For Corona Lake fishing information, call 951-277-4489 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.