March 18, 2009

JIM MATTHEWS’

PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. It’s crappie week here in the Picks of the Week, and No. 1 is Buena Vista Lakes in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The crappie bite broke wide open here in the past week with both good volume and quality. One angler had a nice stringer of 1 1/2 to two pounders, and his top fish tipped the scales at 3-4 and 2-4 crappie. The best bite has been on small shiners and jigs. For an update on this action, call Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield at 661-833-8657.
2. The No. 2 crappie spot is going out on a limb. You see most everybody fishing Diamond Valley Lake is fishing for bass and trout, but there were a pair of slabs at 2.7 pound each caught this past week. Anglers who know crappie and target these fish should be able to bring home a nice stringer of bruisers. For the latest on the action check with the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait and Tackle in Hemet at 951-658-7410.
3. The No. 3 crappie pick, and only this low because it is so far away for most anglers is Santa Margarita Lake on the Central Coast. The bite has been excellent here and you can use live minnows in this lake. Guess what is producing the big crappie? There was a three-pound crappie reported Wednesday this week and a lot of fish over a pound. A near lake-record bass at 13-2 was also caught as part of a good bass bite. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday and can give you the latest on this bite by calling 805-438-1522.

FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS

TROUT: Stocked trout season is still in full swing. Of note, Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake are slated to be stocked with the biggest load of big trout -- 20-plus pounders -- of the season. Irvine Lake and Laguna Niguel Lake are both excellent with a shot at quality fish. Isabella Lake is very good and a smart guy might want to pre-fish for the early April trout derby where there will be 10 trout with $10,000 tags and one wearing a $20,000 tag. All three High Desert lakes, Mojave Narrows, Jess Ranch, and Hesperia Lake, are all good. All of the San Bernardino County Regional Parks have been excellent on trout, with Yucaipa, Prado, Cucamonga-Guasti and Glen Helen all producing lots of fish. In San Diego County, Dixon, Wohlford, Poway, Jennings, Morena, and Cuyamaca are all pretty good bets.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Just go. If it has largemouth bass, the bite is good or will be in a few days. The only exception is higher elevation waters. Bites are breaking wide open everywhere as we move into the spawn. Some lakes already have fish on beds, and quality bass are showing everywhere. A near lake record was caught at Santa Margarita Lake (13-2) this week. Casitas cranked out a 14-pounder. DVL had a 10-plus. No need to list all the lake names. If it has black bass, it’s worth fishing. Just go.
STRIPED BASS: There is pretty good striper action at all of the Southern California striper spots with Skinner, Pyramid, Silverwood and Castaic all cranking out small fish on anchovies. On the Colorado River, a few big fish continue to come from the river below Willow Beach, and Lake Mohave is good on fish to eight pounds on anchovies. Havasu has a good bite, and some action is starting even in the lower river. While it lulled last week, watch for the Elsinore wiper bite to kick back into gear, and for Nacimiento fans, the white bass are packing into the narrows for the spawning run up into the river.
PANFISH: Welcome to crappie week. There are excellent bites on crappie, including quality fish over two pounds, at Santa Margarita, Lopez, San Antonio, Buena Vista Lakes, and Cachuma. All five of these lakes have been cranking out the slabs. You could probably add Diamond Valley Lake and Casitas Lake to this list if anglers would target the slabs. Both produced a couple of pig crappie in recent days. Henshaw also has a good bite on crappie with fish to two pounds reported here. The bluegill and redear bites are still muddling along most places, but this warm weather should turn these bites on. Watch Skinner, Perris (for redear), DVL, and Cachuma (again, for redear).
CATFISH: The big improvement in the catfish bite has come on the lower Colorado River where the big flatheads seem to be on the move. Fish to 35 pounds were caught near Blythe this week, and more and more anglers are reporting fish over 15 pounds from Havasu to Yuma. Also a pretty good channel bite in this part of the lower river. Other places of note include Hesperia Lake (which is not getting catfish plants each week) and Jean’s Channel Cats which started its catfish season this week, too. Corona Lake and the Santa Ana River Lakes also were stocked with catfish last week and are providing decent action with little pressure on the cats.
 

WATER BY WATER REPORTS

Compiled by Cyndi Gollaz and Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

SILVERWOOD: Very good trout action and a fair to good bite on small stripers. The trout are best in Miller Canyon on nightcrawlers and white glitter Power Bait. George Walker, San Bernardino, caught a limit of trout with his top fish at 1.7 pounds. He was fishing a nightcrawler-Power Bait combo right. Stripers are mostly being caught on nightcrawlers and anchovies with more and more fish showing off the docks, but good action in most coves. Hope Murdock, Victorville, had a stringer of six stripers and largemouth and the best fish was a 4.3-pound striper. All were caught on anchovies and chicken liver in Outhouse Cove. Travis James, Hesperia, landed four stripers that weighed a total of 10 pounds and his best was a four-pounder. He was using anchovies cut into thirds. The largemouth action is starting to pick up with the water finally starting to warm a little, but other species are still slow. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: Still relatively light fishing pressure but a consistent bite with the best action between the observatory and Juniper Point or off the rocks near the dam. Trout at five and six pounds were reported this week, but most of the fish are in the one to three pound range and the bite has all been on nightcrawlers or floating dough baits. All the lake’s marinas and public ramps are closed and will reopen April 1. Lake information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222 or bigbearmarina.com.
GREGORY LAKE: No reports. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: The lake facilities are closed and no fishing fee is being charged. The boat house and store will reopen on May 14, 2009. Anglers can still fish but little action now. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: No reports.
JENKS LAKE: Currently closed. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.

HIGH DESERT LAKES

HESPERIA LAKE: Continued good trout and catfish bites and both species are stocked each week, with the cats going in on Mondays and the trout on Thursdays. The trout are showing on most usual trout baits, with Power Bait and nightcrawlers the top bets. Big fish this past week was an 11-8 rainbow landed by Sam Washington, San Bernardino, on shrimp. Kelly Johnson, Victorville, had a 10-pounder on a crawler, while Rodrigo Munoz, Crestline, landed a 9-8 rainbow on Power Bait. Jeremy Scharteo, Long Beach, landed a seven-pounder, and fish at 6-8 were caught by Henry Phong, Riverside, and Shawn Hudson, Victorville. The cats are showing on the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo, shrimp, or cut mackerel and all three are improved with a dip in Sonny’s Catfish Bait. Top cat was an 11-pound channel cat landed by Thomas Tyler, Ontario, on the M&M combo. Brian Green, Los Angeles, had an 8-8 blue on shrimp and Sonny’s. A few sturgeon are mixed in the catch each week, usually hooked by trout or catfish anglers. Tony Avila, Hesperia, caught an 18-pound sturgeon, while Tina Jordan, Barstow, caught an eight-pounder. Both anglers were using Power Bait. Lake hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the night session from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost is $15 per angler. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Weather made for erratic fishing this past week, but over the bite is still good for anglers fishing Power Bait in a variety of colors or inflated nightcrawlers, jigs, or small trout plastics. Average fish are close to two pounds and hot spots are the grassy point, eastern logged shore and western shore of lake 3 from the bridge to the pump house, as well as the northern and eastern shores of lake 2. Top trout of the week was a 5-15 caught by Richard Cervantes, Ontario, while Carlos Lopez of Lakewood, landed a 5-5. Chris Kitelinger, Anaheim, scored a 4-13, and Mike Kerns, Apple Valley, matched that catch with a 4-13 of his own. Another Apple Valley angler, Barry Brown, caught a 4-8, and 14-year old Andrew Acker, San Bernardino, caught a 4-1 rainbow. The lake’s hatchery stocks every Friday. The lake is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: Art Marquez, Victorville, caught a lake record 18-pound rainbow two weeks ago (breaking the old 14 1/2-pound record) and then turned around and won this past weekend’s trout derby with a 7-14 rainbow, earning the top prize, a $1,200 four-day cruise to Mexico. Second place was a 6-13 rainbow landed by Earl Thompson, San Bernardino, that won him a $500 Turner’s Outdoorsman gift certificate, while Phillip Moreno, Alta Loma, was third with a 5-8 rainbow. He won a tent and two sleeping bags from Camping World. There were 379 entrants in the event and 50 prizes were awarded. Overall, there has been a very good trout bite and county trout plants are weekly through April. A free Junior Fishing Workshop will take place March 28th. To receive more information or enroll in the workshop: 909-387-2461. For lake information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Fair to good trout bite on Power Bait. County trout plants are weekly through April, and a DFG trout plant is scheduled for this week. Upcoming events: Trout derby set for Saturday, April 4. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Continued good to excellent trout action here with a lot of limits posted each week. Randy Perez, Diamond Bar, landed five trout to three pounds fishing orange Power Bait at Lot No. 6 near the boat launch. Rafael Barrios, Fontana, weighed in four trout to 2-12 fish Basin No. 2 with green glitter Power Bait. Lots 1, 6, 7, and 8 are the hot spots, and a few catfish are starting to show. Jerry Freciado, Perris, hand a 2-4 catfish fishing a nightcrawler in Lot No. 1. The carp action is also improving each week with warmer weather. Leon Simkiss, Bloomington, caught a 14-pound carp drop-shotting an orange Power Worm, while Santiago Garcia, Whittier, landed a 12-8 carp fishing rainbow Power Bait. Both anglers were fishing Lot No. 1. County trout plants are each week through April, and a DFG plant is slated for this week. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Fair to good trout action after both DFG and county plants last week. The last county trout plant of the season will be April 2, but plants will be weekly until then. Top trout this week was 10-pound rainbow landed by Hector Acosta, Brea, while fishing pink Power Bait in the top lake, while Jake Park, Beaumont, landed an eight-pounder on a green jig from the bottom lake. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Good trout bite for those using Power Bait or small trout jigs, and some quality fish have been landed in the past week. County trout plants with 1,000 pounds of fish are weekly through April and 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. Information: 909-384-5233.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

DIAMOND VALLEY: The bass bite has only been fair over the past week, but the largemouths are moving shallow (less than 10 feet of water) and tight to shorelines and cover in a spawn mode. Most of the fish are two to three pounders and showing on plastic worms, Senkos, and Brush Hogs. Quite a few smallmouths in the mix, too. Gary Anderson, Bloomington, landed a 10.81-pound largemouth, and Bo McNeely, Upland, had a 7.6-pounder. Trout action also just fair with some flurries of good action on small trout jigs, trout plastics, nightcrawlers, and floating baits. Light line has been a must, and the area around the marina is getting the most pressure. Trout were also to be planted this week. James Arney, Murrieta, landed a nine-pound rainbow on chartreuse Power Bait, while Kyle Tiedman, also Murrieta, caught a 6.7-pounder on the same bait. Stripers and catfish are slow, but Eddie “Fish Taco” Martinez, Fontana, had stripers at nine, seven, and six pounds at the east dam. While the crappie bite has been spotty, some real brutes have been landed. Robert Gutierrez, Riverside, had a 2.7-pound slab, while Steve Williams, Glendora, had its twin, a 2.66-pounder. Both fish were taken on small jigs. The launch ramp remains closed due to low water levels. Lake information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait and Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: The largemouth bass bite has broken pretty much wide open with fish in the shallows all over the lake. The low lake levels put spawning structure at a premium and fish are stacked in the good spots or cruising open shorelines. But there have been a lot of 2-8 to five-pound fish caught, most on plastics, nightcrawlers, or jigs. Top fish reported this past week was an 8-6 largemouth landed by Lorenzo Martinez, Moreno Valley, in the marina. The trout action also remains fair to good after a DFG plant last week, and a lot of holdover fish are being landed. Michael Neitz, Perris, landed a two-pound rainbow at Lot 8 with a nightcrawler. While there have been a few reports of crappie and redear, both are just fair, although the fish showing have generally been good quality. Small jigs with Crappie Nibbles are the best bet for the crappie and the redear are showing on nightcrawlers. Also a pretty consistent bite on the carp for anglers targeting them. Manuel Bolanos, Perris, caught a five-pound carp on a nightcrawler at Lot 8. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: Good striper action over much of the lake, but especially at the inlet for boat anglers. There’s a good shore bite at the marina point in the mornings and at Ramp No. 2 in the afternoons with anchovies the top bait. Most of the fish are from 1 1/2 to 3 pounds, but some bigger fish are showing. Trevor Lawrence, Los Angeles, caught five stripers fishing chicken liver in the east end. His stringer weighed in at 16 pounds and his big fish was a 6 1/2-pounder. Megan Bonds, Corona, had four fish that weighed 11 pounds and her top striper was a six pounder. She was fishing at Ramp 2 with anchovies. The largemouth bass are also fair to good as the fish flood up into the shallows to spawn. Lots of smaller fish to two pounds with some bigger stuff mixed in. Plastics and nightcrawlers are best. The bluegill bite also broke open this week in the east end with some pretty good stringers reported. Ty Montoya, Riverside, had 20 bluegill with his biggest a whopping two pounds. He was fishing nightcrawlers in the east end. Trout plants last week and two weeks ago have also kept the rainbow bite pretty good around the marina and launch ramps. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: Fair to good largemouth bass action. A Bass Federation tournament on the lake this past weekend was won by Chris Darvey, Temecula, with five fish that weighed 16-6. Second place went to Donny Stevens, Lake Elsinore, who also had five bass and his total was 12-12. Big fish of the event was a five-pounder landed by Chip Gilbert, San Marcos. More and more fish are moving shallow to spawn. Few wiper reports this week, except for the recently-planted small fish that must be released. (There’s an 18-inch minimum size on the wipers.) Few crappie reports, but some carp are being reported, including fish up to 12 pounds. Information: Seaport Boat Launch: 951-245-9308.
CORONA LAKE: Travis Foster, Placentia, wanted to have a relaxing day and catch a few catfish. But an 80-pound class sturgeon ruined the solitude and chomped down on his mackerel bait, broke his fishing rod during the sustained and hectic battle, and caused the angler to lose his cell phone over the side of the boat. Foster was more than happy to release it back into the lake so he didn’t have to have anything more to do with it. He did catch three catfish, including a nice six-pounder, on J.D.’s Catfish Bait, a prepared mackerel bait. While not quite as big as Foster’s 80-pound sturgeon and not breaking any rods, David Tirado, Rancho Cucamonga, still had his hands full with a 24 1/4-pound carp he hooked and landed while fishing a nightcrawler from shore. In spite of the oversize sturgeon and carp, trout continue to provide the best action here, and there will be a bonus plant of trout topping 20 pounds this week. The top rainbow was an eight-pound rainbow landed by Ariana Martinez, Moreno Valley, but Bob Carrier, Riverside, landed five trout to 5 1/2 pounds fishing small jigs from his float tube. The best action has been for boat anglers fishing mid-lake waters, but shore anglers are also scoring near the dam and along the shorelines below the bait shop. Top baits have been chartreuse and orange Nitro Bait or nightcrawlers with Nitro Gravy. Information: 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com.
EVANS LAKE: Fair trout action and the DFG is schedule to plant trout again here this week after a plant two weeks ago. Best bite on inflated nightcrawlers and Power Bait. Catfish action is slow on mackerel and nightcrawlers. Slow to fair bass bite on worms or plastics.
RANCHO JURUPA: Fair to good trout action with a few limits reported this past week. Plants last week and again this week, with both county and DFG fish this week. This is the last county plant of the season. Top baits have been green and white swirl Power Bait and salmon eggs. Natho Ochoa, Riverside, had the week’s top fish, a 6-15 rainbow, while Brian Alires, Ontario, limits of rainbows to two pounds. Jonathon Maldonado, Grand Terrace, had two trout to 1-10. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Fair trout bite. Fair to good catfish bite from both lakes, with times of better action in the evenings through dusk. Top baits are shrimp, mackerel or DuMong’s. Information: 909-795-2411.
ANGLER'S LAKE: The lake is currently closed.
REFLECTION LAKE: Trout plants are every other week. Trout bite fair on nightcrawlers or Power Bait. The lake’s hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: The catfish plants have begun here, and the trout action is still very good after a recent plant. Jean Somers says this is the first and only time she can remember having good action for both species at the same time. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on all Monday holidays. Information: 951-679-6562 or 951-259-2021.

SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS

LAKE HEMET: The trout plant last Wednesday helped keep the trout action good here over the past week. Quite a few limits reported and most anglers landed at least a trout or two. Juan Davalos and Oscar Ramirez, both Hemet, kept five two-pounder after catching-and-releasing another 15 or so fish. David Small and Joshua Hand, both Hemet, landed eight trout, most 1 1/2-pounders. Still mostly slow other species, but a five-pound bass was reported this week. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
FULMOR LAKE: No recent plants. Information: 951-659-2117.

ORANGE COUNTY

SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: A bonus plant of trophy rainbows topping 20 pounds will be planted here this week. The trout action has been very good over the past week with a lot of five to seven pounds rainbows on stringers. The top fish was an 8 1/2-pound rainbow that topped off a 27 1/2-pound, five-fish limit landed by Casey Hernandez, Reseda, fishing chartreuse Nitro Bait in Chris’ Pond. An eight-pound rainbow was caught by Daniel Fernandez, Carson, fishing a LipRipperZ plastic at Levitz’ Corner, while seven-pounders were landed by Edgar Badyan, Montebello, and Cody Jones, Stanton. The big catfish plant this past week brought out some die-hard catfish anglers. Sharon Green, Yorba Linda, caught a 6 1/2-pound catfish on shrimp from the Catfish Lake, while Beroj Emurian, Manhattan Beach, had a limit of five cats topped by a 4 3/4-pounder fishing nightcrawlers at La Palma Point. Trout plants are weekly. Information: 714-632-7830 or log on at 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: Consistent trout action with a lot of quality fish reported in the past week, and a wide open largemouth bass bite with the fish packing the shallows in a full throttle bite. Top trout was a 15-14 rainbow caught by Mike Traut, Fullerton, on an Owner Mira-Shad off the west shore. Eric Norton, Monterey Park, landed a 9-10 rainbow, while Glen Struckman, Fullerton, had an 8-8. Vlad Roschuhpkan, Pomona, caught a 8-6 rainbow, and Jeff Hansen, Lake Forest, landed a six-pound steelhead. The trick in landing fish has been light line -- two-pound test -- with a Power Mouse combo or straight Power Bait, either in chartreuse, white, yellow or pink. Trollers scoring on Rapala X-Rap XR06’s in chartreuse or orange colors, along with Rapala Countdown CD05’s in firetiger. Good action along the west shore, at Trout Island, and near the dam. Most trout were in the one to five-pound range, including a few browns and steelhead. Bass anglers found vastly improved action, with some anglers releasing as many as 25 fish per day. Largemouth in the two to 5 1/2-pound category are in pre-spawn mode and hitting on plastics and reaction baits around structure all over the lake. Anglers are reminded, Irvine is strict catch-and-release on the bass. Crappie fishing was wide open for local expert Marlon Meade and friends, who found easy limits of one-pound class slabsides using white Atomic Tubes and two-inch white Gulp! Minnows rigged dropshot-style. Flooded trees near the docks and in Santiago Flats were holding the crappie. Bluegill are still deep, with a few hand-sized fish being taken on mealworms when found, but no catfish were reported this week. Lake information: 714-649-9111 or www.irvinelake.net.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Trout action has been very good since the big plant on last week that featured rainbows and Lightning Trout. Next plant set for March 23 when more Lightning will go in. Top action has been the shoreline next to the dock, the point, and the launch ramp areas, while boat anglers are fishing the bubble hold, three pipes and the flats. Best action has been on Power Bait in spring green, chartreuse, and rainbow, and many anglers are fishng the Power Mouse combo. Inflated nightcrawlers are always good, and Power Worms in chartreuse, orange, and bubble gum colors are also producing. Top rainbow was an 11.5-pounder landed by Zachary Charshafian, Long Beach, while Paul Zook, Ladera Ranch, landed a six-pound Lightning Trout on a Power Mouse (chartreuse Power Worm with white Power Bait. Bradley Heisdorf, Westminster, had a five fish stringer that weighed 11 pounds and included trout from all four types planted in the lake, Lightning, rainbow, Emerald, and steelhead. For fly fishermen, the hot ticket has been to fish the flats and off the small island with oive and black midges. The lake is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.

LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES

CACHUMA: Crappie just exploded this week with a lot of quality fish up to three pounds on shad-like jigs and lures. While some fish are showing in Cachuma Bay, the Narrows is the hot spot. Trout fair for trollers using Rapalas, Needlefish, or Kastmasters with fish to two pounds reported. Most of the fish are still in less than 30 feet of water targeting the shad. Not much shore or bait fishing action this past week. The smallmouth bass are also starting to move with fair action on the rocky points of plastics and crawdad-like baits. Largmeouth bass are lagging behind the smallies a little, but still fair with fish starting to move up on point with some males moving shallow. Redear are still mostly slow. For quagga mussel and the new boat launching information, log on at http://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/Cachuma.html. Fishing information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: The bass are pretty good with the males moving up and some big quality females still showing in deeper water. The best action has been on plastics, nightcrawlers, and live shad if you can find some bait up and get a few in the dip nets. Best fish in the past week was a 14-pounder and an 11-pounder, both caught by Terry Thompson, Bishop, on the candy shad. Martin Sierra, Newberry Park, caught a 10-pounder on Wednesday this week on a crawler, while Gordon Keller, Ojai, also had a 10-pounder on nightcrawler, and Roger Snowbarger, Ojai, used a live shad for his 10-pounder. Trout were planted last Thursday but the action has been spotty with the fish scattering. Crappie are also spotty, but some real quality fish have been landed on shad, small jigs, and nightcrawlers. Alan Dillard, Tujunga, had a two-pound crappie on a nightcrawler. Private boats are being allowed at Casitas, but boaters will face an inspection and 10-day dry dock requirement because of fears of quagga mussel infestation. The lake is open every day, including all holidays from dusk to dawn. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The largemouth bass bite has really taken off in the past week with a lot of two to six-pound fish reported, although most are the smaller males. The action is especially good in the lagoon. Steven Hage, Valencia, landed four largemouth to 6-2 fishing the lagoon with plastics. Stripers have slowed from the good action of two weeks ago, but Rod Heikkila, Tujunga, landed four fish to 17-11. Mike Thompson, Oxnard, caught three stripers and his best fish was a 14-9, all on swimbaits. The average fish has been in the five-pound range and the best bite is early in the morning until 10 a.m. on anchovies or small swimbaits. No trout have been planted since March 1, but a DFG plant is scheduled for this week. The trout bite has been spotty. Also no reports of crappie, bluegill or redear. While few anglers fish for them, Sherman Hudson, El Monte, landed a brute 23-pound carp in the lagoon on bread and corn, his first 20-pounder after three years of targeting the bigger carp. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: DFG trout plant March 9 and the action has been good since with a lot of limits reported on Power Bait, nightcrawlers or plastic trout worms. The largemouth bite kicked into gear this week with more and more anglers getting fish on plastics and nightcrawlers, including some fish topping two pounds. The bluegill are also improving with warmer weather, but the crappie remain slowish. Information: marina 805-521-1500, x208.
PYRAMID: Fair to good bite on small stripers to four pounds for anglers fishing both from shore or boat with anchovies, nightcrawlers, or smaller shad-like lures. Best spot for shore anglers has been below the gate house. Last trout plant was March and the bite has been slow in recent days. Largemouth bass action is really starting to improve with a lot of smaller fish, under two pounds, showing on nightcrawlers, plastics, and swim baits. There was a 12-pound bass reportedly landed this past Sunday. Slow other species. Information: USFS 661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: DFG trout plant March 10 and the action is still fair on nightcrawlers and Power Bait. The bass bite is really turning on this week with the warm weather with a lot of fish along the shorelines. Bluegill and crappie are still mostly slow but a few fish are showing on small jigs. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.
SANTA FE DAM: DFG trout plant this week. Fair to good trout action on Power Bait or nightcrawlers. Fairish bluegill bite on wax worms and nightcrawlers from 5 p.m. to dusk. Some largemouth bass starting to show, too. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
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 two weeks ago.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant this. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
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: DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Information: 818-448-7317.

SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES

BARRETT: The lake will reopen in May. Fees to fish here have gone up, making it $20 per angler and $46 for motor rentals. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
HODGES: Good bass action. The 357 anglers checked reported 437 bass and 25 crappie. Richard Kelly, Del Dios, had a 6-8 bass on a crawdad, while Gordon Terhune, El Cajon, landed five bass to 4-4 on Senkos. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday schedule with boat rentals on the weekends only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
EL CAPITAN: Bass bite continues fair to good and quite a few crappie are showing. Over the past week, 209 anglers reported catching 265 bass, 148 crappie, four channel cats, and four blue catfish. Top bass was an 8.05-pounder caught by Brian Cooper, Campo, on a plastic. Robert Deville had a 6.63-pounder during a Point Seekers Bass Tournament, while Anthony Tejada, Santee, topped off his 19.6-pound, five-fish limit with a 5.9-pounder fishing drop-shot plastics. James Bess, Spring Valley, had a 4.75-pounder on a shiner. The lake is open Thursday through Monday for fishing. Rental boats are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. On Sundays rentals stop at 10 a.m. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
LOWER OTAY: Fair to good bass action with a few bluegill, crappie and catfish showing. In the past week, 324 anglers reported catching 324 bass, 21 bluegill to 1.15 pounds, 15 crappie to 2.15 pounds, and three catfish to nearly 10 pounds. Top bass was an 8.4-pounder caught by Nick Lerma, Chula Vista, on a home-poured plastic. Vice Arreola, San Diego, had a 7.1-pounder on a Creature Bait, while Juan Garcia and Martin Sanchez, both San Diego, had 10 bass that weighed 23.9 pounds, including a 6.9-pounder, and all were caught on crawdads. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
UPPER OTAY: Good to excellent bass action for walk-in anglers. The bass are up in the shallows and this past week eight anglers rported catching 23 bass to nearly four pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for fishing, sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is closed to vehicles, but anglers may walk in to fish during lake hours. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
MURRAY: Just fair trout action with a few more bass starting to show. In the past week 54 anglers reported 21 bass to 5-12 and 29 trout. The lake is open for fishing and boating seven days a week. Boat rentals are available Saturday and Sunday only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
MIRAMAR: Just fair bass and trout action after a plant last week. Next plant will be March 23. This past week, 103 anglers reported 39 bass and 68 trout. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. Boat rentals are available on Saturday and Sunday only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
SUTHERLAND: The bass bite has been very good over the past week with a few catfish showing. Top bass was a 9.8-pounder landed by Greg LeRoy, Ramona on a crankbait. Leonard Jones, San Diego, had an 8.4-pound bass, while Kevin Bablewski, Ramona, landed a 7.6-pounder. Louie Mercado, Poway, and Nate Leedbetter, Ramona, 13, teamed up to landed a 7.3-pound bass. Top catfish was a 17-12 blue landed by Danny Prithcard, Ramona, on a shiner. The lake is open on weekends only, but will not have rental boats available. Water level is very low and boat launch is allowed at your own risk. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
WOHLFORD: Continued good trout action in Willow Cove and Boat Dock Cove on nightcrawlers and Power Bait. Cliff Chambers, Escondido, weighed in the largest trout of the past week at 5-4, while Daniel Anderson, also of Escondido,
landed a 5-2. Conner Sechs, Valley Center, had a five-pounder. Trout plant slated for this week. The largemouth bass bite is starting to turn on with the males moving shallow and making nests. While there is still a ban on private watercraft, there are four new bass boat-type rentals available. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: No recent plants.
DIXON LAKE: Good trout action and another load of Tailwalkers is slated for this week. Whiskey Bay and buoy line are the top spots with a lot of rainbows to four pounds reported on floating baits, nightcrawlers, and trout jigs and plastics. Bass action is very good with fish flooding the shallows to spawn. Most fish are small but Brian Goldey, Encinitas, landed a 10-pounder. Catfish slow. Pier No. 2 remains closed due to construction until further notice. A daily permit is required for entry. The Fishing Pier No. 1 remains closed until further notice. Fees have increased; adults are $7, seniors are $5 and youths are $5. Boats rent for 17, half boats are $14, motorboats are $35, half motorboats are $30, and bass boat rentals are $46 to $50. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: The Lake Poway Open Trout Derby drew over 400 anglers and the action was very good with trophy trout planted for the event. Top derby fish was a 9.68-pounder caught by George Garcia, National City, on Power Bait. Mario Gonzalez, San Diego, landed an 8.89-pounder, and Ceasar Sanchez, San Diego, had an 8.07-pounder. Elizabeth Martinez, National City, was the top woman anglers with a 7.99-pound trout, while the top angler in the youth division was Blake Wilson, Carlsbad, with a 6.91-pounder. Best fish of the week was a 10.6-pounder caught by Abel Lopez, Poway, after the derby. Next trout plant set for Mar. 25. Best shoreline action has been in Bucktail Bay and near the Restroom Landing, while trollers are finding the most fish along the back shore. Bass action has been improving with a lot of fish moving shallow getting into a spawn mode. Some catfish showing in the log boom area, and the bluegill bite is still slow. Lake information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770, concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Good trout bite in Half Moon Cove and Cactus Patch on inflated nightcrawlers dipped in scent and fished on a two-foot leader. Mt. Lassen plant Tuesday this week. Bass action excellent with the fish in full spawn mode and males all over the shallows and showing in good numbers of plastics and small jigs, but few bigger bass. Slow catfish bite on nightcrawlers and mackerel. The lake is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Upcoming events: Free fishing class Sunday at 1 p.m. hosted by Ranger Hugh Marx. For information call 619-443-2510. Lake information: 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
MORENA: Monster trout are still the game here, with a lot of limits, too. Top trout was an 11-2 caught by Jonathan Hardy, San Diego, on a Thomas Buoyant. Jane Engleton, Campo, landed a 7-4 on a Power Grub. More and more bass are showing in shallow water and anglers fishing jigs and drop-shot plastics are getting fish to three pounds. Panfish are still slow, but a few green sunfish have been caught on nightcrawlers. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-694-3049.
CUYAMACA: Fair to good trout action especially for anglers fishing an inflated nightcrawler or Power Bait dipped in Pautzke’s Krill Gel and fished just off the bottom at the Lone Pine Tree, the dike, Chambers Park, and the buoy line. Ethan and Noah Fox, 5 and 9 years old, both San Diego, caught four trout at one pound each. It was their first fish each. DFG trout plant this week. Upcoming events: Supervising ranger Willard Lepley offers a free fishing class every Saturday at 10 a.m. Private boats are allowed on the lake again, but the boats must be sprayed for quagga mussels by a high-pressure heated wash prior to entering the lake. The cost is $10 for the spraying and it lasts for multiple trips to Cuyamaca as long as the boat is not used in another reservoir. The decontamination wash down station is for all craft and items used in the water, including boats, motors, kayak, canoes, float tubes and waders. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Still fair crappie action but off from a couple of weeks ago. Most are showing on small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles or small, live minnows. Most of the fish are 1/2 to 3/4-pound, but some are quality fish. Cecil Brookins, San Diego, had seven crappie to two pounds, while Billy Graham, Anaheim, caught seven but his best was 1 1/2 pounds. Lyle Daniels, Santa Ysabel, have five crappie with his top fish also at 1 1/2 pounds. Sidney Corbin, Los Angeles, caught six crappie to 3/4-pound fishing off the dock. Corbin also landed a six-pound largemouth -- one of the few bass reported recently. Catfish improving for anglers fishing nightcrawlers from the shoreline near the dam. Shannon Lazear, San Diego, land two with the best a seven-poounder, while Pak Yenson, Vista, landed nine cats over the course of three days, and his big fish was a four-pounder. Elaine Dickerhoof, Artesia, had three cats to two pounds. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER

LAKE MEAD: Trout bite fair to good from Hemmingway to Boulder Bay. A few stripers were caught in Boulder Bay and decent action in Gypsum Wash. Some catfish action reported on anchovies or shrimp. The largemouth bass action is just starting with a fair bite.
WILLOW BEACH: Stripers still showing in decent numbers at Mile markers 55 and 48 on A.C. Plugs or anchovies. Trout plants resumed with stockings every Friday. The rainbow action is fair to good on nightcrawlers or salmon eggs. Information: 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: Good to excellent striped bass action with a lot of one to three pound fish for both shore and boat anglers in the Cottonwood Cove area. The hotspot has been Arizona Rock with fish to six pounds reported on anchovies in the past week. Jim Sammons, Yucca Valley, caught an 8 1/2-pound striper Wednesday n an A.C. Plug fishing in the upper end of the lake. Also a good striper bite near the dam and around Katherine’s Landing. The largemouth bass bite has also been fair to good with a lot of fish showing on points and staging to spawn. Best action on plastics. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: Trout plants are once a month at Davis Camp and Riverside Park. Fair to good action Power Bait or nightcrawlers. Slow striper bite.
NEEDLES: Fair striper action for fish landed downriver in the Topoc area. Most stripers are under two pounds. A few catfish showing. Improving largemouth bite. Information: Premier Sports 760-326-2727, Golden Shores 760-768-2325.
TOPOCK MARSH: The largemouth bass bite is starting to take off and there were a few reports of crappie in the past week. Catfish are also pretty decent with the warmer weather. The marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Water levels are still low. Take caution when boat launching. Information: 928-768-2350.
HAVASU: Striper bite good to excellent on shad or swimbaits, especially in the mornings. The daytime bite is slower with limits produced for those slow-trolling anchovies. Shad continue to school up near Thompson Bay and Havasu Springs, so those are the top areas for the stripers. Smallmouth bass hitting soft plastics, Rat-L-Traps and eight to 12-foot diving crankbaits, and the largemouth bite is really starting to kick into gear, too. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Channel catfish and flatheads have both been fair with some to 10 pounds or better reported on shrimp, nightcrawlers dipped in stink bait, and mackerel. Improved bass action this week. Information: June’s Unique 928-669-8883.
BLYTHE: The flathead catfish bite is starting to kick into gear with pretty good action for this early in the season. Phil Palermo, Indio, caught a 35-pound flathead, the biggest of the year so far, while Rafael Terrones, San Bernardino, have five flatheads to 25 pounds this past weekend. The largemouth bass bite is also really taking off in area ditches and backwaters, and the smallmouth bite is good in the main river. Not bluegill or crappie to speak of yet, though. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: The largemouth bass bite is breaking wide open in the backwaters along this stretch of the river. One angler reported having a 54 fish day at Pretty Water. Cibola Lake opened on Sunday with about 40 boats on the small lake on the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, and the bass bite was pretty good on fish to three pounds and an angler on Wednesday this week reported also getting a few bluegill. Also improving action on small stripers in the river with fish to five pounds reported. The flathead action is getting better each day and there’s a pretty good bite on channel cats now. Information: Walter's Camp 760-854-3322.
PICACHO AREA: Fairish catfish bite on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Fish from one to three pounds, with only a few better ones. Bass action slow to fair with some action on plastic worms or nightcrawlers.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action good to excellent on plastics cranks, and spinnerbaits with the fish flooding the shallows. Channel catfish bite fair, and the crappie bite is slow to fair on small live minnows. A few flatheads are showing in the main river, too, but the action is spotty. Information: 928-783-9589 or www.martinezlake.com.
YUMA AREA: Bass action in the main river and river backwaters has really picked up in the past week on minnows and plastics. The Gila Main Canal area in East Yuma continues to be the best fishing spot for channel catfish action, sme bass, and a fair redear and bluegill bite. Channel catfish taking mackerel or shrimp, and redear and bluegill biting worms. The flatheads have been fair in the main river, mostly on live bluegill.

LOWER DESERT WATERS

SALTON SEA: The tilapia bite is wide open with only some lulls during cool or windy weather. Top spot is still the state park headquarters’ jetty. Most of the fish are from six ounces to a pound and hitting nightcrawler pieces fished on the bottom. There is an occasional bigger fish. More and more anglers are now also fishing at Salt Creek and Mecca Beach, where the bite is also very good Information: Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052.
ALAMO RIVER: No reports.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports but some channel cats and the odd bass has been reported. Also some stripers.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: Very little fishing pressure.
FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.
WEIST LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Information: 760-352-3308.
SUNBEAM LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LAKE CAHUILLA: DFG trout plant this week. Information: 760-564-4712.

EASTERN SIERRA

GENERAL: General trout season reopens April 25th, but year-around and special regulation waters are open now. For updated road and camping information: Interagency Visitor Center 760-876-6222, Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405, or www.bishopvisitor.com.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: East Walker River flows have been coming up and the bite is good for browns and rainbows feasting on perch fry coming out of the reservoir. There are also daily hatches of midges with some mayfly and stonefly hatches, too. Information: Ken's Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or www.kenssport.com.
MAMMOTH AREA: The upper Owens River and Hot Creek are open to year-around fishing. Very good midge hatches in the upper Owens and sporadic baetis hatches on overcast days. Some rainbows to 20 inches. Hot Creek has also been good, also with midge and mayfly hatches, but the food is all on the small side, think 18 to 22s. For fishing info, call The Troutfitter 760-934-2517, or Performance Anglers at 760-924-2181 or www.performanceanglers.com.
BISHOP AREA: Flows on the lower Owens below Pleasant Valley remain about 100 cfs and the action has been very good, but the flows could bump up just about any day now. Fly anglers are seeing pretty good caddis hatches and some mayfly surface activity during low-light or clouded conditions. Some quality fish also showing on streamers fished in tailouts. Pleasant Valley Reservoir has been very good for lure, jig, bait and fly anglers with a lot of planted fish for the weekend derby. Owens Gorge good for small browns on small dries with some stones coming off now. For fishing information: Sierra Drifters Guide Service 760-935-4250, Culver's 760-872- 8361, Brock's 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: The lower Owens below Tinnemaha and Lone Pine Creek are both fair after plants for the early opener two weeks ago. No plants in Diaz Lake since the early opener, spotty action. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to www.lonepinechamber.org.

WESTERN SIERRA

LAKE ISABELLA: Trout action is very good after DFG trout plants last week and the week before. Most fish around a pound and showing on floating baits or inflated nightcrawlers. Largemouth bass, crappie and catfish all still slow, but warming weather could turn that around overnight. Upcoming events: Trout derby set for April 4-6. There will be 1,000 tagged fish worth cash, including a $20,000 fish and 10 fish at $10,000 each. Applications are available at http://derby.kernrivervalley.com. Fishing information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Slow action in the lower river with only a few trout reported. The upper river remains fair on salmon eggs. Information: Kern River Troutfitter 760-376-2040 or www.kernriverflyfishing.com, or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The striper bite has been improving steadily and there is now good action with fish to 25 pounds reported in the past week. Best action has been on blood worms and sand worms with some bigger fish on plugs. Catfish are still spotty.
HART PARK LAKE: Fair trout bite on nightcrawlers and Power Bait after a DFG plant last week. Also improving bass action on minnows, nightcrawlers and plastics, but bluegill are still sluggish. Linda DeLuth, Bakersfield, landed a 21-pound carp.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Fair trout bite on Power Bait and nightcrawlers with garlic after a DFG trout plant last week. Also improved bass action, but few bluegill.
RIVER WALK PARK: DFG plant last week sparked the trout action with fair to good catches reported. Also improved bass action as the fish move shallow to spawn. Some bluegill also beginning to show.
MING LAKE: Fair to good trout bite after a DFG trout plant last week.
BRITE LAKE: DFG trout plant last week and the bite is pretty fair.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: The crappie bite broke wide open here in the past week with both good volume and quality. Jonathan Thompson, Bakersfield, topped of his stringer of 1 1/2 to two-pound slabs with fish at 3-4 and 2-4 crappie. The best bite has been on small shiners and jigs. There is also a good bass bite as the fish start into spawn mode. Lots of smaller males in shallow. Trout remain fair and Joe Beasley, Bakersfield, landed an 18-pound rainbow. Call Bob’s Bait for information: 661-833-8657.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: No reports.
SUCCESS LAKE: Water level is back up and the bass bite is very good with a lot of fish on plastics. Also a DFG trout plant this week. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Fairly decent bass bite as the fish stage for spawning. Best bite on live bait and plastics. Still few crappie reports. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 559-597-2526.

CENTRAL COAST LAKES

SAN ANTONIO: Very good crappie bite with fish from 3/4 to a pound. Crappie jigs and nightcrawlers are best. Striper action also fair to good with the best bite in Bee Rock Cove and Harris Creek on anchovies or swimbaits. Largemouth bass bite really starting to perk with the best bite on rocky points and into the coves with swimbaits, plastic worms, and nightcrawlers the best bets. Slow to fair catfish action on anchovies, mackerel or shrimp. Information: 805-472-2818.
NACIMIENTO: The bite for spotties is very good on plastics, jigs, and spoons in the narrows and off the rocky shorelines with the best bite mornings and evenings. Largemouth and smallmouth action is starting to catch up as the fish get in a spawn mode. The big news is that the white bass are starting to stack up in the narrows and there has been good action on fish to four pounds. Also a good crappie bite on jig with fish to three pounds. Lost of big carp in the marina for the few anglers fishing them. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.
SANTA MARGARITA: Very good crappie action over much of the lake with a lot of quality fish showing on small crappie jigs. There was a three-pound crappie caught Wednesday this week. The largemouth bass bite is getting better each day with a lot of fish showing on plastics, brush hogs, nightcrawlers and small swimbaits. A near lake-record 13-2 largemouth was caught Saturday by Doug Rice, Atascadero fishing a Senko at the beginning of the narrows. The current lake record is a 13.33-pound bass. good all over the lake 3-0 crappie jigs, Doug Rice, Atascadero, Saturday 13-2 bass, on a Senko, at beginning of narrows. nearly 13.33 lake record. No more trout plants. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: Trout and largemouth bass bites remain the best with good action for both. Good largemouth bass action at the dam, main lake points, and up in the coves, with the smaller males already in the shallows. Best bite on plastics, reaction baits, and nightcrawlers. Very good crappie action, too, with fish to two pounds or better reported on crappie jigs. A few anglers brought in fish to 2 1/2 and 2 3/4 pounds. Redear and bluegill are scarce. Information: 805-489-1006.

TROUT PLANTS

Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Arroyo Seco Creek, Belvedere Lake, Castaic Lake, Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Jackson Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lakes, Lincoln Park Lake, Magic Johnson Lake.
ORANGE: Laguna Lake, Yorba Linda Regional Park Lake.
RIVERSIDE: Evans Lake, and Rancho Jurupa Park Pond.
SAN BERNARDINO: Cucamonga-Guasti Park Lake, Prado Pake Lake, Seccombe Park Lake.
SAN DIEGO: Chollas Park Lake, Lindo Lake, Murray Lake.
IMPERIAL: Sunbeam Lake, Weist Lake.
INYO: Owens River (Section 2), and Pleasant Valley Reservoir.
FRESNO: Avacado Lake, Kings River (below Pine Flat Dam), San Joaquin River (below Friant Dam), Woodward Park Lake.
MADERA: Bass Lake, Eastman Lake, Hensley Lake.
MARIPOSA: McSwain Reservoir.
MERCED: Los Banos Reservoir, Merced River (McSwain Dam to Merced Falls).
STANISLAUS: Modesto Reservoir, Turlock Lake, Woodward Reservoir.
TULARE: Kaweah River, Lake Kaweah, Lake Success.
TUOLOMNE: Tulloch Reservoir.

OCEAN FISHING REPORT

By Terrence Berg and Phil Friedman
www.976-TUNA.com

THE ROCKFISH SHOW: All up and down the coast, the name of the ocean fishing game is rockfish right now. The northern landings from Malibu north are seeing consistent limit-style fishing. For example, all six trips out of Hueneme Sportfishing from Friday through Sunday this past week produced limits of rockfish. As you move further down the coast all the way to San Diego, the bite is still very good, but it’s not always limit fishing with four to eight fish per rod more common. And then once you get back in to Mexican waters, the limit rockfish action returns.
WHITE SEABASS: White seabass are starting to show around Catalina Island as the weather final gets more spring-like. Over the weekend, the Pacific Quest out of Pierpoint Landing was at the island on an overnight trip with eight anglers. Two big seabass escaped in the dark and one 14-pounder was landed. The anglers also had a pretty decent pick on the calicos, perch, and a couple of halibut. This weather stays and the bite could open up any time.
BONITO, YELLOWAIL: Commercial squid boats are reporting a decent volume of bonito at Catalina and decent numbers of yellowtail at San Clemente. While nothing as turned up in anglers’ catches yet, these reports show that spring is almost here.
LONG RANGE UPDATE: While most of the long range fleet is in port doing boat work getting ready for the five to seven-day trips down the Baja coast for yellowtail, yellowfin, and tuna, there are still a couple of boats on 18-plus day trips down below Cabo San Lucas on the giant tuna grounds. There was a 300-pound class yellowfin landed aboard the Red Rooster on Tuesday is a bite that can best be described as a very consistent pick. While no-one has been at Cedros and Benitos this week, there are good signs of yellowtail and long range boats have reported home-guard albacore in this region on their runs back and forth to more distant fish grounds.
INSTRUCTIONAL CHARTERS: The staff of 976-TUNA is hosting instructional charters throughout the year, offering advice to beginning or veteran anglers and on-the-water teaching of techniques for different saltwater species. Some of the first trips of the year are two-day island freelance trips aboard the Big Game 90 for white seabass, yellowtail, calico bass and rockfish. The first of these trips leaves April 1, followed by trips on April 26 and May 10. Cost for these trips is $200 per person and they fill up quickly. For more information on upcoming 976-TUNA instructional charters, call 310-328-8426 or go to the website at www.976-TUNA.com.

LANDING CONTACTS

Southern California: Virg's Sportfishing, Morro Bay, 805-772-1222; Patriot Sportfishing, Avila Beach, 805-595-7200; Sea Landing, Santa Barbara, 805-963-3564; Harbor Village Sportfishing, Ventura, 805-658-1060; Channel Islands Sportfishing, Oxnard, 805-985-8511; Captain Hook's Sportfishing, Oxnard, 805-382-6233; Port Hueneme Sportfishing, Hueneme, 805-488-2212; Malibu Pier Sportfishing, 310-328-8426; Marina Del Rey Sportfishing, Marina del Rey, 310-822-3625; Redondo Sportfishing, Redondo Beach, 310-372-2111; Rocky Point Fuel Dock (skiff rentals for King Harbor), Redondo Beach, 310-374-9858; 22nd Street Landing, San Pedro, 310-832-8304; L.A. Harbor Sportfishing, San Pedro, 310-547-9916; Long Beach Sportfishing, Long Beach, 562-432-8993; Pierpoint Landing, Long Beach, 562-983-9300; Marina Sportfishing, Long Beach, 562-598-6649; Newport Landing, Newport Beach, 949-675-0550; Davey's Locker, Newport Beach, 949-673-1434; Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point, 949-496-5794; Helgren's Sportfishing, Oceanside, 760-722-2133; Fisherman's Landing, San Diego, 619-221-8500; H&M Landing, San Diego, 619-222-1144; Seaforth Landing, San Diego, 619-224-3383; Point Loma Sportfishing, San Diego, 619-223-1627; Islandia Sportfishing, San Diego, 619-222-1164.
Mexico Landings: Sergio's Sportfishing, Ensenada, 011-526-178-2185; San Quintin Sportfishing, San Quintin, 011-526-162-1455.
 

The fish report is copyrighted and any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited without written permission. Posting of links to the fish report on the Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.

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.

For comprehensive saltwater fishing reports and information visit our companion site: www.976-tuna.com

RECENT BIG CATCHES

Photos are listed by date of catch, not when they are received. If you've recently submitted a photo or heard of a big catch, you might have to scroll down to find the image.

March 15, 2009 - While it was caught after the end of the Poway derby, this was the best trout of the week and it was landed by young Abel Lopez of Poway, a 10.6-pounder.

March 15, 2009 - Mario Gonzalez, San Diego was the grand prize winner in the Lake Poway two-day derby with this nice 8.89-pound rainbow caught on Power Bait from Hidden Bay.

March 15, 2009 - Hector Acosta, Brea, (right) with a 10-pound rainbow he caught at Yucaipa Park Lake on pink Power Bait in the top lake. With him is Karen Phang.

March 14, 2009 - Art Marquez, Victorville, set the Mojave Narrows Park lake record with an 18-pound fish two weeks ago and then won the  trout derby and a $1,200 cruise with this fat 7-14 rainbow caught on a green jig.

March 14, 2009 - A Bass Federation tournament at Lake Elsinore was won by Chris Darvey, Temecula, with five fish that weighed 16-6. He's holding his two top fish.

March 14, 2009 - Jonathan Hardy, San Diego, tossed a Thomas Buoyant to fool his 11-2 rainbow at Lake Morena.

March 14, 2009 - This near lake-record 13-2 largemouth was caught by Doug Rice, Atascadero, while  fishing a Senko at the beginning of the narrows in Santa Margarita Lake on the Central Coast. The current lake record is a 13.33-pound bass.

March 13, 2009 - Top trout of the week at Jess Ranch Lakes was this 5-15 caught by Richard Cervantes, Ontario, on a nightcrawler near the drain at Lake 3.

March 12, 2009 - Jake Park, Beaumont, landed this nice eight-pound rainbow while fishing at green jig at the bottom lake at Yucaipa Park.

March 12, 2009 - Paul Zook, Ladera Ranch, landed this six-pound Lightning Trout at Laguna Niguel Park Lake on a Power Mouse (chartreuse Power Worm with white Power Bait).

March 8, 2009 - Gary Anderson of Bloomington caught this 10.81 pound bass fishing with a plastic shad on the east dam at Diamond Valley Lake.

March 7, 2009 - Robert Gutierrez, Riverside, landed this 2.7-pound slab crappie from Diamond Valley Lake.

March 1, 2009 - Jeff Fleck of Garden Grove caught this 3-0 rainbow near the Big Bear Dam on Power Bait. He said he saw three other trout in the two-pound range landed the same morning.

February 27, 2009 - Art Marquez, Victorville, set a new Mojave Narrows Park lake record with this 18-pound rainbow. He was fishing with two-pound test and an orange and green trout worm.

February 26, 2009 - Lake Morena’s 10-year- old lake record for rainbow trout fell this week when Stan Kieniewicz of Vista landed this 13-pound, eight-ounce rainbow while fishing with Power Bait.

February 20, 2008 - Steve Weitzel, Murietta, landed this lake record rainbow trout from Corona Lake -- a 24.5-pounder -- fishing orange Nitro Bait. This catch ties the previous record set in 2003.

February 19, 2009 - Mikhail Rudyak, North Hollywood, holds up a 12-pound carp he caught at Lake Perris using a home-made cornmeal dough bait.

February 14, 2009 - Art "Dr. Hook" Villa of El Modena nailed this 14-pound, 10-ounce rainbow, the largest trout caught at Irvine Lake over President's Day Weekend. It took a Power Mouse combo bait off the west shore.

February 14, 2009 - Joshua Woodall, Norwalk, landed this 3 3/4-pound rainbow at Santa Ana River Lakes on chartreuse Nitro Bait from Chris' Pond.

February 13, 2009 - Jorden Cook, Murietta, landed this six-pound rainbow trout at Corona Lake while fising from a boat near the dam with chartreuse Nitro Bait.

February 12, 2009 - Mark Dahl, Santa Clarita, topped off his 23-pound, five-fish limit at Santa Ana River Lakes with this eight-pound rainbow caught out of Chris' Pond.

February 8, 2009 - Jason Rondeau, Yucaipa, landed this nice four-pound rainbow fishing in the pouring rain at Yucaipa Park Lake.
 

February 7, 2009 - Frank Youso, Ridgecrest, caught this 22-inch, six-pound rainbow in the Owens River at Laws Bridge on salmon eggs.

February 5, 2009 - Frank Youso of Ridgecrest with a 7-0 trout he caught at Pleasant Valley Reservoir in the Eastern Sierra.

February 4, 2009 - Art Hasegawa, Diamond Bar, caught this huge 19 1/2-pound Mt. Lassen Trout Farms rainbow at Santa Ana River Lakes while fishing a nightcrawler off Levitz' Corner.

February 2, 2009 - Lang Nguien, San Marcos, caught this 6-7 trout at Wohlford Lake on a mixture of cheese and Power Bait in Boat Dock Cove.

January 31, 2009 - Eddie “Fish Taco” Martinez, Fontana, caught this pair of six and seven-pound stripers at Diamond Valley Lake fishing a swimbait. He had a 15-pounder a few days before this catch.

January 31, 2009 - Katie Reynolds, Diamond Bar, holds a stringer of trout and crappie she and her dad, Russ, caught at Corona Lake. Katie landed the four-pound rainbow on the stringer and Russ caught the 3 1/4 pound crappie.

January 22, 2009 - Bob Caffey, Palmdale, with an eight-pound broodstock rainbow caught from Pleasant Valley Reservoir in the Eastern Sierra.

January 19, 2009 - James Patterson, Palmdale, holds up a pan-sized tilapia he caught while fishing the Salton Sea. Patterson had never fished the Sea before, but came with friends from church who are regulars. They were all filling their ice chests with the tasty fish.

January 15, 2009 - Jay Preston of La Puente with 23-inch and 19-inch trout caught in the Lower Owens.

January 10, 2009 - Here are the top three fish from the Glen Helen derby this past week. Listed from top to bottom: Alex Valenzuela, Los Angeles, with his 12-8 trout, Gary Rodriguez, San Bernardino, with a 10-11, and Richard Rivas, Fontana, with a 10-9.
 

January 4, 2009 - Matt Herrera, Vista, with a 4-12 rainbow trout he landed at Wohlford Lake fishing a yellow trout plastic.

December 26, 2008 - Glen Casale, Trabuco Canyon, landed this 14-2 rainbow trout at Irvine Lake the day after Christmas.

December 26, 2008 - Wilton “Big Willie” Mays, Pacoima, caught seven, 10, 11 and 20-pound catfish at Hansen Dam lake fishing mackerel dipped in a home-made attractant.

December 21, 2008 - Stan Santos, Corona, holds up his 20 1/2-pound Mt. Lassen Trout Farms rainbow caught at Corona Lake on an orange Nitro Worm while fishing from a float tube.

December 16, 2008 - Rick Clark, Escondido, landed this 27-pound striper (and two other smaller stripers) while fishing at Lake Skinner with topwater plugs at the inlet.

December 7, 2008 - Cobra Rondeau, Yucaipa, age 12, with a three-pound rainbow trout caught from Yucaipa Regional Park lake.

December 6, 2008 - Aaron Karbowski of Azusa with a three-pound Nebraska Tailwalker caught at Santa Ana River Lakes.

November 29, 2008 - Peter Steinwald, 12, of Upland caught and released this two-pound smallmouth bass -- his first -- while fishing the Coachella Canal south of Indio. He was throwing a spinnerbait.

November 28, 2008 - Brenden Gates of Fullerton shows off his 21 1/2-pound rainbow caught at Santa Ana River Lakes while fishing strawberry Nitro Bait at the boat dock.

November 26, 2008 - Ryan Webb (left) and Allan Cole, the designer of the A.C. Plug, where fishing Lake Mojave the day before Thanksgiving to land 27 striped bass totalling 270 pounds. They are holding up the four biggest fish 28, 26, 20 and 20 pounds. All caught on A.C. Plugs. The pair are from Henderson, Nev.

November 9, 2008 - Stefan Guintoli of San Diego caught this 8-4 trout on spoons in Half Moon Bay of Lake Poway.

October 30, 2008 - Glenn Harwood, Long Beach, caught this nice three-pound rainbow while trolling in Bridgeport Reservoir.

October 30, 2008 - Frank Duarte, Huntington Beach, with his 12.2-pound rainbow trout taken from Irvine Lake's Sierra Cove while fishing a yellow and white mini jig.