Compiled by Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service

 

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

     SILVERWOOD: The striper bite continues good with most of the fish showing in Outhouse Cove, the Chemise area, around the marina, and at the dam on anchovies and small swim baits. Paul Kirby, Newport Beach, had six stripers to three pounds fishing anchovies near the dock. The trout bite remains pretty good and a DFG plant went in last week. Best action has been in Miller’s Canyon and Cleghorn, but fish are showing all around the lake on small Power Worms and floating dough baits. Angelia Kalaboke, Hesperia, caught five trout to four pounds fishing nightcrawlers and Power Worms fishing off the rocks adjacent to the launch ramp. Vanessa Korsgren, Chino Hills, had her limit of rainbows fishing Power Bait near the dock. The largemouth bass bite is improving each warm day with more and more fish showing in the shallows. Catfish are also improving, showing on cut baits, but still in deeper water. No carp, bluegill or crappie reports. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
     BIG BEAR LAKE: Poor weather kept most anglers off the lake this past week, but with improving weather, trollers starting scoring on the rainbows. Leadcore line at three colors with Needlefish in tow was the hot set-up. Shore fishing remained good along the shoreline on Power Bait and nightcrawlers, especially at the observatory and near the dam. The key on the along the dam is to fish only 10 to 20 feet out from shore along the steep dropoffs. DFG trout plant this week. In May, there will be several plants of trophy trout for two major events. First, the “Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic” will be held May 16 and 17. Participants of the May Trout Classic who catch the biggest fish are awarded cash prizes based on the number of entries. For information or to register for this event, call 909-585-4007. This event will be followed by the “Fishin’ for 50K Trout Derby” on May 30-31 where 10 tagged fish worth up to $50,000 will be planted. For more information on this event or to register log onto www.BigBear.com or call 800-424-4232. Fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222 or www.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: DFG trout plant two weeks ago.
     JENKS LAKE: DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.

HIGH DESERT LAKES

     HESPERIA LAKE: Good trout and catfish action with plants of both species this week, and there was a bonus plant of trophy cats last week. Catfish have really been hot with a lot of three to five pounders in the catch, most showing on mackerel, shrimp, or nightcrawlers dipped in Sonny’s Catfish Bait. The trout action has been good, mostly on bright-colored floating baits or nightcrawlers doused with scent. A few sturgeon continue to show each week for both trout and catfish anglers. 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: Continued fair to good trout action with the weather making things a little tough. Power Bait is still the mainstay, but nightcrawlers, small jigs, and small lures all producing fish -- most at or better than two pounds. Bass are improving with each warm day and the fish are finally starting to move shallow with a few fish to four pounds showing in Lake 2 on Senkos. Top catches this past week included rainbows at 5-8 and 3-6 landed by Brett Orr, Apple Valley Angler, on a bubble gum Power Worm. Roy Fukushima, Orange, landed a 5-3 rainbow. Art Marquez, Hesperia, caught rainbows at 5-2 and 3-10, while Keith Wheelden, Ontario, had a five-pounder. The lake is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m, and it is stocked each week on Fridays from its own hatchery. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
     MOJAVE NARROWS: The last weekly country trout plant of the season went in two weeks ago, and there was a DFG plant last week. Fair trout action. For lake information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

     CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: The trout action has been slow to fair since the derby two weeks ago, but there have been no plants since. Catfish plants will begin the end of May. Information: 909-481-4205.
     PRADO: Continued fair trout action with the best action but the bite has been slowing with no plants in two week. A fair number of bass are showing and the carp action has been pretty good. Information: 909-597-4260.
     YUCAIPA: Generall slow trout action with no plants in two weeks. Catfish season to kick off in May. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
     GLEN HELEN: Trout action is slow with no plants in two weeks. A few carp and catfish are starting to show. Catfish plants to begin in May. Information: 909-887-7540.
     MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
     SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-384-5233.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

     DIAMOND VALLEY: The largemouth bass bite is still good to excellent with the fish still on beds in the shallows and whack just about any plastic worm flipped their way. Brush Hogs, lizards, and swim baits are also good bets. David Tiscarenc, La Verne, had a 6.9-pound bass on plastic at the west dam in 10 feet of water. Trout action has also been excellent and there was a Mt. Lassen Farms trout plant last Friday, and DFG fish are scheduled for this week. Stan Svete, Hemet, caught 15 rainbows on Tuesday fishing a gold and red Thomas Buoyant lure on the east dam, keeping a limit with his best fish a 1.88-pounder. Robert Datton, Highland, caught a 5.64 rainbow trout fishing with Power Bait on shore in the cove near the east dam. Catfish are stirring with a couple of good catches of six to 12-pound fish reported in the past week on cut baits in 20 to 30 feet of water off the east dam, the third cove for shoreline anglers, and near the wave attenuator. Crappie, bluegill and redear are also improving with each warm day and some real quality fish are starting to show as the fish move shallower to spawn. Some of the crappie are just pigs. Jesus Valdez, Los Angeles, caught a 2.29-pound crappie with nightcrawlers fishing the southern shoreline. Scott Holley, Torrence, landed a 2.7-pound crappie in 10 to 15 feet of water fishing in Rawson Cove. For the redear and bluegill, the stairs on the east dam have been a top spot. The launch ramp remains closed due to low water levels. There is a petition going around to get a launch ramp extension (check with Last Chance B&T). Lake information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait and Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
     PERRIS: The weather change this past week slowed the hot action for bluegill, redear and crappie, but the bites were coming back on by mid-week in spite of strong winds. The marina has been the hot spot for all three species this week with redear and bluegill to 1 ½ pounds showing on crickets, wax worms, and nightcrawler pieces and crappie to two pounds reported on small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. The spawning bass action is also still good with a lot of fish to three pounds reported by no big fish reported at the marina this week. The fish are shallow and taking plastics, nightcrawlers, and small swim baits or jigs. Alex Aviles, Moreno Valley, reported a three-pound largemouth, while John Gonzales, La Puente, had a two pounder. The trout action has been been fair to good after a DFG plant last week. Carp remain good on dough baits with fish to 12 pounds taken. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
     SKINNER: The striped bass action is good at the inlet and dam on chicken liver and anchovies for smaller fish under three pounds with some bigger fish showing in the main channels on swim baits and bigger cranks. Javier Lopez, Riverside, caught five stripers to four pounds on anchovies in the east end, while Joe Flores, Oceanside, had 10 linesides to three pounds on chicken liver at the inlet. The largemouth bass were slowed a little this past week, but the bite is still good and should improve with better weather this week. Jim Brost, Moreno Valley, caught nine bass, including his personal best at 11.4 pounds on spinnerbaits along the south shore. Carp are very good for anglers fishing dough baits. Bluegill are starting to show, but there have been no crappie reports this past week. Trout are also very slow. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
     ELSINORE: Chris Nickerson, Hemet, set a new lake record for largemouth bass with an 8-6 fish landed last Thursday. Weather hampered the crappie and bass bites this past week, but the action has still been fair. The bass are mostly in shallow water in a spawn mode, while the crappie are stacking up around structure. The average crappie has been 1 1/2 pounds with fish up to nearly three pounds reported. Many anglers getting two to five fish for a morning or afternoon of fishing. Carp slowed way down as the weather fronts rolled through, but this bite had been very good. Wipers are spotty, but a few have been reported in the past week. Jim Emmett, Canyon Lake, caught an eight-plus pounder drop-shotting for largemouths. Anglers are reminded that wipers under 18-inches long must be released. Information: Seaport Boat Launch at 951-245-9308, Elsinore West Marina at 951-678-1300.
     CORONA LAKE: Very good trout action with a lot of quality fish still showing from trophy plants two and four weeks ago. The top fish this past week was an 18-pound rainbow landed by Bernard Lopez, Wildomar, fishing a nightcrawler doused with Nitro Gravy. Trout at 17 3/4 pounds were caught by Walt Harrison, Mira Loma, and Ron Meek, West Covina. Meek also caught a 16-7 rainbow. Mario Garcia, San Marcos, caught a 17-8 rainbow, while Jose Fierro, Lake Elsinore, landed trout at 17-4 and 15 pounds on two different trips this past week. Felipe Garcia, Moreno Valley, caught a 16-pounder, and Tim Blacksher, Ontario, landed a 15-pounder to top off his five-fish, 30-pound stringer. In all, there were 13 rainbows reported that weighed over 10 pounds. The best action has been from a boat or float tube in the main channel from the dam out to mid-lake, but shore anglers are also scoring a lot of fish along the whole west side of the lake. Top baits have been chartreuse, orange and rainbow Nitro Baits or a nightcrawler soaked in Nitro Gravy. A few catfish and crappie are also showing for the few anglers targeted these species. Troy Smoot, Temecula, caught crappie at one-pound and 1 3/4 pounds fishing white jigs. This Saturday pricing is two-for-one. Information: 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com.
     EVANS LAKE: Still a fair bite on bass, but the fish are spooky in the shallows. Best action on plastics and small reaction baits. Trout are slow. A few panfish starting to show around shorelines.
     RANCHO JURUPA: Slow trout action with the last county and DFG plants a month ago. Catfish plants to begin late May. A few carp and bass showing. Information: 951-684-7032.
     FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: No report. Information: 909-795-2411.
     ANGLER'S LAKE: The lake is currently closed.
     REFLECTION LAKE: No report. 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: Good catfish action on nightcrawlers. 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: Good trout action with a number of limits posted this past week for both trollers and shore anglers after a DFG plant last week. Steve Carter, Idyllwild, and Tom Powell, Rowland Heights, had limits of rainbows to two pounds fishing Power Bait and nightcrawlers at the dam. Robert Parker and Brady Wassler, both Hemet, caught 10 trout trolling and still-fishing at the dam. Best fish was two pounds. Still slow other species, but a few catfish and bass are starting to show. 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: The trout bite remains good, mostly on smaller fish from one to two pounds, with a lot of limits. Top trout this past week were posted by Ken Kim, Fullerton, who landed a 15-pound rainbow on a nightcrawler off Levitz’ Corner, Jocko Smith, San Pedro, who caught an 18-8 rainbow on chartreuse Nitro Bait, also at Levitz. The big fish of week, however was an 85-pound sturgeon caught by Ricardo Landeros, Pico Rivera, on a nightcrawler at Three Pipes. The catfish action is improving. Sylvester Alverado, Garden Grove, caught eight catfish fishing shrimp in Chris’ Pond. The total stringer weighed 13 pounds and his best fish was a 2 1/2-pounder. Sal Martinez, Whittier, caught a 4 1/2-pound catfish and four trout to fill out his five-fish stringer. He was also fishing nightcrawlers in Chris’ Pond. The hot trout action has been on chartreuse Nitro Bait with garlic-flavored Nitro Gravy or nightcrawlers, and the best spots have been Levitz’ Corner and the pump house. This Saturday is two-for-one day. 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: This Saturday will be the huge Western Outdoor News Trout Opener event and all anglers at Irvine must be registered for the $45 event before being admitted only through the south entrance. There will be a bonus plant of 10,000 pounds of trout, including browns, brooks, steelhead, and some giant trophy rainbows topping 15 pounds. The trout action has been good on Power Bait, Gulp!, nightcrawlers and Power Mouse rigs, usually on an 18-inch leader. Woody’s Cove was a particular hotspot, and good numbers of fish were also caught at Trout Island, along the west shore and near the dam. Scott Noseworthy, Orange, caught a 15-4 rainbow trout on Gulp! Trout Dough at Woody’s Cove, while Louie Perez, Pacoima, landed a 10-8 rainbow on a Tasmanian Devil near the dam. Joseph Arballo, Orange, caught a 7-10 steelhead on a Power Worm along the west shore. Crappie fishing dipped a bit from last week’s peak action but fish to two pounds are still showing on white Atomic Tubes fished above flooded trees. Bass fishing is still going strong, with fish currently available in both spawning and post-spawn condition. Fish to six pounds on drop-shot plastics, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits. Bluegill up to a pound have started showing on mealworms and waxworms fished near the docks. A few catfish were seen near the creek. Lake information: 714-649-9111 or www.irvinelake.net.
     LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Good trout action on floating baits, but lure and fly anglers are also getting their share of fish. Bonus plant of rainbows and Lightning Trout went in Monday this week. Some bass are showing on plastics in the shallows, and the bluegill action is improving with warmer weather. 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: The largemouth and smallmouth bass bite has been fair to good with the fish moving tight into the shallows spawning. Plastic worms and nightcrawlers top baits. Trout action improved with the cooler weather this week with trollers getting fish in 25 to 30 feet of water on Needlefish and Rapalas. Crappie remain pretty good in the narrows with the fish averaging better than a pound and showing on small jigs. Redear still spotty, but the catfish bite is starting to take off with a few fish to 10 pounds reported this past week. 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 bite is very good and with shad all over the surface many anglers are making the candy bait and getting quality fish. While cool weather and heavy winds ripped the lake early in the week, it didn’t seem to slow the bite much or dive the shad deep. Top fish was an 11-8 caught by Brandon LeMay, Ojai, on a live shad. Jimmy DeClerq, Simi Valley, caught an 11-pounder, also on shad, while Art Alonzo, Santa Paula, had a nine-pounder. There are a lot more bass in the two to four pound range still on beds. Martin Sierra, Newberry Park, caught six bass Tuesday on nightcrawlers, and while his best was six pounds, most were in the two-pound range. The crappie bite was more spotty this past week, but the few fish showing were quality fish. Best was a three-pounder reported by Rob Brennan, Ojai. The redear are starting to move shallow and show up on beds and they are best on nightcrawlers. Catfish and trout are slow. Private boats are being allowed at Casitas, but boats will be inspected and face a 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: Winds and rotten weather hampered the fishing again this past week, but the stripers and largemouth bass bites have remained resilient and continued to perk along. Stripers have been particularly good at the back buoy line. Eric Reynolds, Palmdale, and his group, landed 30 stripers to five pounds fishing cut baits near the buoy line. Erin Yandell, Porterville, caught a 15-8 striper at the same spot. Rick Howe, Canyon Country, had four stripers to eight pounds at the dam on Ex Raps. Most are two to three pounds. The largemouth are in the shallows and taking plastics and swim baits. Lots of fish to three pounds. Few bluegill or crappie reports, but there’s a good carp bite for anglers targeting them. Trout plant last week in the lagoon, and the big lake is slated for DFG fish this week. Information: 661-775-6232.
     PIRU: Slow to fair trout action with the most recent DFG plant three weeks ago. Power Bait, nightcrawlers or plastic trout worms have been the top baits. The crappie bite remains good on fish mostly under a pound, but stringers of 10 or more fish have been common for anglers fishing small jigs. Bass are improving each day and there is a pretty decent bite on plastics and nightcrawlers with the fish in a spawn mode. Top bass was an eight-pounder caught by Vic Piche, Piru. There has been decent bluegill and redear action and a few catfish reported. Information: marina 805-521-1500, x208.
     PYRAMID: There was a trout plant Monday and the bite is fair to good on floating baits or small lures. The largemouth action is getting better by the day with the fish moving shallow to spawn. Fish to four pounds reported in the past week. There is still a spotty 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. A few catfish are starting to show. Slow other species. Information: USFS 661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.
     QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
     PUDDINGSTONE: DFG trout plant last week, fair to good action. The bass bite is fair to good with a lot of fish along the shorelines. Bluegill and crappie are still mostly slow, but a few fish are showing on small jigs and the action is improving with sunny weather. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.
     SANTA FE DAM: DFG trout plant last week. Fair to good trout action on Power Bait or nightcrawlers. Fair to good bluegill bite on wax worms and nightcrawlers. Some largemouth bass in the shallows on plastics. 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 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 recent plants.
     KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
     LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
     LEGG LAKES: DFG trout plant this week.
     LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
     MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant four weeks ago.
     PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 818-448-7317.

SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES

     BARRETT: The lake will reopen May 2. 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 107 anglers checked who reported 378 bass, six channel cats, four crappie, and one blue cat. The top bass was an 8.6-pounder landed by John Curry Jr., Escondido, on a plastic. Richard Mates, Escondido, landed a 7.35-pounder on a jerk bait. 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: Weather slowed the bass and crappie bites this past week, but still fair action. There were 49 anglers this past week who reported 49 bass, 22 crappie, nine bluegill, two blue catfish, and one channel cat. Top bass was a 6.7-pounder caught by Jason Sleight, Jamul, on a Senko. 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: Continued good bass action with just a smattering of other fish. There 280 anglers who reported 340 bass, six crappie to a pound, five bluegill to 3/4-pound, two channel cats, and one blue cat at 25 pounds. The top bass was an 8-8 landed by Rusty Brazwell, San Diego, on a crawdad in the Harvey Arm. 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 bass action for walk-in anglers. The bass are up in the shallows and this past week nine anglers reported catching 24 bass to 4-8. 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: Fair bass action with a few panfish starting to show. There were 55 anglers who reported 40 bass to 4.6 pounds, six bluegill, five redear, and two rainbow 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: Mostly slow action with a fair pick on rainbow trout. There were 115 anglers who reported catching 35 rainbows, (last plant on March 24th), 17 bass, and three channel cats. 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: No creel checks are being conducted, but the bite is fair to good for bass and a few cats and panfish are showing. 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: Trout fishing is good with nice sized rainbows being hauled out of Boat Dock Cove and along Senior Shoreline. Green power bait and inflated nightcrawlers have been the preferred baits. Ken Berthelot, Valley Center, caught a 4-8 on green Power Bait in Boat Dock Cove. The water is warming and the bass have moved into the shallows. Jose Garlejo, Escondido, landed an 11-2 bass on an eight-inch plastic at the south shore rock pile. A few crappie are showing, mostly in rocky areas. Jerry Harris, Riverside, caught a 2-9 on a shiner in Boat Dock Cove. Also improving catfish action on mackerel and chicken liver at the two buoy lines. Carp good but few anglers fishing them. Fears of quagga mussels have kept a ban on private watercraft in place. There are four new bass boat-type rentals available. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
     DOANE POND: DFG trout plant this week.
     DIXON LAKE: Dixon Lake trout fishing has been good to excellent the last week with a lot of fish in the two to four pound range. Most or all of the trout action has been in the Whisker Bay and buoy line areas. Only a few trout have been caught in the usually hot spot Trout Cove area. Best choices of baits have been inflated nightcrawlers, white or red Power worms, green trout jigs, Kastmasters, and Roostertails lures. Last trout plant was April 8 and the next plant is scheduled for April 22. The bass action is still heating up with the smaller males moving up into the shallow waters and showing signs of hanging around their nests, while the bigger females are still in deeper water. The 12th Annual Hidden Valley Kiwanis Club Trout Derby will take be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26. The $500 grand prize will be awarded for the largest trout along with other daily winners. The cost of fishing permits will be $14 for adults, $10 for youth (eight to 15) and seniors over 60. Pier No. 2 remains closed due to construction until further notice. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
     POWAY: The bass bite continues to improve as the fish stack up in the shallows. Trout fishing was slow this week with the last plant of the season March 24. The best bet is slow trolling or picking a spot in Bucktail Bay near the Restroom Landing and fishing nightcrawlers, Kastmasters, or Rapalas. The catfish bite is good with the log boom. The bluegill bite is slow. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
     JENNINGS: Continued fair to good trout action in Half Moon Cove and Cactus Patch on inflated nightcrawlers dipped in scent and fished on a two-foot leader. 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: The big trout are still on the feed for anglers who braved the cold and wet weather. Justin Kent, La Mesa, soaked Power Bait to land a 14-7 rainbow. John Betts, San Diego, had an 8-1 to top off his limit, while John Deveraux, La Mesa, caught a 7-2. Mount Lassen trout were planted last Friday. Bass still just fair but more and more fishing are moving shallow. Redear are fair on nightcrawlers and wax worms. Crappie and catfish slow. Price of boats and permits has been reduced Monday through Thursday. Permits are $3.50 and boat rentals just $20 for the whole day. 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 buoy line or Pumphouse Cove. Douglas Brant, Riverside, had a limit of rainbows topped by a 3-8. Both DFG and Jess Ranch plants this past week. Upcoming events: 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: Catfish action good on shrimp and other cut baits near the dam. Vanna Bouaphavong, San Diego, caught five fish to five pounds. Bounnhing Phaiked, San Diego, also had a limit of five on shrimp and hit top fish was a six pounder. Deton Southidet, San Diego, caught five to four pounds. Melvin Wimberly, Las Vegas, topped off his four-fish stringer with a four-pounder. Crappie remain fair to good off the Fish-N-Float Dock but most are under a pound. Rodney and Kathy Cooper, Saugus, teamed up to catch 12 crappie to 3/4-pound. David and Mary Sheleay, Los Angeles, caught 10 crappie off the dock on green jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. A few bass are showing. Kevin Cook, Orange, landed a five-pounder. Carp slowed a little with the weather change, but the bite is good again. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER

     LAKE MEAD: Stripers fair to good in Boulder Bay and Gypsum Wash. Some catfish action reported on anchovies or shrimp. The largemouth bass action is just starting with a fair to good bite in the coves.
     WILLOW BEACH: No big stripers reported this past week, but the trout action remains good to excellent, especially right after the Friday plants. Best action on nightcrawlers and salmon eggs. Information: 928-767-4747.
     LAKE MOHAVE: The striped bass bite is very good on three to five-pound fish all around the Cottonwood Cove marina, mostly on anchovies. Arizona Bay, Katherine’s Landing, and the dam areas are also good. Some fish to eight pounds. Top fish this past week was a 35-pound striper caught by Jorge Lopez, Henderson. His story is a good one. He hooked a carp on an anchovy fishing right in front of the Cottonwood Cove marina. While fighting the carp, the big striper came up and ate the carp, which lodged in the big fishes’ throat. Lopez was able to land the big fish. 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 downriver in the Topoc area. Most stripers are under two pounds. A few catfish showing. Fair to good largemouth bass action. Information: Premier Sports 760-326-2727, Golden Shores 760-768-2325.
     TOPOCK MARSH: The largemouth bass bite was hampered by winds this past week, but the bite is really starting to take off and there were a few more 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.
     HAVASU: Good striper action this week on shad or swimbaits or slow-trolled anchovies. Smallmouth bass hitting soft plastics, Rat-L-Traps and eight to 12-foot diving crankbaits, and the largemouth bite is really starting to turn on with fish moving shallow to spawn. Even catfish are turning on with pretty fair action on cut baits. Information: 760-663-3811.
     PARKER STRIP: Channel catfish have been fair with some to 10 pounds or better reported on shrimp, nightcrawlers dipped in stink bait, and mackerel. Some flatheads starting to show on goldfish and shiners. Improved largemouth and smallmouth bass action with the fish getting in a spawn mode. Information: June’s Unique 928-669-8883.
     BLYTHE: The bite, across the board, is very good on this stretch of the lower river and points south. The largemouth and smallmouth bass action has broken wide open. Jim Burrow, Blythe, caught a 6-4 largemouth drop-shotting a  Robo Worm, and there was even a report of a 10-4 bass from a local backwater lake. The flathead catfish action has been good with a lot of fish from 12 to 25 pounds caught. Tilapia are very good, too. The striper bite at the Palo Verde Diversion Dam has continued good with fish to 18 pounds reported this week with the best bite just after dark or before first light. Jose Vaca, Blythe, had stripers at 18, 12 and 12 pounds this week on his home-made red and white Vaca Jigs. Still just spotty bluegill and crappie action, however. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
     PALO VERDE: The flathead and channel catfish bite is very good with a lot of quality fish being caught, mostly on live goldfish or bluegill, which anglers are starting to catch in area backwaters and ditches. The largemouth bass bite is very good in all the river backwaters and main river. Pretty Water and Cibola Lake are both top areas, but the fish are showing everywhere now. Smallmouth pretty good in the main river along the rip rap. Improving action on small stripers in the river with fish to five pounds reported. Information: Walter’s Camp 760-854-3322.
     PICACHO AREA: Very good largemouth bass action on plastic worms or nightcrawlers as the fish move shallow to spawn. The channel catfish action is good on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Fish from one to three pounds, with only a few better ones. The flathead action is also taking off with some quality fish showing on goldfish, shiners, tilapia, and bluegill.
     MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action good to excellent on plastics cranks, and spinnerbaits with the fish flooding the shallows. Channel catfish bite good, and the crappie bite is slow to fair on small live minnows. A few flatheads are showing in the main river, and this bite is really starting to break open. Information: 928-783-9589 Thursday through Monday or www.martinezlake.com.
     YUMA AREA: Bass action is very good in the main river and river backwaters on minnows and plastics. Both channel catfish and flathead action is really getting good in the main river with some quality flatheads now showing on live minnows, bluegill, or big crawdads. The Gila Main Canal area in East Yuma continues to good for channel catfish action with some bass, redear and bluegill.

LOWER DESERT WATERS

     SALTON SEA: This is starting to sound like a broken record, but the tilapia action here is excellent. Even with the wind and unsettled weather this past week, there were still a lot of fish being caught. If possible, the action should get even better when the weather warms back up late this week. Catches of 20 to 50 fish per angler are common and the bite is good all along the east shoreline (the Highway 111 side) from Bombay Beach to Mecca Beach to Salt Creek and up to the state park headquarters fishing jetty, where most of the fishing pressure is concentrated. The fish are running from half-pound up to nearly two pounds, with more bigger fish starting to show now. The action is mostly on nightcrawler pieces fished on the bottom. 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: Last DFG trout plant over a month ago. Information: 760-352-3308.
     SUNBEAM LAKE: Last DFG trout plant over a month ago.
     LAKE CAHUILLA: Last DFG trout plant over a month ago. 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 has been dynamite with flows still low and very fishable. Lots of nice fish showing on dries, nymphs and streamers. Many anglers are reporting 30-fish days, which is unbelievable for the Walker. One angler reported eight fish over 20 inches in the past week, and the top brown trout reported was a 30-inch-plus brown landed and released by Will Clayton, a local guide with Stay Bent Guide Service caught last Thursday. The fish was over 10 pounds. 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. Some rainbows to 24 inches with spawners already thick in the river. 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: The lower Owens River remains good. Fly anglers are seeing some caddis and mayfly surface activity, but most of the action is subsurface on midge patterns fished pretty deeply under strike indicators or streamers swept along the undercuts and tailouts. Pleasant Valley Reservoir has been very good for lure, jig, bait and fly anglers, and a DFG plant went in last week. 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: Spotty action, but DFG plants in Lone Pine Creek and the lower Owens River for the second week in a row should perk the bite. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to www.lonepinechamber.org.

WESTERN SIERRA

     LAKE ISABELLA: Still very good trout action despite the weather of the past week. The best bite has been on floating baits, nightcrawlers, and small lures fished at the auxiliary dam, but fish are showing around much of the lake. The largemouth bite is still sputtering along but the fish will flood up into the shallows on the next warm spell, which is forecast to be this weekend. Crappie are also still spotty but should improve with the warm weather. They have been best around the marina docks on minnows. Catfish oddly slow. Fishing information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
     KERN RIVER: Slow action in the lower river with only a few trout reported, but more and more smallmouth and largemouth bass are starting to be caught. The upper river is fair to good for wild fish. The fly anglers have been seeing a broad range of insect hatches, including a major crane fly hatch that has the fish focusing on these big bugs in the evenings. But there’s also been hatches of black stones, yellow sallies, big march browns, and sporadic blue-wing olives. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or www.kernriverflyfishing.com) or James Store 760-376-2424.
     AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Very good striper action on fish from three four five pounds, mostly on blood and sand worms, but also fish are Gitzits and Lucky Crafts LDR 10s and 15s. Catfish are still mostly slow, but the carp bite is pretty good.
     HART PARK LAKE: Good bass action on minnows, nightcrawlers and plastics, but bluegill are still sluggish. The trout action has slowed way down with the last DFG plant over a month ago.
     TRUXTUN LAKE: Fair to good bass action on nightcrawlers and plastics with the fish in full-on spawn more. The carp action is also very good with a lot of fish to six pounds, occasionally bigger, on dough baits. Bluegill still spotty. Trout have slowed way down with the last DFG plant over a month ago.
     RIVER WALK PARK: The bass bite is good with the fish in the shallows spawning. Best action on plasics, nightcrawlers, and small swim baits. Some bluegill are just starting to show. Trout have slowed to almost nothing with the last DFG plant over a month ago.
     MING LAKE: The bass bite good on nightcrawler, minnows, and plastics, but the carp bite is even better with a lot of fish topping six pounds. Best action has been on Powder Bait (not Power Bait!), a you-mix-it dough bait. Crappie slowed this past week, and trout have dwindled to nearly nothing with the last plant over a month ago. The lake closed to boating-only on Monday this week and will remain closed into August while repairs are made, but the lake remains open to fishing during this time.
     BRITE LAKE: Slow trout action with the last DFG plant over a month ago.
     BUENA VISTA LAKES: The largemouth bass and carp bites are very good. The bass are best on minnows, Senkos, Brush Hogs, and nightcrawlers with the fish all over the shallows spawning. The carp are best on Powder Bait mixed into a dough, with a lot of quality carp over five pounds showing. The crappie bite has slowed way down with the cooler weather this past week, but the few fish being caught are mostly quality fish over a pound. The best action is on small minnows and jigs. Call Bob’s Bait for information: 661-833-8657.
     WOOLLOMES LAKE: No reports.
     SUCCESS LAKE: Weather hampered the action this past week, but the bass bite remains pretty good with a lot of spawning fish still shallow. The crappie action was tougher but the bite is still pretty fair with the best action up around the bridge. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 559-781-2078.
     KAWEAH LAKE: Good bass bite with many fish on beds now. 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: Shad are showing on the surface in big schools and it’s pretty easy to dip net some for bait. The bait is translating into a fair to good striped bass bite with fish to nine pounds reported in the past week. The largemouth and smallmouth bass action is good in the coves and shallow areas as the fish spawn. Fair to good crappie bite with fish from 3/4 to a pound, mostly on crappie jigs in Harris Creek. 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 on fish to four-pounds. Largemouth and smallmouth action is nearly as good. White bass are stacked up just before the narrows (second bend has been the hot spot) and there has been good action on fish to four pounds. Also a good crappie bite on jigs with the average fish over a pound and anglers are reporting stringers of 20 to 40 fish each. Lots of big carp in the marina for the few anglers fishing them. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.
     SANTA MARGARITA: The windy, cold snap slowed the action this past week, but even with wind, things were picking up again on Wednesday. Basil Gonzalez III, Nipomo, had a 20-12 limit of largemouths last Thursday with his top fish at 6-10 and 5-15. Carl West, Los Osos, was drop-shotting for bass in front of store Wednesday this week and caught a two-pound bluegill. The bass and crappie bites are best with the bass in the shallows and the crappie schooled up to spawn, too. The crappie are not being caught in big numbers, but the fish are all quality slabs, with many over two pounds. Catfish have been spotty this past week. No more trout plants this season. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
     LOPEZ: Bass action is good at the dam, main lake points, and up in the coves, with the fish in spawning mode. Best bite on plastics, reaction baits, and nightcrawlers. Taylor Morales, San Luis Obispo, caught a six-pound largemouth on a plastic in Cottonwood Cove. A 5-8 largemouth was caught by Michael Miranda, Grover Beach, on a spinnerbait off Strawberry Flat. Good crappie action on crappie jigs with fish to two pounds and better. A 2-8 crappie was landed by Isreal Trevino, Coalinga, Cottonwood Cove on yellow grub. Redear and bluegill are spotty. Trout slow with the last plant March 31. 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. For updates in Southern California and the Eastern Sierra Nevada, you can call the DFG recording at 562-594-7268, or for updates in the Western Sierra, you can call 559-243-4005, x183.
     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, Pyramid Lake.
     ORANGE: Mile Square Park Lake.
     RIVERSIDE: Diamond Valley Reservoir.
     SAN BERNARDINO: Big Bear Lake.
     SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.
     INYO: Lone Pine Creek, Owens River (below Tinnemaha).
     FRESNO: Hume Lake, Kings River (below Pine Flat Dam), San Joaquin River (below Friant Dam).
     MARIPOSA: McSwain Reservoir.
     MERCED: Merced River (from McSwain Dam to Merced Falls).
     STANISLAUS: Modesto Reservoir, Tulloch Lake, Woodward Reservoir
     TULARE: Lake Kawah, Lake Success, Murray Park Pond.
     TUOLOMNE: Tulloch Reservoir.

OCEAN FISHING REPORT

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

     GENERAL UPDATE: Limits of wind this past week. Wave after wave of low pressure and horrid conditions along the coast just about shut down everything that had been budding into spring action this past week. But things are looking up for the weekend and through next week. And that better weather also happens to coincide with excellent tides going into the new moon on April 23.
     LONG RANGE: Anglers on the Royal Polaris just won’t let the big tuna rest. The boat is on the big tuna grounds south of Cabo San Lucas and anglers have seen excellent fishing on the huge yellowfin and wahoo. On Wednesday the bite was tough, but the anglers still boated a yellowfin to 203 pounds. There were 24 fish boated Monday with a 217 the top tuna, and the best fish so far on this trip was a 230-pound class fish. There were also over 20 wahoo on board so far. This boat will be making one more 17-day trip south this year, leaving on April 23, and there are still a couple of spots open.
     CORONADO ISLANDS YELLOWTAIL: Last week, it looks like a yellowtail bite was starting out of San Diego with three-quarter boat anglers seeing as many as 40 fish per trip to water at and around the Coronado Islands as the yellowtail were up chasing small baitfish, but winds started hammering this bite at mid-week last week and this fish have completely sunk out and there have been few skippers willing to brave conditions to test this bite lately.
     SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND YELLOWS: Before the latest bad conditions set in there were some good catches of toad yellowtail to 40 pounds at San Clemente Island two weekends ago along the east end of the island. Conditions have kept boats away since the middle of last week, but this bite could really explode this coming week.
     CATALINA WHITE SEABASS: On April 7, it looked like the white seabass bite was going to really kick into gear at Catalina Island, but the action has been hammered since by winds. Catalina conditions are excellent and the few boats braving the run to the island this week found some decent bonito action. The Freelance out of Davey’s Locker was there on Tuesday with 35 anglers who landed 175 bonito, 15 rockfish, 10 calicos, 10 whitefish, four sheephead, and four perch. This bite could really take off.
     CALICO BASS UPDATE: The winds really roiled up nearshore waters and shut down a calico bass bite that seemed to be building all along the coast last week. With live squid available and better conditions this weekend we just might see the first good bass bite of the spring.
     ROCKFISH ACTION: Even the rockfish action has been affected by the weather and wind this past week. Port Hueneme’s boats had been posting limits or near limit scores daily before last week. This past week, there have only been a handful of trips and the action was still good in rough seas. The Mirage had a good day last Friday (April 10) when 17 anglers landed 170 rockfish, 34 lings, and one whitefish, and the Sea Jay on Sunday had 11 anglers who caught 48 red snapper, 64 rockfish, one ling cod, and 25 sand dabs.
     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. The next trip is a two-day, limited-load (12 anglers) intensive white seabass on-the-water fishing seminar with 976-TUNA’s Ed McVicker aboard the Pacific Quest leaving May 3. Cost is $350. This is followed by another of the two-day island freelance trips aboard the Big Game 90 for white seabass, yellowtail, calico bass and rockfish. This trip leaves May 10 and costs $200. These trips fill up quickly. To book a spot or find out about other 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.