Bass Star Has a Day at Cachuma

Jay Yelas of Phoenix, a rising star on the bass tournament circuit, paid his annual visit to Lake Cachuma recently to fish an improved largemouth bite with friend and mentor Bill Sedar of Cachuma.

They caught five largemouths, weighing 20 pounds. All were caught in one to five feet of water.

Not to be outdone by the pros, Frank Fernandes of Santa Maria, fishing the same shallow water, caught two bass totaling 17 pounds.

LAKE MEAD--Fishing extremely slow.

BULLHEAD CITY--Trout biting on river, mainly between Laughlin Bridge and casino, with Berkley Power Bait working best. Fishing slow on lake, with an occasional trout to four pounds.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina biting at North Shore and Red Hill, averaging eight pounds. Artificials and live bait both working. Croaker picking up, biting best from Salt Creek to Bombay Beach. Sargo bite best off jetties.

LAKE CACHUMA--Largemouth bass biting in shallow water. Trout biting primarily on Power Bait and yellow Rooster Tails on shoreline.

LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass biting off points, mainly at north end of lake. Stan Wyatt, Los Angeles, 12-pound bass, caught at 15 feet on plastic worm. Harvey Freeman, Glendora, 11-pound bass. Darryl Bilderback, Newbury Park, 9 1/4-pound bass. Crappie and trout bite fair.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass biting mainly in the marina. Andreas Ramirez, Pacoima, 22-pound striper. Bob Hanley, Westchester, 18-pound striper. Jim Ackerman, Gorman, 17-pound striper. Largemouth and smallmouth bass picking up, but scattered. Several limits of trout, mainly from rocky areas near marina.

LAKE PIRU--Largemouth bass picking up, biting off points and rocky ledges. Peter Cervantes, Fillmore, nine-pound bass. Mike Navetta, Manhattan Beach, nine-pound bass. James Wells, Arleta, 7 1/2-pound bass. Steve Cohen, Northridge, six- and 7 1/2-pound bass. Trout biting mainly in Cow Cove to dam. Power Bait best bet. Crappie bite good in mornings near marina.

CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass scattered, averaging two-three pounds. Plastic worms best bet. Other species slow.

IRVINE LAKE--Large rainbow trout still the main attraction, though largemouth bass fishing is picking up. Popular areas: Sierra Cove and Trout Island. Power Bait best bet.

LAKE SKINNER--Several limits of trout, mainly from south shoreline and marina, biting best on yellow Power Bait at 30 feet. Largemouth bass slow, but water district expected to raise lake’s water level today, which should improve fishing.

LAKE HENSHAW--Crappie providing most action, biting mainly under docks. Minijigs best bet.

Trout Plants

A list of waters scheduled to be planted by the Department of Fish and Game, weather and road conditions permitting, by counties:

LOS ANGELES--Arroyo Seco Creek, Big Tujunga Creek (Upper and Lower), El Dorado Park Lake, Little Rock Creek, Little Rock Reservoir, Malibu Creek, Peck Road Park Lake, Piru Creek (Frenchman’s Flat), Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas Reservoir, Santa Fe Reservoir.

RIVERSIDE--Hemet Lake.

SAN BERNARDINO--Cucamonga Creek, Cucamonga-Guasti Park Lake, Lytle Creek, Lake Silverwood, Yucaipa Park Lake.

VENTURA--Lake Casitas, Reyes Creek, Rose Valley Lakes, Sespe Creek (Upper).

IMPERIAL--Sunbeam Lake, Weist Lake.

SAN LUIS OBISPO--Atascadero Lake, Laguna Lake, Lake Lopez.

INYO--Diaz Lake, Georges Lake, Independence Creek, Loen Pine Creek, Tuttle Creek.