Bass Action at Casitas

Largemouth bass fishing is in full swing at most Southland reservoirs, with one of the best bites going on at Ventura County’s Lake Casitas.

“We’ve got a major fish happening over here,” a spokeswoman at the lake said Tuesday morning while weighing in a 9 1/2-pound bass caught by Don Hagedorn of Camarillo.

Previous catches include a 13-pound bass caught by Jim Pierce of Fullerton and a 12 1/2-pounder by Don Hooper of Simi Valley.

WILLOW BEACH--Trout biting mainly upriver, averaging two-four pounds. Berkley Power Bait best bet. Bill Tennis, Hollywood, three- and five-pound trout. Striped bass biting best at mile-marker 35-39. Randy Dorn, 21-pound striper, caught on Red Fin lure. Fred Davis, Willow Beach, 21-pound striper, caught on Red Fin.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass picking up, biting best at Vegas Wash, Lake Mead Marina and dam. Fish biting from 20-130 feet. Anchovies best bet. Largemouth bass spotty, biting mainly off points at 20-30 feet.

BULLHEAD CITY--Trout bite good on river, with Power Bait working best. Some striped bass being caught at Topak Gorge. Catfish biting best at Topak Marsh. Fishing slow on lake.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina biting mainly at Red Hill in morning and afternoons, averaging six-eight pounds. Artificials and live bait working equally well. Croaker biting best along north shoreline and at Desert Shores. Sargo biting best off jetties.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout being caught by trollers using needlefish lures in Cachuma Bay and dam. Shore fishermen using standard trout baits doing best at E Point. Largemouth bass averaging five-nine pounds biting best at east end or Johnson’s Bay. Jay Hansen, San Luis Obispo, 15-2 bass.

LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass picking up. Norm Smith, Oakview, 9 3/4-pound bass. Trout biting on shiny lures near marina and on east side of island. Crappie scattered, biting on feathered jigs.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass biting best in marina, with artificials working best. Scott Mueller, Northridge, three stripers to 12 pounds, released. Trout averaging a pound biting off rocks in marina. Largemouths averaging 2 1/2 pounds, biting best throughout lake. Ron Morgan, Granada Hills, five largemouth bass, released.

LAKE PIRU--Largemouth bass the main attraction, with several limits reported. Paul Barttraw, Van Nuys, two seven-pound bass. Trout biting primarily in Cow Cove and near dam.

CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass biting mainly in upper lake. Jerry Stanley, West Covina, 12-pound bass. Joe Russell, Santa Paula, 6 1/4-pounder. Trout biting on cheese and Power Bait, mainly in upper lake. Crystal Doyal, 8, Reseda, 1 3/4-pound trout.

IRVINE LAKE--Consistent trout bite, with most baits working. Bennett Davidson, Brea, 9-10 trout. Catfish and largemouth bass biting in shallow water. Rudy Benton, Orange, nine-pound catfish.

LAKE SKINNER--Largemouth bass biting best at east end of lake and Ramp II. Plastic worms working best. Trout averaging two to three pounds. Crappie biting best near marina.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Largemouth bass providing most action. Greg Wittig, Rialto, 10-pound bass, caught on crank bait. Greg Silks and Gary Sanders, Alta Loma, 10 largemouth, 27 pounds. Rare catch: Del East, San Bernardino, two silver salmon. Crappie bite excellent, averaging one-two pounds, biting best at marina. Crappie fishing closes March 23 because of overcrowding at marina. Striped bass biting best at night.

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--Lake Castaic, Castaic Lagoon, Crystal Lake, Legg Lakes, Lake Pyramid, San Gabriel River (east, west and north forks).

RIVERSIDE--Cahuilla Lake, Evans Lake, Lake Perris.

SAN BERNARDINO--Glen Helen Park Lake, Mojave Narrows Park Lake, Prado Park Lake, Lake Silverwood.

SAN DIEGO--Cuyamaca Lake, Doane Pond, San Luis Rey River.

SANTA BARBARA--Davy Brown Creek, Manzana Creek.

VENTURA--Matilija Creek, Lake Piru, Santa Paula Creek, Ventura River (North Fork).

KERN--Hart Park Lake, Kern River (Borell Powerhouse to Democrat Dam, KR3 Powerhouse to Lake Isabella), Lake Ming, Woollomes Lake.