Bass, Trout Are Active at Pyramid

Striped bass fishing at Pyramid Lake has been picking up in recent weeks and fishermen lucky enough to be at that northern Los Angeles County reservoir when trout are being stocked are hitting the jackpot.

Lester Carpenter of Lebec caught and released seven stripers weighing 46 1/2 pounds; Paul Selkirk of Simi Valley caught and released nine totaling 68 pounds, the largest an 18-pounder, and Ron Morgan of Granada Hills caught four stripers, including a 23-pounder.

All were fishing while the Department of Fish and Game was dumping its bi-weekly allotment of trout--a favorite food of the striped bass--into the marina.

WILLOW BEACH--Striped bass biting best downriver in deep water. Robert Pingel, Utah, 17-4 striper, caught between Mile Markers 35-36. Pan-sized trout biting downriver at Mile Marker 41, with corn and cheese working best. Some bigger fish being caught upriver. One weighed in at 4-2. Nightcrawlers best bet.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass biting throughout Overton Arm. Some action at Vegas Wash and dam, but fish are smaller. Anchovies best bet. Largemouth bass picking up, biting best in Overton Arm. Coves producing best elsewhere. Live bait working best. Catfish just beginning to bite.

BULLHEAD CITY--Striped bass averaging two to four pounds, with an occasional big fish. Bob Davis, Bullhead City, 25-0 striper, largest this year, caught drifting anchovies on river. Trout biting best in river, with Berkley Power Bait working best. Lake: Trollers using needlefish lures at 50-60 feet doing best for trout. Largemouth bass biting off points at about 20 feet.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina biting, mainly at Red Hill, with fish averaging 12-15 pounds. Live bait and artificials working. Croaker biting at Bombay Beach. Sargo scattered.

LAKE CACHUMA--Largemouth bass and catfish biting in shallow water. Ray DeVreugh, Gilroy, 5 1/2- and four pound bass. Ron Pruden, Orange, four catfish, 40 pounds, largest 20 pounds. Redear perch biting at 20 feet along shoreline, one weighed in at 2 1/2 pounds. Trout biting on most baits.

LAKE CASITAS--Catfish bite excellent, best at dam or Sunken Island at 35 feet. John Higuera, Santa Barbara, 19-pound catfish. Largemouth bass biting at 8-10 feet, with bigger fish taking crawfish and nightcrawlers. Plastic worms working best for smaller fish. Several limits of trout, most coming from Wadleigh and Santa Ana arms. Redear perch biting near dock at Wadleigh Arm. Red worms best bet. Lake’s new hours are from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass biting between channel and marina. Scott Mueller, Northridge, four stripers, largest eight pounds, released. Largemouth bass bite scattered. Greg Peterson, Pasadena, five largemouths averaging three pounds. Brian Goldsmith, Pasadena, five smallmouths, largest 3 1/2-pounds.

IRVINE LAKE--Trout in the 10-pound class still active, but other species picking up. Largemouth bass and crappie biting in shallow water. Jim Shaffer, Garden Grove, 7 1/2-pound bass. Bob Pitman, Hacienda Heights, two-pound crappie.

LAKE SKINNER--Trout biting at dam. Jerry Boison, Anaheim, 3 1/2-pound trout. Catfish and largemouth bass biting throughout lake in shallows. Tom Kente, Whittier, five-pound bass. Robert Luna, Colton, 5 3/4-pound bass. Gary Venuer, 7 1/4-pound catfish. Roy Sena, Anaheim, 5 1/2-pound catfish.

BIG BEAR--Fishing good for trout. Shore fishermen using standard baits and trollers using nightcrawlers behind flashers catching trout to 2 1/2-pounds. Largemouth bass moving into shallow water, but few caught.

SILVERWOOD LAKE--Largemouth and striped bass biting primarily in channel. Joe Duyton, Riverside, 10 1/4-pound largemouth. Greg Silks, Alta Loma, 18-pound striper, caught at 30 feet.

Saltwater

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, Upper and Lower Big Tujunga Creek, El Dordao Park Lake, Jackson Lake, Little Rock Creek, Little Rock Reservoir, Malibu Creek, Peck Road Park Lake, Piru Creek (Frenchman’s Flat), Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas Reservoir.

SAN BERNARDINO--Big Bear Lake, Prado Park Lake, Silverwood Lake.

RIVERSIDE--Fulmor Lake, Perris Lake, Hemet Lake.

SANTA BARBARA--Lake Cachuma, Davy Brown Creek, Manzanita Creek.

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

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

INYO--Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Tuttle Creek.