Limits Are Rule at Big Bear

The Eastern Sierra trout season is just around the corner, but fishermen at Big Bear Lake are already catching limits of pan-sized rainbows during one of the better bites at the San Bernardino County Reservoir.

“It’s as good as it’s going to get at Big Bear,” a lake spokesman said. “The water’s just right and limits are the rule.”

WILLOW BEACH--Trout picking up, biting mainly upriver, some to four pounds. Striped bass biting downriver, with nightcrawlers and Red Fin lures working best. John Mustaffa, 17 1/4-pound striper, caught at mile-marker 44. Carl Trulsen, 13-pound striper, caught at hatchery.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass averaging three pounds biting at Vegas Wash, Virgin Basin, Heron Island and Walker Wash. Largemouth bass biting in shallows and at dropoffs. Overton Arm and Temple Bar area best. Catfish slow.

BULLHEAD CITY--Trout biting best in river. Trollers doing best in lake, catching occasional trout to four pounds.

LAKE CACHUMA--Largemouth bass bite best at east and along south shoreline. Crank baits working best. Trout biting throughout lake, with trollers using four colors and bait fishermen using yellow Power Bait doing best. Catfish spotty, fish between eight and 12 pounds. Crappie and bluegill poor.

LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass providing most action, biting best off rocky points. Ron Perfetto, Highland Park, 10 3/4 and 9 3/4-pound bass, released. Larry Church, Ojai, 13 1/2-pound bass. Don Hagedorn, Camarillo, 13-, 8 1/4- and 6 1/4-pound bass, released. Glenn Curry, Oxnard, 10-pound bass. Ellis Brown, Ventura, 9-pound bass. Catfish picking up, biting on nightcrawlers at 30 feet. Crappie biting best on nightcrawler pieces at Wadleigh Arm.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped and largemouth bass biting primarily in marina and channel. Santo Rimicci, Mar Vista, three largemouth averaging three pounds. John Stewart, Pasadena, eight-pound striper, caught in channel. Catfish picking up. Rodney Williams, Altadena, three catfish, largest nine pounds, caught at island. N. Wang, Los Angeles, 12-pound catfish. Crappie picking up, biting at dam and near docks. Wendell McClure, Oxnard, 30 crappie, averaging one pound, caught on mini jigs at dam. Trout biting best in marina. Several limits.

LAKE SKINNER--Largemouth bass biting in shallows near launch ramps. Michael Sutherland, Fontana, 6-2 bass. Trout biting best at Launch Ramp 2. Brian Treman, Redlands, three-pound trout. Art McAllister, Escondido, two trout, 5 1/2 pounds. Catfish picking up, biting at dam and Launch Ramp 2. Harold Unger, Huntington Beach, 9 1/2-pound catfish, caught on snails.

BIG BEAR--Trout fishing good throughout lake. Shore fishing best between dam and Windy Point. Juniper Marina also good. Limits are the rule, with fish averaging 1 3/4 pounds. Power Bait best bet. Trollers doing best using nightcrawlers behind flashers. Catfish and largemouth bass slow.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Striped bass bite good. David Nelson, Hermosa Beach, 16 1/2-pound striper, caught at Spillway. Lee Carson, San Diego, 20-pound striper, caught in channel. Trout biting best in Miller Canyon. Dave Doiyle, Apple Valey, fishing for trout with marshmallows at Cleghorn Beach, 23-pound catfish. Largemouth bass biting throughout channel and around rocky points. Artificials working best. Crappie bite best at marina.

Trout Plants

LOS ANGELES--Boquet Canyon Creek, Lake Castaic, Castaic Lagoon, Crystal Lake, Legg Lakes, San Gabriel River (East, West and North forks), Santa Fe Reservoir.

RIVERSIDE--Lake Skinner.

SAN BERNARDINO--Glen Helen Park Lake, Green Valley Lake Mojave Narrows Park Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River (South Fork), Yucaipa Park Lake.

SANTA BARBARA--Davy Brown Creek, Manzana Creek, Santa Ynez River.

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

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

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

KERN--Alder Creek, Cedar Creek, Erskine Creek, Hart Park Lake, Kern River (Democrat Dam to KR1 Powerhouse, Borell Powerhouse to Democrat Dam, KR3 Powerhouse to Lake Isabella).