Lures Best Bet for Bass at Casitas

Big largemouth bass are still active at Ventura County’s Lake Casitas, and fishermen throwing heavy artificial bass lures are finding the trophy-sized fish to be cooperating.

John East of Moorpark caught a 14-pound bass, and Marlin Spencer of Santa Barbara landed two bass totaling 22 3/4 pounds.

WILLOW BEACH--Trout slow, biting best upriver. Striped bass best down river. Largemouth bass biting mainly at Cottonwood Cove.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass biting best in Overton Arm and Vegas Wash, biting at 16 feet, averaging three to five pounds. Largemouth bass slow.

BULLHEAD CITY--Largemouth bass biting best in lake, with most baits working. River: Striped bass averaging two pounds. Anchovies best bet. Topak Marsh good for crappie and catfish. Trout slow.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina biting best from North Shore to Niland Marina at six to eight feet. Sandy Point, Benson Landing and Red Hill also yielding fish averaging 12 to 15 pounds. Mud suckers best bet. Croaker biting best at Bombay Beach. Sargo bite fair off jetties. Flathead catfish biting at Alamo River mouth.

LAKE CACHUMA--Largemouth bass biting best on dark-colored artificials--the heavier the better. Richard Rodriguez, Los Angeles, 9 1/2-pound bass. Howard Keller, Solvang, 9-0 bass. Dennis Wright and Jay Carter, seven bass, 24.2 pounds. Catfish biting best at east end. Nightcrawlers and mackerel best bet.

LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass providing most action. John East, Moorpark, 14-pound bass. Marlin Spencer, Santa Barbara, 12- and 10 3/4-pound bass. Jim Donlon, Camarillo, five trout, 10 1/2 pounds. Todd Melillo, North Hollywood, 3 3/4-pound trout. Catfish slow.

PYRAMID LAKE--Largemouth and smallmouth bass good. Striped bass slow, but one reported at 25 pounds. Bluegills biting at scattered locations. Catfish bite best at dam.

LAKE PIRU--Trout to four pounds. Some limits of pan-size fish. Largemouth bass biting off points and in San Felicia Cove. Artificials working best.

CASTAIC LAKE--Trout biting best at dam. Largemouth bass biting to 20 feet on standard baits and lures.

LAKE ISABELLA--Limits of small largemouth bass being taken in shallow water. Plastic worms best bet. Catfish bite consistent, with mackerel working best.

IRVINE LAKE--Big trout biting along west shoreline and at Trout Island. Catfish picking up, biting best in flats. One reported at 17 pounds.

BIG BEAR--Some trout to three pounds, but bite overall slow. Largemouth bass slow.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Some big striped bass biting, primarily at night. Matt East, Rancho California, 20-pound striper. Catfish bite picking up.

BISHOP--Crowley: some pan-size trout, but bite slower than expected. Brown trout to two pounds fair, one reported at six pounds. Lower Owens River: some wild brown trout biting above bridge; otherwise bite fair for stocked rainbows. Pleasant Valley Reservoir: some limits of pan-sized rainbows.

Trout Plants

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

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

SAN BERNARDINO--Big Bear Lake, Cucamonga Creek, Lytle Creek (Middle Fork), Lake Silverwood.

SANTA BARBARA--Lake Cachuma.

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

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