Catfish Bite Under Way at Castaic

Catfish are becoming increasingly active as summer approaches at most Southland reservoirs, with one of the better bites under way at Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County.

The fish are averaging close to 15 pounds, according to a spokeswoman there. Ed Stringer and Robert Nickel of Frazier Park caught 19- and 11 1/2-pound catfish, respectively.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass biting at Vegas Wash, Lake Mead Marina and dam; seen boiling just north of Stewart’s Point in Overton Arm. Anchovies at 25-45 feet best bet. Catfish bite good. Largemouth bass slow.

LAKE HAVASU--Striped bass on surface, averaging one-three pounds. Fish to six pounds biting in deeper water. Catfish biting throughout lake to 45 feet. Most baits working. Largemouth bass biting near surface in morning, moving deeper in afternoon.

BULLHEAD CITY--Lake: Catfish biting in coves on most baits. Largemouth bass bite consistent. Striped bass picking up. Trout slow. River: Striped bass to three pounds, some larger. Drifting anchovies best bet. Trout to five pounds. Catfish slow.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina bite improving, best at Red Hill and Bombay Beach. Bank fishermen doing well off jetties at state park. Live bait best bet. Flathead catfish to 30 pounds biting near mouth of Alamo River. Sargo slow.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout providing most action, biting primarily at west end. Trolling one-two colors and needlefish lure best bet. Catfish biting off Jackrabbit Flats and Santa Cruz Bay. Mackerel best bet. Largemouth bass slow.

LAKE CASITAS--Trout planted Monday, biting best at Wadleigh Arm. Largemouth bass biting along east shoreline and off rocky points. Russ Partee, Oxnard, 12-pound bass, caught on plastic worm. Dave Brink, Granada Hills, 10-pound bass. Catfish biting at several locations. Mackerel best bet. Joseph Derrfuss, Ventura, 18-pound catfish. Robin Frape, Ventura, 17 1/2-pound catfish.

PYRAMID LAKE--Largemouth bass still active, biting from surface to 30 feet. Spinner baits and deep-diving bass lures working best. Striped bass bite sporadic. Brazo’s Cove and Lost Mine areas most productive, but bigger fish biting in channel. Artificials best bet. Catfish biting at 40 feet. Mackerel best. Crappie and bluegills biting near docks and brush piles.

LAKE PIRU--Catfish biting at north end in shallows. Mackerel and nightcrawlers best bet. Andrew Gonzales, Fillmore, two catfish, eight pounds. Largemouth bass action fair. Mike Pappas, Temple, Tex., 6 1/2-pound bass. Joe Aaron, Oxnard, 7 1/2-pound bass. Crappie and bluegills fair. Trout slow.

CASTAIC LAKE--Catfish biting best in upper lake, averaging 15 pounds. Largemouth bass biting best in lower lake, averaging 5-8 pounds. Bill Fiemantel, Sylmar, nine-pound bass. Lou Cooper, North Hollywood, eight-pound bass. Dan Deets, Hermosa Beach, eight-pound bass. Bluegills biting in both lakes. Trout bite good.

IRVINE LAKE--Catfish biting in flats and bushy areas. Sal Navarro, Corona, 30 3/4-pound catfish. Trout biting best at Sierra Cove and west shore. Deep-diving plugs. Trollers using three-four colors. Largemouth bass biting best off points. Plastic worms best bet.

LAKE SKINNER--Largemouth bass fair, biting throughout lake. Jeff Lee, Elsinore, 4-8 bass. Catfish biting throughout lake. Robert Kasper, Riverside, 7 1/2-pound catfish. Trout bite good. David Garcia, Whittier, five trout, 8-10.

BIG BEAR--Trout biting, averaging 12-13 inches. Most baits and methods working. Largemouth bass active in shallows, biting mostly on artificials. Catfish picking up. Chicken livers in east end best bet. Bluegills biting for those fishing for them.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Striped bass bite consistent in channel and Miller Canyon. Steve Silvas, Silverwood, 21-pound striper. Dennis Pusch, Hesperia, 19-pound striper. Brad Goble, San Bernardino, 16-pound striper. Cliff Whitehead, Apple Valley, 16-pound striper. Catfish biting best at Miller and Cleghorn canyons, Outhouse Cove and the left side of dam. Cidy Gilbert, Rialto, 9 1/2-pound catfish. Crappie best at Miller and Cleghorn canyons. Largemouth bass slow.

BISHOP AREA--Crowley: Sacramento perch fishing excellent at Layton Springs and Hilton Bay. Rainbow trout bite fair. South: Fishing best along south shoreline in evenings. Power Bait and worms working best. Sabrina: Some limits; fishing generally good for pan-sized rainbows. Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Good for browns, with yellow Power Bait, worms and small lures working best.

JUNE LAKE AREA--Best fishing at Silver and Grant lakes. Trollers using silver and black Rapalas doing best. Trout fishing good at June Lake, with bait fishermen using Power Bait, red salmon eggs and worm-marshmallow combinations doing best. Trolling slow.

BRIDGEPORT AREA--Bridgeport Reservoir experiencing the best bite, with boaters at Rainbow Point doing best.

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--El Dorado Park Lake, Jackson Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Piru Creek (Frenchman’s Flat), Puddingstone Lake, Lake Pyramid, San Dimas Reservoir.

RIVERSIDE--Perris Lake.

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

SANTA BARBARA--Lake Cachuma.

VENTURA--Lake Casitas.

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

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