Alamo River Boom of Catfish Topped by a 38 1/2-Pounder

The Salton Sea’s Alamo River continues to produce huge flathead catfish during a season local bait shop owners are calling one of the best.

Using goldfish as bait, Robert Jackson of San Bernardino caught a 38 1/2-pound flathead.

WILLOW BEACH--Striped bass biting primarily in mornings and evenings, best downriver. Trout picking up, biting best on live bait at mile-marker 55.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass biting mainly on anchovies at Vegas Wash, Saddle Island, Lake Mead Marina Stewart’s Point. Some surface action at dawn. Catfish small, but biting steadily on most baits throughout lake. Other species slow.

LAKE HAVASU--Striped bass picking up, averaging about five pounds, biting best in evenings and early mornings. Trolled surface lures best bet. Catfish averaging four pounds biting throughout lake. Mackerel at 25 feet best bet.

BULLHEAD CITY--Limits of trout fairly common in river. Striped bass bite is fair. Anchovies best bet. Lake: Catfish and largemouth bass providing most action. Both species averaging three-five pounds.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina averaging 12 pounds, biting best in Red Hill area. Bank fishermen doing best at Salt Creek, primarily at night. Live bait best bet. Croaker biting around all jetties.

LAKE CACHUMA--Several limits of trout, most caught at dam. Power Bait working best. Trollers doing well using four colors in mornings and eight or nine during day. Needlefish lures best. Catfish biting primarily at east end in shallow water. Mackerel best bet. Joe Szabo, Lakewood, 12 1/2-pound catfish. Largemouth bass slow. Red-ear perch biting mainly in Santa Cruz Bay and along east shoreline.

LAKE CASITAS--Dam providing top trout action with several limits. Trollers doing best, mostly with eight colors and needlefish or small spinner. Fish averaging two pounds. Catfish biting at five feet, primarily at Sunken Island and Station Canyon. Johnny Steen, Ojai, nine- and 10-pound catfish. Largemouth bass slow.

PYRAMID LAKE--Best chance for striped bass in marina and channel. Bluegills and crappie biting in backs of bays. Largemouth bass best in bays or near drop-offs.

LAKE PIRU--Largemouth bass slow, biting best at rocky or brushy areas. Spinner and crank baits working best. Trollers using 10 colors and shad needlefish lures catching some limits of trout. Catfish three-five pounds biting primarily at north end on bottom. Mackerel best bet.

CASTAIC LAKE--Catfish biting in both lakes. Mackerel best bet. Gary Barker, Sunland, 15 1/2-pound catfish. Steven Taylor, Los Angeles, 14-pound catfish. Largemouth bass fair in both lakes. Brice Porter, Castaic, 8 3/4-pound bass, caught on purple plastic worm. Bluegill bite good. Trout biting in deep water.

IRVINE LAKE--Largemouth bass biting primarily off points and near dam. Plastic worms best bet. Crappie biting near docks, red clay cliffs and along west shore near dam. Trout biting mainly at Sierra Cove and at the flats. Craig Shinmoto and Hibeted Kikochi, Torrance, 10 trout, 29 1/4 pounds. Catfish biting throughout lake. Paul Kelly, Tustin, five catfish, 22 1/2 pounds. Dan and Alice Rogers, La Habra, five catfish, 25 pounds.

BIG BEAR--Trout biting throughout lake in deep water. Most baits working. Catfish picking up, biting best along east shoreline and near weedy areas. Largemouth bass fair, biting best off points.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Striped bass biting primarily in Cleghorn and Miller canyons. Catfish biting best at Outhouse Cove and dam. Largemouth bass and crappie fair.

BISHOP AREA--Crowley: Trout to four pounds common. Sacramento perch biting at 20 feet. (Beginning Aug. 1, fishermen will be restricted to a daily limit of two trout, 18 inches or longer, and use of artificial lures with a single barbless hook.) Sabrina: Bait fishermen using nightcrawlers doing best, fishing mainly near inlet. Trolled Dave Davis and worm also productive. Pleasant Valley dam fishermen doing best in early morning and evenings, using Power Bait and nightcrawlers primarily near gorge and dam.

JUNE LAKE AREA--June, Gull and Silver lakes producing four- to six-pound brood stock. Trolled silver needlefish and frogs working best. Red salmon eggs yielding limits at Grant Lake inlet.

BRIDGEPORT AREA--Boaters doing best at Bridgeport Reservoir, but weeds making for tough fishing. Twin Lakes: Fishing fair for brown trout, with fish reported at 12 and 11 1/2 pounds. Bubble-and-fly rigs working best for planters.

Trout Plants

LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Castaic Lake, Pyramid Lake.

RIVERSIDE--Fulmor Lake, Hemet Lake.

SAN BERNARDINO--Arrowbear Lake, Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake.

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

INYO--Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Lower, Middle and South forks and Intake II), Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Pine Creek, Rock Creek (Rock Creek Lake to the end of the road), Rock Creek Lake, South Lake, Taboose Creek, Tinnemeha Creek, Tuttle Creek.

MONO--Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Green Creek, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lake Mary, Lee Vining Creek and South Fork, Little Walker River, Lundy Lake, Mamie Lake, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Owens River (Benton Crossing and Big Springs), Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Paradise Camp to Toms Place, Toms Place upstream to Rock Creek Lake), Rush Creek, Saddlebag Creek, Saddlebag Lake, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, Tioga Lake, Trumble Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport, Twin Lakes Mammoth, Virginia Creek, Virginia Lakes, Walker River (Chris Flat Campground to town of Walker, Leavitt Meadows Campground to Sonora bridge).

KERN--Kern River (Democrat Dam to KR1 powerhouse, Borell powerhouse to Democrat Dam, Isabella Dam to Borell powerhouse, KR3 powerhouse to Lake Isabella).