Anglers Reportedly Taking Bluegill Out of Lake Perris by the Bucketful

The bluegill have apparently turned on at Riverside County’s Lake Perris.

“People are literally dragging ‘em out in buckets,” assistant marina manager Charlie Lamkin said.

Most of the fish are pan-size, but one bass angler checked in a bluegill weighing 2 1/2 pounds, not far under the lake record of 2-pounds 15-ounces.

COLORADO RIVER--Lake Mead: Striped bass picking up, biting on surface in mornings and at 45 feet on anchovies during day. Black Island and Vegas Wash channel best areas. Largemouth bass slow. Catfish biting throughout lake, primarily in coves. Willow Beach: Striped bass biting down river and near hatchery. Trout biting best up river. Lake Havasu--Striped bass biting on surface throughout lake, averaging three pounds. Various surface lures and plugs working. Largemouth bass slow. Catfish bite good, averaging five pounds.

BULLHEAD CITY--Several limits of sub-pound trout, with an occasional fish to three pounds. Striped bass slow. Catfish bite good throughout lake, best in coves. Largemouth bass bite consistent in shady areas off points.

LAKE CACHUMA--Catfish bite good throughout lake in shallows. Mackerel best bet. Ryan Rhodes, Santa Barbara, three catfish, 30 pounds. Trout biting near dam, with trollers using nine colors doing best. Several limits. Largemouth bass slow.

LAKE CASITAS--Catfish biting in shallow grassy areas. Mackerel best bet. David Peterson, Thousand Oaks, 13 1/2-pound catfish. George Collier, Oxnard, six catfish, 35 pounds. Trout biting primarily at dam at 45-50 feet. Berkley Power Bait best bet. Largemouth bass slow.

LAKE PIRU--Largemouth bass bite fair, best along east bank off rocky points. Bob Murdoch, Van Nuys, 9-9 bass. Catfish biting throughout lake. Mackerel best bet. John Acupe, El Segundo, 10-pound catfish. Trout biting at about 70 feet.

LAKE CASTAIC--Bluegill bite excellent, primarily on upper lake. Meal worms best bet. Largemouth bass bite good on upper lake, but fish are small. Lower lake producing larger fish. Night crawlers and plastic worms working best. Wayne Garber, Saugus, six-pound bass. Catfish bite best in upper lake, biting in shallow water. Mackerel best bet. Clyde Sanchez and son Clyde, La Crescenta, 14 catfish, 103 pounds, caught in upper lake.

LAKE SKINNER--Catfish providing most action, biting throughout lake. Several baits working best bet. Ed Parks, Wildomar, 7 1/2-pound catfish. Bluegills biting throughout lake, with meal worms the best bet. Trout, crappie and largemouth bass slow.

LAKE PERRIS--Bluegill excellent, on salt-and-pepper grubs, or meal worms and crickets from shore. Spotted bass slow, with most catches below 15-inch minimum. Trout limits being taken by trolling deep with needlefish.

BIG BEAR--Trout fishing fair, with most baits producing for pan-sized rainbows. Catfish and bluegill biting throughout lake. Steve Thomas, Corona, 11 3/4-pound catfish. Largemouth bass fair, with fish to three pounds. Spinner baits in late afternoons best bet.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Striped bass fair, best in mornings and evenings. Surface lures resembling trout working best. Largemouth bass fair. Catfish providing most action, primarily in Miller and Cleghorn canyons at 60 feet. Crappie biting under cover of trees, best at Outhouse Cove and near dam.

BISHOP AREA--Crowley: Sacramento perch most prevalent catch, with fish to two pounds. Trout bite slow during day and fair during evenings. Trolling deep in channel best method. Sabrina: Trollers using four-five colors and Dave Davies lures with a worm or small Rapalas. Shore fishermen doing best with Power Bait or nightcrawlers for 10-to 14-inch fish. South: Several limits of rainbows, taken with most baits.

JUNE LAKE AREA--Good fishing despite strong winds. Shore fishermen doing best at June using red salmon eggs or Power Bait. Trollers doing well with flashers and nightcrawlers. Gull Lake rated excellent, with artificials producing several limits and an occasional trophy-sized trout.

BRIDGEPORT AREA--Bridgeport Reservoir rated good, with salmon eggs and Power Bait producing best results. Lower Twin: Kokanee salmon biting toward upper end. Virginia Lakes: Bait fishing good during day and bubble-and-fly rig with black-gnat or California mosquito patterns best during evenings.

Trout Plants

RIVERSIDE--Fulmor Lake, Hemet Lake.

SAN BERNARDINO--Gregory Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River (South Fork), Silverwood Lake.

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

MONO--Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Green Creek, Gull Lake, Hilton Creek, June Lake, Lake Mary, Lee Vining Creek, Lee Vining Creek (South Fork), Little Walker Lake, Little Walker River, Lundy Lake, Mamie Lakem Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Owens River (Benton Crossing and Big Springs), Reversed Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Paradise Camp to Tom’s Place, Tom’s Place upstream to Rock Creek Lake), Rush Creek, Saddlebag Lake, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, Tioga Lake, Trumbull Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport, Twin Lakes Mammoth, 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).