Big Bear Schedules Contest

Four hundred anglers have entered Big Bear Lake’s annual trout tournament, scheduled this weekend, with prizes from $50 to $1,800 given for the nine largest rainbows.

Anglers must weigh in their fish at the Pleasure Point Marina before 6 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Lin Crawford’s tackle store is tournament headquarters. He recommends trolling with swimming minnow-type lures, five feet deep in early morning and late afternoon, 10 to 12 feet during the day.

Fresh Water

BIG BEAR LAKE--About 3,000 pounds of trout were planted from the Whitewater private hatchery last week in anticipation of the annual tournament this weekend. Most are four-eight pounds, a few two-three pounds, and about 50 are eight-15 pounds.

LAKE PERRIS--Free fishing clinics for beginners each Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m., at launch ramp. Settling down after recent cold-water infusion. Bass 7 1/2 and 5 pounds from east end, with plastic worms. Many bluegills from shore and east end.

CASTAIC LAKE--Trout fishing good since two plants last week. Standard baits best. Bass tournament last week produced nothing big. Bass deep to 40 feet, can be had with plastic worms, jigs and spoons.

LAKE CACHUMA--Catfish still hot. Rusty Rhodes, Redding, 10 off shoreline, nine-16 pounds, with mackerel. Warren Gibbs, Santa Barbara, 16 3/4- and 17-pounders, on mackerel. Trout anglers trolling 3-4 colors by Johnson’s Bay, with rainbow needlefish. Private hatchery now stocking each Thursday with half-pound trout or better to supplement state plants. Bass slow.

LAKE SKINNER--”Dead zone” between bass-catfish high summer and start of trout catch. Riverside County planted 2,500 pounds of trout up to three pounds last week, state due to follow. Some catfish taken, three-five pounds. Bass there for skilled anglers. Water is higher than normal so plenty of places for them to hide in reeds.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Randy Muierhead, San Bernardino, caught a 17-pound striper using a Broken Back Bomber in the channel, working the points. Nightcrawlers and chicken livers working in channel for catfish. Crappie biting on jigs with smoke sparkle from rental boats at marina. Catfish biting all over lake. Largemouths hitting well on nightcrawlers and grubs. Trout plant due, so look for stripers at planting site.

IRVINE LAKE--Closed until trout opener Oct. 26.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass biting mainly in lower basin, averaging under five pounds. Fish biting on surface in mornings, moving deeper and biting on anchovies during day.

LAKE HAVASU--Striped bass biting on surface mornings, with medium- and deep-running plugs working best. Bait fishing with anchovies during day at 45 feet productive. Largemouth bass slow.

BULLHEAD CITY--Trout bite strong in river, with Blue Fox spinner and Power Bait working best. Striped bass biting on lake. Chet Moreland, Bullhead City, 9 1/2-pound striper. Catfish biting in coves in lake.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina slow, biting best from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. off State Park jetty. Sargo biting off jetties. Croaker action good at Bombay Beach and Desert Shores. Channel Catfish biting off All-American and Hiline canals.

LAKE CASITAS--Lots of stringers resulted from plants of 5,000 pounds of trout last week. Power Bait and small spinners working in front of marina and in Wadleigh Arm. A few bass to three pounds deep in weeds, taking small grubs and plastic worms.

PYRAMID LAKE--One nine-pound striper taken near the island on a night crawlers, but otherwise quiet. Small school of stripers to three pounds by dock, boiling after shad. Real small lures should work anywhere in lake, but need to be crafty. Plenty of bluegills. Some nice largemouths.

LAKE PIRU--Trout and bass by dam in 15-20 feet of water. Power Bait and spinner baits best. Try nightcrawlers for bass.

BISHOP AREA--Crowley: Water level low, but gray ghost flies and Perch Sierra Specials producing occasional five-pound brown trout. Lake Sabrina best at inlet, with Power Bait and worms producing some limits. Stream fishing slowing down. Pleasant Vallley Reservoir fair, with Power Bait and small spinners producing pan-sized rainbows. Crickets working best on Owens River.

JUNE LAKE AREA--Fishing excellent in most areas. Shore fishing most productive. June and Gull lakes yielding several limits on most baits. Nightcrawlers working best at Silver and Grant lakes.

BRIDGEPORT AREA--Virginia and Twin Lakes good for rainbows two-five pounds. Shore fishermen using Wobbling Spoon or Power Bait. Double plants by DFG making for good fishing at most areas. West Walker River most productive. Back country: Cooney and Poore lakes good for native trout.