Outdoors : Castaic Lake Anglers Get Trophy-Size Largemouths

An unseasonably strong largemouth bass bite continues at Castaic Lake, where fishermen have come from throughout the Southland to try for a trophy-sized fish.

David Hepburn drove to the Los Angeles County reservoir from Whittier and caught a 14 1/4-pound largemouth. Chip Vannoy came from Moorpark and landed a 13-pound 5-ounce bass. Troy Folkestad’s trip from Huntington Beach paid off in a 12-pound 10-ounce fish.

LAKE MEAD--Fishing is slow.

LAKE HAVASU--Striped bass are still at 40 feet, most in the four-pound range. Live shad, frozen anchovies and silver spoons are working best. Largemouth bass are biting on plastic worms from 15 to 30 feet. Catfish are slow.

BULLHEAD CITY--Stripers are still active on the lake. Lawrence Cocad, Bullhead City, caught 18- and 12-pound stripers. Trolled lures are working best. Several limits of planted trout are coming from the river. Catfish are biting mainly at Topak Marsh.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina are picking up at Corvine Beach and Salt Creek. Trolling Thin Fin or Lunker lures are the best bet. Fish are averaging eight pounds. Sargo are active off North Shore jetty. Croaker action is best at Bombay Beach and Niland Marina.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout were planted twice last week and are biting on most baits near the launch ramp. Trollers are doing best using three-four colors and needlefish lure near dam or north shore. Largemouth bass are at 12 feet off rocky points and bay entrances. Catfish are slow.

LAKE CASITAS--Trout favoring nightcrawlers are biting primarily on west and east sides of the island. Largemouth bass averaging two pounds are biting best on crank baits at the northwest side of the island. Catfish are at 30 feet, and are most active off Arrow Island. Leonard Gibson, Oak View, caught a 15-pound catfish.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass are most active in the marina, biting best on Pencil Popper lures. Paul Selkirk, Frazier Park, caught and released 25- and 10-pound stripers. Largemouth bass are biting fair in marina and Yellow Bar Cove. Randy Crabtree, Bakersfield, had two bass, six pounds, caught on purple plastic worms. Pat Whitdy, Tehachapi, caught three bass, 5 1/2 pounds, on nightcrawlers. Catfish are biting primarily at Glory Hole and Priest coves.

LAKE PIRU--Trout are the main attraction. Power Bait is producing the best results. The dam and San Felicia Cove are the best areas. Largemouth bass are picking up, biting at the north end. Steve Tsujiuchi, Torrance, caught and released a 9-pound bass. Steve Schoemann, Thousand Oaks, caught an 8-pound bass. Catfish are slow.

CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass are providing the most action, biting in both lakes. Sam Amormino, Los Angeles, caught a 9-pound bass; Mike Hagerty, Sepulveda, a 10-pound bass that he released. Crappie are biting in upper lake on mini-jigs. Trout were stocked Tuesday and are biting best on Power Bait.

IRVINE LAKE--Trout fishing is steady and best in Sierra Cove and West Shore. Fernando Gutierrez, San Dimas, caught a 9 3/4-pound trout. Ed Otte, Norwalk, an 8 1/2-pound trout. Derek Smith, Costa Mesa, a 7 1/4-pounder. Jim Sakaida, El Toro, a 4 1/4-pound trout. Other species are slow.

PERRIS LAKE--Fishing is slow overall. Best bet: largemouth bass at east end.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Largemouth bass are providing the most action, averaging three-four pounds and biting off rocky points on spinner baits and plastic worms. Ralph Sierra, Fontana, had an eight-pound bass. Striped bass are fair, biting at 60 feet near the dam. Crappie are active at the outhouse cove, biting best on yellow and white mini-jigs.