Outdoors : Reservoirs Welcome Rain

Rain has slowed the fishing at many Southland reservoirs, but their operators aren’t complaining.

The water level at Santa Barbara County’s Lake Cachuma, for example, is 66 feet below normal--the lowest it has ever been.

“It’s survival,” a lake spokesman said of the need for rain, adding that without a significant amount this year the spawning of fish could be severely affected.

Nearby Lake Casitas, in Ventura County, is reportedly down 39 feet from its historical level.

LAKE MEAD--Fishing extremely poor.

LAKE HAVASU--Striped bass scattered, biting best off points from 30-40 feet. Frozen anchovies, live shad and spoons working. Largemouth bass slow, best chance upriver near ledges at 20-30 feet. Catfish on bottom biting on anchovies.

BULLHEAD CITY--Striped bass hitting surface to sub-surface lures in Lake Mohave. Most in the six-pound range. Charles Crate, Bullhead City, 22-pound striper. Several limits of pan-size trout coming from river, taken on most baits.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina becoming active at Red Hill and Niland Marina--occasional nine-fish limits of fish between 8-10 pounds. Thin Fin lures working best. Croaker picking up throughout sea, best off banks in afternoons. Tilapia slow. Channel catfish averaging five pounds biting in All-American Canal on chicken livers and mackerel.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout providing most action, biting at 30 feet. Largemouth bass favoring chartreuse or green plastic worms.

LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass picking up, biting on crank baits and plastic worms. Catfish at 50 feet, biting on mackerel. Tom Leckey, Ojai, 12-pound catfish. Trout slow.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass active in marina after trout plant. Allan Cole, Lancaster, 24- and 9-pound stripers. Ed Kurhiana, Monterey Park, 30-pound striper. Several limits of trout. Occasional trout to three pounds. Largemouth bass averaging three pounds biting mainly at Lost Mine Cove. Catfish best at Bear Trap area.

LAKE PIRU--Largemouth bass picking up. James Wells, Arleta, 6 1/4-pound bass. Dayton Grant, North Hollywood, 4 1/2-pound bass. Several near-limits of trout, most being taken by trollers--using frog needlefish lures--and bait fishermen using Berkley Power Bait. Catfish fair at dam. Mackerel best bet.

CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass bite fair between storms. Dave Keyes, Woodland Hills, 10 1/2-pound bass, caught on lower lake. Paul Johnson, Hermosa Beach, 6 1/2- and 5-pound bass. Paul Shepherd, 11 3/4-pound bass. Brian Porter, Castaic, 8 3/4-pound bass. Trout fair. Catfish slow.

IRVINE LAKE--Trout most active at West Shore, Sierra Cove and Trout Island. Trollers using rainbow and shad-colored Rapalas. Fernando Gutierrez, San Dimas, five trout, 21 pounds. Scott Hughs, Van Nuys, 5 3/4-pound trout. Crappie biting at West Shore area. Don Ware, Newport Beach, 10 crappie, five pounds. Ron Couch, Westminster, 11 1/2-pound sturgeon.

PERRIS LAKE--Fishing pressure light. Spotted and largemouth bass fairly active in deep water, biting primarily on nightcrawlers and Hopkins lures. Some limits of pan-sized trout, coming mostly from launch ramp area.