Outdoors : Lunkers on the Move Mean Angler Paradise

The water is warming and the largemouth bass are moving into the shallows to spawn at most Southland reservoirs, which means it’s prime time for the bass fisherman.

“They’re in five feet of water and you can see ‘em,” said a spokeswoman at Ventura County’s Lake Casitas.

The bigger fish are still somewhat sluggish, but that should change as the water warms.

Andy Wahrenbrock of La Crescenta caught an 11 1/2-pound bass and Dale Eccleston of Ontario caught a 10 3/4-pounder.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass at 60 feet on anchovies. Largemouth bass beginning to spawn and some taken in shallow areas near brush. Waterdogs best bet. Catfish picking up, biting on most baits.

BULLHEAD CITY--Striped bass slow, some biting on lakes. Largemouth moving into brush, biting on plastic worms and jigs. Pan-sized trout biting fairly consistently near docks.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina best in afternoon and evening on tilapia minnows. Mullet Island, State Park, Salt Creek and Red Hill productive areas. Shore fishermen catching croaker off State Park jetty with worms and frozen anchovies.

LAKE CACHUMA--Smallmouth bass biting across from Jackrabbit Flats, Johnson Bay and east end on crawfish and most artificials. Largemouth bass not as active, but bigger. East end most productive. Catfish bite excellent in shallow water throughout lake. Mackerel best bet. Tony Santiago, Santa Maria, 15-pound catfish. Mark Hendrickson and Mark Chambers, Santa Ynez, five catfish, 62 pounds. Crappie bite fair, averaging two pounds.

LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass active in shallow water, biting best on crawfish and light-colored plastic worms. Most are being released. Trollers doing best for trout at 30-40 feet. Catfish biting at 10 feet, averaging eight to 10 pounds. Red ear perch biting mainly at 20 feet off east shoreline.

PYRAMID LAKE--Most species fairly active. Striped bass boiling on surface in Priest and Brazo’s coves, some taken on surface lures. Largemouth bass fair, moving slowly into shallow water. Wesley Burns, Lamont, 6-10 largemouth bass.

LAKE PIRU--Trout the best bet, several limits taken from 8-12 feet on gold Kastmasters and green needlefish lures. Power Bait at dam and San Felicia Cove also productive. Largemouth bass becoming more active, with jigs and crank-baits working near rocks and brush. Catfish picking up, biting mainly near dam and northeast end of lake. Crappie biting mainly at marina and San Felicia Cove. Mini-jigs best bet.

LAKE CASTAIC--Most species becoming increasingly active, but largemouth bass still prefer live bait. Rachael Montaheoca, 4, Pacoima, 7 1/4-pound bass caught in lower lake on nightcrawler. Ricardo Orozco, Tujunga, 29 bluegills, seven pounds, caught in upper lake. Donald Cooper, Tujunga, six catfish between three and 10 pounds.

KERN RIVER/LAKE ISABELLA--Smaller bass biting in shallows on most artificials; bigger fish at 25 feet, biting mainly on plastic worms at Rocky Point, Boulder Gulch and South Fork. Trout fair offshore, biting on nightcrawler-marshmallow combination, Power Bait and spinners. River stocked Tuesday. Catfish picking up, biting on clams, anchovies and mackerel.

IRVINE LAKE--Trout still providing most action, biting mainly near Trout Island and Sierra Cove. Nick Avemaria, Placentia, five trout, 12 pounds, caught on nightcrawlers. Bernie Moreno, Westminster, five trout, 6 1/2-pounds, caught on cheese. Craig Pierce, El Toro, two trout, 11 pounds, caught on Power Bait. Cody Maresh, Santa Ana, 6 1/2-pound trout, caught on Power Bait. Three sturgeon to 16 1/2 pounds caught in Sierra Cove Tuesday.

PUDDINGSTONE RESERVOIR--Bluegills and red ear perch active, biting on meal worms, red worms and local worms taken from mud. Sammy Grant, Pomona, 30 combined bluegill-red ear, east shore. Trout biting mainly on inflated nightcrawlers. Swim Beach and east shore best area. Alton Bossert, West Covina, 4- 3 1/2- 2-pound trout, caught from Swim Beach. Brant Stewart, La Puente, five trout, six pounds. Largemouth bass spawning, biting on most grubs and other artificials. George Pardee, Azusa, four-pound bass.

PERRIS LAKE--Trout to two pounds biting near dam and island. Bluegills active in marina. Spotted and largemouth bass biting in marina, east end and dam. Crawfish and plastic worms working best.

BIG BEAR--Trout to seven pounds biting near dam on north side at Windy Point and Juniper Point. South end: Fisher Point most productive. Several limits of trout from 12-15 inches. Power Bait best bet. Other species slow.