Outdoors : DFG to Stock Trout for Season Opening
Trout season opens Saturday and the Department of Fish and Game is geared to produce and stock 963,000 pounds or 1,926,000 catchable-size rainbow trout in Inyo and Mono counties during the six-month season.
Additionally, DFG will stock 475,000 subcatchable trout in the Eastern Sierra and 125,000 subcatchable brown trout in Bridgeport Reservoir, Grant Lake, Lundy Lake and upper and lower Virginia Lakes.
The daily limit has been reduced from 10 to five per day, 10 in possession. Fisherman were allowed 10 fish per day last year.
LAKE MEAD--Striped bass small but active in lower basin and Overton Arm and above Temple Bar. Anchovies best bet. Largemouth bass picking up slowly, biting mostly on live bait in coves of lower basin and Overton Arm. Catfish slow.
BULLHEAD CITY--Striped bass biting in river, averaging between two and seven pounds. Anchovies and Rapalas working best. Catfish biting in coves of Lake Mohave on mackerel and anchovies. Trout slow.
SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina biting mainly at Red Hill and Bombay Beach, averaging between 10-12 pounds and favoring tilapia minnows or mudsuckers. Croaker bite wide open at North Shore and Bombay Beach. Anchovies or nightcrawlers best bet. Flathead catfish to 20 pounds biting in East Highland Canal outside of Niland and Alamo River.
LAKE CACHUMA--Most species active before Monday’s rain. Catfish biting on mackerel throughout lake at three-five feet. Crappie biting mainly at east end on mini-jigs and Roostertail lures to 20 feet. Red Ear perch biting on nightcrawlers. Largemouth bass biting best in shallow water on crawfish-colored lures. Ron Boyce, Lompoc, 5 3/4- and 2-pound largemouth. Pan-size trout biting in deep water.
LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass biting near island on crawfish. Jim Mason, Oakview, five bass, 47 pounds. Tom Ashby, Culver City, 11-pound bass. Red ear perch biting primarily on meal worms at Wadleigh Arm and Station Canyon. Catfish biting at about 10 feet. Mackerel best bet. Trout fair in deep water. Trollers using five colors and needlefish lures.
LAKE PIRU--Largemouth bass averaging 1 3/4 pounds, biting mainly along rocky ledges near east side of dam. Joe Russell, Santa Paula, five-fish limit, 17 pounds, all released. Trout being caught by trollers at 18 feet. Maria Gedman, Hollywood, 2 1/2-pound trout. Catfish becoming active toward north and and swim area. Bob Doss, Simi Valley, 24-pound catfish. Richard DeCloidt, Sepulveda, 23-pound catfish. Most averaging six pounds.
LAKE CASTAIC--Catfish becoming active, mainly in lower lake. Steven Grinter, Alta Loma, 10- and 6-pound catfish, caught on nightcrawlers. Mark McMurry, Castaic, 20-pound catfish, caught on mackerel. Largemouth bass active in both lakes, with lower getting the edge. Leo Castaneda, Los Angeles, 6 1/4-pound bass, caught on plastic worm. John Blunt, Castaic, 6 3/4-pound bass caught on nightcrawler.
KERN RIVER/LAKE ISABELLA--Largemouth bass averaging between 1 1/2-3 pounds, biting at 4-10 feet. Plastic worms, nightcrawlers and crankbaits working best. Trout bite good near main dam area on west side on floating Power Bait, nightcrawlers and trolled needlefish working best. River producing pan-sized trout with an occasional fish to four pounds. Small lures, salmon eggs and crickets working best. Catfish bite picking up in lake, biting on most catfish baits.
IRVINE LAKE--Trout and crappie providing most action. Trout biting best on Power Bait and nightcrawlers at Sierra Cove, West Shore and Trout Island. Ron Matthews, Yorba Linda, six-pound trout, caught in Sierra Cove on nightcrawler. Crappie biting on mini-jigs anywhere near brush. Largemouth bass good near boat docks and Rocky Point. Bill Wofford, Garden Grove, 5 1/2-pound bass, caught on plastic worm near Rocky Point. Catfish still slow.
PUDDINGSTONE RESERVOIR--Water 65 degrees. Largemouth bass biting on plastic worms and grubs. Gary White, Covina, 7 1/2-pound bass caught off east shore on purple grub, released. Trout slowing down, nightcrawlers and Berkley Power Bait working best. John Rippen, Downey, four-pound trout, caught on nightcrawler at swim beach. Bluegills and red ear perch biting on most types of worms. James Colton, Long Beach, 20-fish stringer. Catfish begining to bite, best at north shore.
PERRIS LAKE--Largemouth and spotted bass active at east end or back side of island. Crawfish and plastic worms working best. Bluegills biting around marina and east end of lake. Meal worms best bet. Trout and catfish slow.
LAKE SKINNER--Trollers using orange needlefish lures doing well at dam. Bait fishermen using nightcrawlers. Largemouth bass in shallows, particularly active near launch ramp II. Plastic worms best bet. Chris Carter, Redlands, seven-pound bass. Catfish averaging about three pounds, biting near dam on nightcrawlers and off north shoreline.
BIG BEAR--Trout fishing good for boaters throughout lake. Most lures and baits working. Dam and north shore good for shore fishermen. Several limits, most fish weighing 1 1/2 pounds. Crappie becoming more active in Metcalf and Boulder Bays, and Big Bear Marina. Mini-jigs best bet. Largemouth bass slow, biting in deep water.
LAKE SILVERWOOD--Crappie extremely active in Cleghorn Canyon. Light line and mini-jigs in most colors working. Some fish to three pounds. Catfish picking up, biting on chicken livers near dam, in Outhouse Cove and Cleghorn Canyon. Largemouth bass taking plastic worms and spinner baits, most active in channel and near mouth heading toward the dam. Striped bass fair, with fish to 30 pounds reported. Channel and shadowed coves best areas. Fishing derby for the handicapped Saturday, sponsored by State Parks Dept.: (619) 389-2303.
