49 1/2-Pound Striper Among Large Ones at Lake Mead
The striped bass in Lake Mead are generally a small and skinny lot, but don’t tell that to Skeeter Romans of Henderson, Nev., who last week caught a 49 1/2-pounder striper just outside of the Vegas Wash area.
A spokesman at the Fishin’ Hole, a nearby bait shop, said he also weighed in a 46-pound striper, caught near the Lake Mead Marina, and a 41-pounder, taken from Vegas Wash.
LAKE MEAD--Wind has been strong, but small striped bass active on anchovies in lower basin. An occasional large fish making appearance. Largemouth bass most active in coves or off points of coves. Catfishing improving slightly, with most baits equally effective.
BULLHEAD CITY--Striped bass active in river, averaging two to five pounds. Frozen anchovies best bet. Trout active but small in river. Power Bait and small spinners working best. Catfish biting in coves of Lake Mohave. Mackerel best bet.
SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina active at Red Hill and Salt Creek. Live tilapia minnows working best for fish upwards of 10 pounds. Catfish biting in fresh-water canals.
LAKE CACHUMA--Largemouth bass active, averaging between four and seven pounds, biting mainly at east end on crawfish-colored plugs and crawfish. Glen Thompson, Santa Barbara, six-pound bass. Catfish averaging just over 10 pounds, biting best on mackerel. Bill Rotondo, Santa Barbara, 17 1/2-pound catfish. Trout biting on nightcrawlers at 30 feet. Trollers using two-five colors and needlefish lures. Red-ear perch attacking meal worms and nightcrawlers near launch ramp.
LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass still preferring crawfish at between 15 and 20 feet. A few going after plastic worms. Rich Dalby, Los Angeles, 12-pound bass, caught on plastic worm at 10 feet. Kay Swars, Oxnard, 10 1/2-pound bass, caught on crawfish at 20 feet. Trout biting at 70 feet. Trollers doing best using 10 colors and small spinners or needlefish lures. Red-ear perch in shallow water, biting mainly on white mini-jigs. Light line a must. Jim Hollis, Ojai, 23-fish stringer and 11-pound bass. Catfish active at 30 feet, mainly in Dead Horse Canyon and Wadleigh Arm. Mackerel best bet. George Collier, Port Hueneme, three catfish, 10 pounds apiece.
PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass providing most action, mainly in marina. Anchovies or nightcrawlers at 40 feet best bet. Yoon Sikcho, Los Angeles, two seven-pound stripers. H.K. Chang, Northridge, seven-pound striper. Largemouth and catfish bass slow. Bluegill active near dam. Meal worms best bet. Trout fair in deep water. P. McCoy, Bakersfield, 4 1/2-pound trout.
LAKE PIRU--Largemouth bass fair, most weighing less than two pounds. Plastic worms and nightcrawlers working best. Reuben Morales, Panorama City, 7 3/4-pound bass. Doug Lazemby, Santa Paula, 7 1/2-pound bass. Trout planted last Thursday. Trollers doing best using six-seven colors and bikini needlefish at dam. Catfish active in northeast corner of lake, averaging about six pounds, biting on mackerel. Joe Kuddes, Santa Paula, 14-pound catfish.
LAKE CASTAIC--Largemouth bass most active in lower lake, but big fish being taken from upper and lower. Nightcrawlers and artificials working. Catfish fair on mackerel. Bluegill and crappie active in coves, attacking mini-jigs and meal worms.
PUDDINGSTONE RESERVOIR--Trout active throughout lake; one reported at seven pounds. Most between 13-14 inches. Power Bait and nightcrawlers working best. Bluegills and red-ear perch extremely active, particularly at east shore on worms. Jim Gellar, Azusa, 15-fish stringer. Largemouth bass slow, biting mainly on surface lures and plastics. Water 68 degrees.
PERRIS LAKE--Bluegill providing most action, biting in marina on meal worms and crickets. Largemouth and spotted bass fair, best at east end. Plastic worms best bet.
BIG BEAR--Trout fishing good throughout lake. Bait fishermen using Power Bait. Trollers using Rapalas, needlefish lures and small spinners. The weekend’s May Trout Derby was won by Bob Snyder of Costa Mesa with a 6.97-pound trout, good for $1,800. Second place went to Tony Gentile of Corona with a 3.72-pound rainbow and third to Steve Osenbaugh of Norco with a 3.41-pounder. Largemouth bass beginning to spawn, biting on dark-colored plastic worms and spinner baits.
LAKE SILVERWOOD--Trout stocked in Cleghorn Canyon last Friday. Strong winds scattered trout, which scattered striped bass. Surface lures best bet in mornings, sub-surface lures preferable during day. Ed Kurihara, Monterey Park, 23-pound striper, caught in Miller Canyon. Bob Bellucci, San Pedro, 17 3/4-pound striper, caught in Miller Canyon. Largemouth bass biting off major points. Grubs and spinner baits working. Bill Clements, Torrance, eight-pound bass caught at spillway. Crap-pie biting mainly in Cleghorn, with bubblegum-colored Bullet Jigs producing most fish. Catfish scattered, biting on most catfish baits.
BISHOP AREA--Crowley Lake: fishing fair for brown and rainbow trout, most weighing a pound or more. Some limits. Pleasant Valley Reservoir fair. Owens River fishermen using most baits catching several near-limits of fish averaging a pound. Lake Sabrina slow.
JUNE LAKE LOOP--June Lake: Trollers using Rapalas in deep water in early morning catching mostly stocked rainbows, but an occasional cutthroat. Salmon eggs and Power Bait best bets for bait fishermen, catching 12- to 14-inch trout. Gull Lake: Marshmallow-worm combination producing trout to two pounds. Silver Lake: Trolling fly in late evening has been most productive, for 12- to 14-inch trout. Rush Creek: Panther Martin lures and red salmon egg-worm combinations working best.
BRIDGEPORT AREA--Virginia Lake productive, with small spinners and bait netting pan-size rainbows, browns and an occasional brook trout. Bridgeport Reservoir: Good for one- to three-pound rainbow trout and one- to two-pound browns, most taken on inflated nightcrawlers and Power Bait. Wobbling spoons and large spinners working in mornings and evenings. Twin Lakes: Producing trout averaging one to three pounds. Power Bait-salmon eggs or Power Bait-worm combinations working. Jim Bringhurst, Apple Valley, nine-pound brown caught trolling Rapala. East Walker River producing 15- to 20-inch browns and rainbows, mostly on large nymphs and stringers.
Trout Plants
LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Peck Road Park Lake, Santa Fe Reservoir.
ORANGE--Laguna Niguel Park Lake.
SAN BERNARDINO--Gregory Lake, Jenks Lake.
VENTURA--Lake Casitas, Lake Piru, Rose Valley Lakes.
SANTA BARBARA--Lake Cachuma.
INYO--Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Lower, Middle, South forks and Intake II), Convict Lake, Cottonwood Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, Lone Pine Creek, Owens River (below Tinnemaha and Laws Bridge downstream to Steward Lane), Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Rock Creek Lake, Shepherds Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MONO--Convict Lake, George Lake, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lake Mary, Mamie Lake, Rock Creek (Paradise Camp to Tom’s Place, Tom’s Place upstream to Rock Creek Lake), Silver Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport, Twin Lakes Mammoth.
KERN--Brite Valley Lake, Kern River (Borell Powerhouse to Democrat Dam, Isabella Dam to Borell Power house, KR3 Powerhouse to Lake Isabella).
