Golden Finds Junk Food Is Bad for You

Most California anglers have never seen a golden trout, the state fish that lives in high-elevation lakes of the Sierra Nevada, and most goldens have never seen Power Bait, the manufactured mush that common rainbow trout seem to find irresistible. Sophisticated anglers would prefer to use flies when they go after goldens.

But Power Bait is what Matt Nitschke of Eastern Sierra Fishing Guide in Bishop used to catch one at Hidden Lake weighing 3 pounds 1/4 ounce and measuring 18 1/2 inches--a whopper for a golden.

Nitschke and the fish were probably equally surprised.

PUDDINGSTONE RESERVOIR--Good plant of trout last week, hitting in morning on cheese-colored Power Bait. North shore best. Bluegill, red-ears spawning and biting all over lake, small meal worms. East shore best. Roy Eves, San Dimas, stringer of 15 at north shore. Bass improving on surface crank bait, shad-colored. James Long, Azusa, 6-pound bass, Rat-L-Trap, east shore. Catfish starting to hit. Water temperature up to 71. First night bass tournament scheduled June 30. Information: (714) 599-8411.

LAKE PERRIS--Many bass, bluegill, trout and catfish. Spotted and largemouth bass both hitting. Gilbert Keyner, Mira Loma, 2 1/4-pound bluegill on night crawler, east end. John Williams, Moreno Valley, 1 1/2-pound trout, Panther Martin, by dam. Most bass short, but some keepers.

LAKE MEAD--Windy recently. Few anglers catching small stripers, some to 4-5 pounds, on anchovies in Vegas Wash and Overton Arm. Largemouth and catfish slow.

LAKE HAVASU--Striped bass hot, in deeper water on cut bait, trolling. Also top-water action, with surface or sub-surface lures. Bass showing in coves. Spinner baits, shallow to medium, running lures, rubber worms, grubs. Water clear, so anglers must be careful not to startle fish.

SALTON SEA--Hot weather has fish moving well. Water temperate in 80s. Corvina biting at Red Hill and Niland Marina area, drifting live bait. Croaker especially good at north shore, anchovies and nightcrawlers. Flathead catfish biting at Alamo River and All-American Canal, goldfish and talapia minnows.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout, catfish and a few bass. Trout 1 1/2-2 pounds, trolling 2-5 colors at dam with needlefish or bait fishing 30 feet deep with Power Bait or night crawlers. Bass to 7 1/2 pounds, from east end on spinner bait, pig-’n-jigs, nightcrawlers. Catfish up to 17 1/2 pounds hitting mackerel in shallow water. Rhonda Dicey, Lomita, 2 3/8-pound red ear.

LAKE CASITAS--Bass showing up. Adam Zetter, Santa Barbara, 9 1/2-pound largemouth, Zera spook surface lure, around big island. Jim Menere, Ventura, 23-pound catfish, mackerel, 15 feet deep, at Wobbly Arm. Perch starting to move, red eared sunfish on mini-jigs. Some trout, trolling needlefish lures 10-plus colors deep.

PYRAMID LAKE--Stripers good, using anchovies in channel, but Eldon Goatinys, Reseda, caught four stripers, 30, 28, 24, 18 pounds, using pencil poppers. Mark Kaminski, Burbank, 14 1/2-pound striper, anchovies. Richard Ramirez, California City, 6-pound striper, on bloodworm.

LAKE PIRU--Matt Wegner, Los Angeles, 15-pound catfish, and Alan Rock, 13-pounder, both using chicken livers and stinkbait, near dam. Trout good, trolling 6-7 colors, toward dam. Kathy Aldous, Saugus, limit of trout with 2 1/2-pounder. Catfish averaging 4-7 pounds in San Felicia Cove and Cow Cove, nightcrawlers and cut mackerel. Bass showing at points of coves and rocky ledges, using crank baits and plastic worms. Ken Riddle, Woodland Hills, 8 1/4-pound bass using chartreuse spinner.

LAKE CASTAIC--Bass bite good, with plastics and nightcrawlers. Crappie off lower lake, to 1 3/4 pounds, on mini-jigs and meal worms. Bluegill good at upper lake. Catfish starting with warmer weather. Dave Toper, Saugus, 12-pound bass at upper lake, from boat on Rapala. Kevin Andrews, Lancaster, 13-pound catfish, off shore on mackerel. Scott McNamara, Lancaster, 13 1/2-pound catfish, upper lake shore on mackerel.

IRVINE LAKE--Few catfish at night, on mackerel, chicken livers and shrimp. Trout plants continue, hitting Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Joe Villa, Orange, 7-pound trout, Rapala, trolling near dam. Crappie holding up. Elaine Dickerhoff, Anaheim, caught 10 on bullet jigs. Bennett and Stefanie Davison, Brea, three catfish, 10 1/4, 8 3/4 and 5 3/4, mackerel.

LAKE SKINNER--Many catfish. Bass starting; bluegill small. Trout 25-feet plus deep at dam. County plants stopped, but state stocked 1,500 pounds last week. Greg Cook, Elsinore, 4-pound trout, Power Bait off north shore. Gary Smith, Sun City, 4-pound bass, plastic worm off south shore. Tom Moran, San Diego, 3 1/2-pound bass, nightcrawler, by dam. Jack Grant, Huntington Beach, 4-pound bass, chartreuse plastic worm, south shore, 20 feet.

BIG BEAR LAKE--Trout good, bait fishing from boat or shore, around dam and from Gray’s Landing to Windy Point along north shore, with Power Bait. Trollers using nightcrawlers behind flashers, Rapalas, needlefish, Z-rays, Kastmasters, etc., 15 feet deep, from dam to Eagle Point. Trout 7 1/2 and 6 1/4 pounds, no names. Bass moving, but no big ones. Plastics, spinner baits. Catfish good. Jerry Gendreau, Big Bear Lake, caught 10--largest 5 3/4, total 34 pounds--from boat off weed line, with fresh chicken livers, north shore east of Cluster Pines marina. Water temperature 55.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Air temperature pushing 100 Tuesday. Doug Garvin, Apple Valley, 5 1/2-pound bass, bullet bait grubs, cove in channel. Big striped bass, all in channel: Greg Wilson, Eagle Rock, with guide Max, 19 and 17 pounds, using Max’s homemade lures; Andy Rago, Glendora, 22-pound (and 8-pound largemouth), J-plug; Del East, 20 and 28 pounds, J-plug surface lure; Mike Sutherland, Fontana, 19 pounds, on pencil popper; Mike Doddy, Hesperia, 7 1/2 pounds. Crappie at Cleghorn in channel, bullet bait jigs and 2-pound test line. Down 3-4 feet. Beach store open daily.

KERN RIVER/LAKE ISABELLA--Bass tournament on weekend, with 50 anglers catching 73 bass to 11 1/2 pounds, plastic worms and crank baits. Crappie fair on jigs and meal worms in coves. Tagged trout fish from derby still showing, near dam and in coves, Power Bait, salmon eggs and marshmallows. Catfish fair, on anchovies, mackerel and clams. Water temperature 70-72. Lake level rising slightly. River good for trout. Stocking every week, up to 14 inches.

JUNE LAKE LOOP--Good weather. June Lake: trolling good, 3 1/2 colors, frog and Bikini needlefish patterns, Rapalas. Angler limited in 40 minutes Tuesday, no name. Gll Lake: best for stillfishing, red salmon eggs. Silver Lake: 3-4 pounders from shore, casting lures. Two anglers casting green rooster tails into Rush Creek between Silver and Grant caught and released nine fish on 13 casts. Grant Lake: shore fishing best in early morning, slow during day.

BRIDGEPORT--Bridgeport Lake excellent, with rainbows running in two size groups--1 1/2 pounds and 2 1/2-4 pounds, stillfishing off Rainbow Point, with Power Bait and nightcrawlers on bottom. Twin Lakes: lots of pan-size fish, 2-4 pound rainbows. Off banks, Power Bait and Power Eggs best. Trolling, flasher blades with nightcrawlers, needlefish, gold hotshots and golden lion spinners. East Walker: best day Monday in weeks, with rainbows up to 19 inches, hitting Marabou muddler wet flies. Virginia Lakes: good in evening with bubble and fly.

CONVICT LAKE--David Riddle, Orange County, 4 1/2-pound, 21-inch rainbow, upper end, panner. Don O’Henley, 3 1/4-pound rainbow, 20 inches, inlet, black and gray rooster tail.

ROCK CREEK--Higher lakes just warming up. Green flies or Power Bait.

CROWLEY LAKE--Just had plant of 120 trout 3-5 pounds. Three more plants due through season. Dee Scrugham, 4 3/4-pound brown, trolling needlefish. Shore fishing good at north end, worms or fly with bubble.

MAMMOTH LAKES AREA--Twin Lakes level low but fishing good, using Matuka or Hornberg. Power Bait best at Lake Mary, Phoebe lure at George. San Joaquin streams from Minaret Campground to Rainbow Falls have fast water, but excellent fishing in some pools, with garden worms or Power Eggs. Upper Owens River now open for bait fishing.

BISHOP AREA--Rainbows to 14 inches consistent at Pleasant Valley Reservoir, on Power Bait. Limits from South Lake and Bishop Creek, with rainbows, browns and some goldens caught on Power Bait. Sabrina: shore fishing with nightcrawlers or orange Power Bait, trolling with a Dave Davis and worm.

BIG PINE--Creek fair with red worms and Power Bait. Owens River producing 14-16-inch catches. Panther Martin lures best.

TROUT PLANTS

LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Big Rock Creek, Crystal Lake, Little Rock Reservoir, San Gabriel River (East, West and North forks).

RIVERSIDE--Fulmor Lake, Hemet Lake, Lake Perris.

SAN BERNARDINO--Arrowbear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Lake Gregory, Lytle Creek (Middle and North forks).

SAN DIEGO--Doane Pond.

INYO--Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Lower, Middle, South forks and Intake II), Cottonwood Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (below Tinnemeha and Laws Bridge downstream to Steward Lane), Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Rock Creek (Rock Creek Lake to end of road), Rock Creek Lake, Shepherds Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemeha Creek, Tuttle Creek.

MONO--Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lake Mary, Lee Vining Creek (South Fork), Little Walker Lake, Little Walker River, Lundy Lake, Mamie Lake, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Owens River (Big Springs), Pine Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Paradise Camp to Tom’s Place, Tom’s Place upstream to Rock Creek Lake), Saddlebag Creek, Saddlebag Lake, Silver Lake, Tioga Lake, Trumble Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport, Twin Lakes Mammoth, Virginia Creek, Virginia Lakes, Walker River (Chris Flat campground to town of Walker, Leavitt Meadows Campground to Sonora Bridge).

KERN--Kern River (Borell Powerhouse to Democrat Dam, Isabella Dam to Borell Powerhouse, KR3 Powerhouse to Lake Isabella).

TULARE--Dry Meadow Creek, Freeman Creek, Kern River (Kennedy Meadows), Kern River (from Tulare County line to Johnsondale Bridge), Nobe Young Creek, Upper and Lower Peppermint Creek, South Creek, Tule River (Middle Fork, North and South forks of Main Fork, Cedar Slope area).

MADERA--San Joaquin River (Middle fork), Starkweathwer Lake.

ALPINE--Lower Blue Lakes.