Lightning, Mosquitoes Bugging Sierra Anglers

Thunderstorms that have been plaguing Eastern Sierra anglers seem to be diminishing into warm, clear days, but visitors are cautioned to check weather reports before entering the back country.

Visitors also are advised to carry ample mosquito repellent. According to reports, the mosquitoes have been formidable this year.

LAKE PIRU--Largemouth bass active off rocky ledges and points of coves, averaging 1 1/2 to two pounds. Ralph Ridgley, Little Rock, 8 3/4-pound bass. Trout being taken mostly by trollers using 10 colors and bikini needlefish lures. Catfish biting at dam and San Felicia Cove, averaging seven pounds.

PUDDINGSTONE RESERVOIR--Water 76 degrees. Trout slow. Largemouth bass fair along shorelines. Rat-L-Trap lures and dark plastic worms working best. Bluegills and redear sunfish biting on meal worms. East shore most productive. Catfish active at north shore, mackerel and frozen shrimp.

IRVINE LAKE--Catfish good but trout slow. For latter, troll needlefish 4-5 colors deep, real slow, by west shore. For catfish, use chicken livers, shrimp, mackerel or cheese marshmallows. Few bass on crankbait, chartreuse spinner baits.

BIG BEAR LAKE--Weather in low 70s. Fish 12-15 inches, lots of limits. Bait fishing from shore best around dam or north side to Gray’s Landing, on Power Bait. Zebra Room east to Rock Wall good, from shore or anchored. Trolling best from Eagle Point west to dam, with needlefish on lead line at 15-20 feet. Catfish two to five pounds, east end from Eagle Point off weed beds in 10-15 feet.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Heather Reed, Mira Loma, caught 16-pound striper while spooning for largemouth by dam. Ray Price, Beaumont, 8 1/2-pound largemouth, spinnerbait, in channel.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout fishing good with cheese bait 30-40 feet deep by dam. Bass slow. Catfish spotty. Crappie zero. For panfish, find structure and school.

LAKE CASITAS--Lots of catfish, using mackerel in very shallow water, at Deer Slope and Wadleigh Arm. Big redear sunfish up to a pound, west side of main island, 25 feet, nightcrawlers. Trout: high in morning, 2-3 colors, 5-8 during day, needlefish, bright colors.

PYRAMID LAKE--Masao Yamanoka, Torrance, 12 1/2-pound striper, anchovies. Francis Davis, Valencia, 14-pound catfish, anchovies, in channel. Dana Green, Simi Valley, 10-pound striper, blood worms, in marina.

LAKE CASTAIC--Trout slow. Steven Taylor, Los Angeles, 13-8 and 7-pound largemouth bass, plastic worms, lower lake. Bob Coyle and Randy Mocika, Granada Hills, 30 pounds of catfish on bonito. Danny Loftis, Bell Gardens, 7-5 bass, lower lake, plastic worms.

SAN DIEGO LAKES--Sutherland: Blue catfish 39 pounds 13 ounces reported. Ramp launching difficult. San Vicente: Trout deep, leadcore line advised. Otay: Bluegill continue to run heavy; 18-pound and 12-pound 13-ounce catfish reported.

SALTON SEA--David Thornton and James Sanchez, Banning, each caught a 17-pound corvina at Red Hill, with talapia minnows. Corvina moving in to shore, also biting at Bombay. Croaker and sargo good at State Park, Salt Creek and Corvina Beach, with mackerel, anchovies and nightcrawlers. Talapia spotty. Some corvina trolling thinfins.

LAKE SKINNER--Bass fair, to three pounds. Lots of bluegill, on nightcrawlers, down on east end.

KERN RIVER/LAKE ISABELLA--River stocked with trout; try salmon eggs, Power Bait, crickets, gold lures. Few bass. Catfish, mackerel fair. Trout spotty.

BISHOP AREA--Good fishing at Lake Sabrina, from shore at inlet using Power Bait, or trolling three colors deep close to shore. Flies good early and late. Heavy stocking for opening of South Lake this week; boat rentals next week. Stream fishing for trout 12-14 inches excellent on Lower Rock Creek (at 5,000-foot elevation), using yellow Power Bait or nightcrawlers.

BIG PINE--Big Pine Creek best bet. Owens River low, but fly fishing good in evening, using crickets.

CROWLEY LAKE--Perch fishing off, but trout two to three pounds coming to shore for Power Bait and nightcrawlers, or trolling flashers with nightcrawlers. Hot spots are Hilton and McGee Bays. Float-tube fly anglers catching fish to 18 inches in evenings at Owens River arm.

MAMMOTH AREA--Hot Creek good for browns and rainbows to 16 inches, using nymphs and dry flies. At Benton Crossing-Long Ears area, big fish rising to mayfly and caddis hatches in late afternoon. Shore fishing good at Lake Mary, with Power Nuggets, inflated worms or Panther Martins. Lake George: gold Super Duper or Rooster Tail from shore. Lake Mamie and Twin Lakes: Thomas lures working well, and fly anglers doing well in mid-day around weed beds. Mammoth Creek best with crickets or flies. San Joaquin River excellent from Reds Meadow to Upper Soda Springs, with fish taking flies off surface. Back-country lakes excellent with small Panther Martins or small Mepps.

JUNE LAKE LOOP--All lakes good. For shore fishing, try Power Bait, marshmallows or worms. Trolling best early in morning. Limits taken with California fly.

BRIDGEPORT AREA--Virginia Lakes, stocked with rainbows, excellent with fly-bubble combination late in evening. Back-country lakes good. West Walker cleared up after recent storms. Panther Martins nailing browns to 3 1/2 pounds. East Walker slow.

LAKE MEAD--Still hot and windy. Some topwater action for small stripers. Those over three pounds on anchovies. Catfish in coves.

LAKE HAVASU--Topwater action for small stripers. For larger fish, troll with deep-running lures and leadcore line with favorite lure, 20-30 feet, or drop cut anchovies to 40 feet. Some bass on rubber worms, grubs, working slow in coves and dropoffs. Catfish good, most baits working, anchovies on bottom.

BULLHEAD CITY--Stripers doing well, 1 1/2 to four pounds, in river, anchovies. Many pansize trout and catfish. Doyle Hartman, Bullhead City, 11-pound striper on lake, anchovy. White sassy shads also working.

TROUT PLANTS

LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Bouquet Canyon Creek and San Gabriel River (East, West and North forks).

SAN BERNARDINO--Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River (South Fork), Silverwood Lake.

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 Tinnemaha), Rock Creek (Rock Creek Lake to end of road), Rock Creek Lake, Shepherds Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.

MONO--Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Grant Lake, Green Creek, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lake Mary, Lee Vining Creek (South Fork), Little Walker River, Lundy Lake, Mamie Lake, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Owens River (Benton Crossing and Big Springs), Pine Creek, Reversed Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Paradise Camp to Tom’s Place, Tom’s Place upstream to Rock Creek Lake), Rush Creek, Saddlebag Creek, Saddlebag Lake, Sherwin Creek, 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 town of Walker).

KERN--Kern River (Democrat Dam to KR1 Powerhouse, Borell Powerhouse to Democrat Dam, Isabella Dam to Borell Powewrhouse, KR3 Powerhouse to Lake Isabella).

TULARE--Kern River (from Tulare County line to Johnsondale Bridge), Tule River (Middle Fork, North Fork of Main Fork).

MADERA--Sotcher Lake.

ALPINE--Lower Blue Lake.