Lake Perris Swimming With Regular-Size Bass

Castaic and Casitas might be the lakes for trophy-sized largemouth bass, but Riverside County’s Lake Perris seems to be the place for regular bass.

“Guys have been catching 25 bass a day,” said Mark Hamann, an employee at the lake.

The bass have moved into the shallows to spawn. They are averaging only 14 inches, Hamann said, but there are exceptions. Ted Ford of Los Angeles landed an 8-pound 12-ounce bass while fishing a Power Worm at the dam, and Gary Marshman of Murrieta caught a 6-pounder while fishing a plastic worm at the east end.