Catfish Haul Led by 71.25-Pounder

Anglers at Otay reservoir in San Diego County experienced some of the slowest fishing in the Southland this past week, but two fishermen aren’t complaining, having combined to land five blue catfish totaling an astounding 255.50 pounds.

Willie Davis of San Diego caught the biggest, a 71.25-pounder. But Chuck Lion Berger, also of San Diego, had the most impressive stringer: four catfish totaling 184.25 pounds, topped by a 65.10-pounder.

LAKE PERRIS--Largemouth bass best bet, but fishing slow. Dave Carlos, Anaheim, 8-2 bass, on buzz bait at east end. Bluegills fair on crickets and mealworms.

CORONA LAKE--Catfish best bet, biting on mackerel at south end. Crappies and largemouth bass biting along east shore.

SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--Strictly catfish, but lots of them in both lakes. Mackerel best bet.

IRVINE LAKE--Catfish biting throughout lake. Largemouth bass fair on plastics, biting off points. Some crappies.

LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--Catfish good. Joe Kovach, Laguna Hills, 12-4 catfish, on mackerel at Dock 5. Several in 10-0 range. Largemouth bass fair on buzz baits in mornings and afternoons, biting mainly in shallows and flats. Some trout.

SILVERWOOD LAKE--Striped bass good. Jake Huxman, Big Bear Lake, 13-2 striper, on jig at spillway. Buford Dodson, Hesperia, 10-4 and 6-4 stripers, on anchovies at Big Mama Cove. Mike Sutherland, Fontana, 13-6 striper, on jig at spillway. Steve Malek, Apple Valley, 16-0 striper, on anchovies at spillway.

GREEN VALLEY LAKE--Trout fair to good. Alpers plant scheduled this week. Geri May, Running Springs, 3-4 and 3-1 trout, on rainbow-glitter Power Bait. Several similar catches.

ARROWBEAR LAKE--Trout and catfish fair. Richard and Robert Partida, Colton, 5-12 and 9-0 trout, on Power Chow.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout fair, with trollers fishing Needlefish and night crawlers at 30 feet doing best. Santa Cruz Bay and dam best areas. Largemouth bass slow to fair, biting mostly on crankbaits and spinnerbaits at 6-10 feet off point. Summer-long big fish contest under way. Details (805) 688-4040.

LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass fair throughout lake, best from 10-15 feet on crawdads. Rick Miller, Ojai, 13-4, 7-8 and 5-0 bass, on black plastic worms. Randy Crabtree, Oak View, 10-0 bass, on shad. Catfish good at five feet. Lance Pulley, Ojai, 19-0 catfish, on mackerel.

PYRAMID LAKE--Slow to fair for most species. Javier Vega, Oxnard, one striped bass and three largemouth bass totaling 7-0, on anchovies and night crawlers at dam. Kerr Varh, Visalia, two 12-0 catfish, on anchovies at Yellow Bar. James Hall, Pearblossom, 3-13 striper, on night crawler at Yellow Bar.

LAKE PIRU--Largemouth bass fair at north end, biting mainly on Rapalas and spinners, averaging 1-2 pounds. Trout fair at dam, biting on Needlefish. Catfish picking up. Mike Blackwell, Moorpark, 12-0 catfish, on night crawler at east shore.

CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass and striped bass fair to good. Former NBA player Orlando Woolridge, 12-0 striper and several largemouth to 4-0, on shad and plastic worms. Gary Harrison, Castaic, George Day, Atlanta, nine stripers, on haddock spoons and shad. Mark Munoz, Chino, 10-0 bass, on plug. Mike Carpenter, Canyon Country, five largemouth totaling 21-7.

SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--El Capitan: Largemouth bass good. Russ Powell, El Cajon, 11-0 bass, on shiner at north point. Bluegills fair on mealworms and crickets. Crappies good on mini-jigs. Hodges: Same as El Capitan. Joe Mayerchik, Escondido, 13-5 bass, on pink plastic worm at dam. Miramar: Bass and trout best bets, but few limits and fewer big fish. Murray: Slower than Hodges. Bass best bet, biting in shallows. Otay: Slow, but big catfish are stirring. San Vicente: Bluegills active throughout lake--2,841 caught in past week. Some bass. Sutherland: Bass and bluegills fair. Some catfish.

LAKE CUYAMACA--Largemouth bass good in shallows, biting on plastic worms and crawdads. Trout fair one day, slow the next. Rainbow Power Bait best bet. Ben Blomendahl. La Mesa, five trout in 90 minutes, on Power Bait at Lone Pine.

LAKE SKINNER--Striped bass good at inlet and dam, biting mostly on anchovies and chicken livers. Largemouth bass good on plastic worms at south shore and near marina. Catfish good on anchovies, chicken livers and mackerel at east end.

EASTERN SIERRA--Bishop: Bishop Creek good for limits of trout to 5-0. Worms getting most. Lake Sabrina good on night crawlers and salmon eggs. Patti Kerckoff, Palmdale, 3-3 rainbow, on green jig at back of lake. South and North lake good for limits and near-limits. Intake II slow. Owens River fair on crickets, but high water making fishing tough. Mammoth Lakes: Crowley Lake good for trout, with night crawlers, Sierra Gold and Needlefish lures at 20 feet getting most. Perch good at Leighton Springs, hitting most jigs. Convict Lake fair on lures--an 11-2 caught on Rapala. Convict Creek fair on salmon eggs and worms. Rock Creek Lake and Rock Creek fair for limits of pan-size fish. Lakes Mamie, Mary and George fair to good on lures, baits and flies. June Lake loop: Top catch: a 15-0 brown, caught from June Lake shore on Fenwick lure. Bite is good. Gull Lake good, with north shore producing biggest fish and several limits. Silver Lake and Grant Lake just as good. Rush Creek fair on salmon eggs and worms. Mosquito hatch in progress. Bridgeport: East Walker River excellent for large rainbows and browns, thanks to a lower flow than in past weeks. Last Friday two anglers landed 10 fish 5-0 or bigger, and since several larger fish have been caught. Bridgeport Reservoir fair for rainbows to 5-0. Twin Lakes, Virginia Lakes and Robinson Creek good for mostly pan-sized rainbows. Kirman Lake slow.

Trout Plants

RIVERSIDE--Fullermill Creek, Fulmor Lake, Lake Hemet, San Jacinto River (North Fork). SAN BERNARDINO--Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River (South Fork). INYO--Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Lower, Middle, South forks and Intake II), Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Rock Creek (Paradise Camp to Tom’s Place, Tom’s Place upstream to Rock Creek Lake), Shepards Creek, South Lake, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek. MONO--Bridgeport Reservoir, Buckeye Creek, Deadman Creek, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Glass Creek, Green Creek, Grant Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Lee Vinin Creek (South Fork), Lundy Lake, Mamie Lake, Lake Mary, Mill Creek, Owens River (Benton Crossing), Pine Creek, Rock Creek Lake, Rush Creek, Saddlebag Creek, Swauger Creek, Tioga Creek, Twin Lakes Mammoth, Virginia Creek.