FISH REPORT
FRESHWATER
CASTAIC LAKE--Striped bass had been biting on night crawlers and anchovies, but a recent trout plant caused a surface bite, with trout-like lures getting fish from seven to 12 pounds. Largemouth bass bite is slow to fair. A six-pounder was caught on a water dog. Trout biting best in the lower lake.
LAKE PIRU--Trout limits are obtainable for those willing to spend some time trolling Rapalas or Super Dupers, or by soaking yellow Power Bait or salmon eggs in Diablo or Cow Cove. The largemouth bass are on the small side, but they’re biting on night crawlers and plastic worms.
PYRAMID LAKE--The striped bass bite is very good, with boaters and shore fishermen using sardines and anchovies getting them at the marina and throughout the channel. Fish are averaging two to three pounds. Some largemouth bass on spinnerbaits and panfish on mini-jigs and mealworms.
CASITAS LAKE--Trout and bass are providing lots of action, with some of the bass weighing close to 10 pounds and some of the trout close to three. The trout are biting on Power Bait at the Coyote ramp and on Needlefish and Rapalas in the middle of the lake. The bass are biting on standard lures and live baits near any structure.
CACHUMA LAKE--Trout are providing the most action, being caught mostly by trollers using Needlefish or Rapalas. Some of the fish are topping two pounds. Other species slow.
IRVINE LAKE--Trout are active, biting best at Sierra Cove. An occasional lunker is making things interesting. Mini-jigs, Power Bait and trolled Rapalas or Kastmasters are working.
CORONA LAKE--Top trout, 15 pounds 2 ounces by Chan Huynh, San Bernardino, on yellow Power Bait near the trees. More lunkers were stocked today.
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--Not a bad choice to catch a trout or two for the smoker; nearly 100 weighed in at 10 pounds or more this last week and half as many came in at six to 10 pounds. Power Bait working best.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--This small reservoir has suddenly become one of the top trout fisheries, thanks to heavy planting of large rainbows raised in a Utah hatchery. The fish might not be as big as those in the above three reservoirs, but they are better looking and fight just as hard, if not harder.
OSO RESERVOIR--Largemouth bass are biting at 18-22 feet on jigs and dark-colored plastic worms. Bob Kramer, Placentia, used a black Spider jig to entice one that weighed in at just under 11 pounds before it was released. Surface bites occurring from time to time, when the fish are pushing up shad.
SILVERWOOD LAKE--Trout are being caught sporadically on green Roostertails, Power Bait and mini-jigs. Striped bass are also on tap. A 16-pounder was caught by Greg Silks, Alta Loma, on a surface plug just after dark. Some crappies and largemouth bass.
BIG BEAR LAKE--Trollers using Rapalas are catching limits of trout, but frigid temperatures are keeping most fishermen home. Power Bait and Sierra Gold are working from shore.
LAKE SKINNER--An 11-pound striped bass caught by Greg Raygor, Riverside, highlights a fair bite for stripers at Ramp 2. The fish are striking swimbaits and surface plugs that resemble trout. The trout and catfish bites are fair.
LAKE PERRIS--Rich Franklin, Moreno Valley, caught an 11-pound largemouth bass on a Bass Trix lure near the ramp. Chris Slater, San Jacinto, 7-pound 8-ounce bass, on a Bass Trix at ramp. Lots of smaller ones. Trout are biting sporadically, with fish averaging one to two pounds and biting mostly on rainbow and chartreuse Power Bait, and small lures such as Roostertails.
SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--Fair bass bites are in progress at San Vicente and at El Capitan, shiners working best. Trout are biting at Miramar, with fishermen using Power Bait or trolling Kastmasters and Rapalas averaging nearly two fish per day.
TROUT PLANTS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Belvedere Park Lake, Castaic Lake, Castaic Lagoon, Crystal Lake, Echo Park Lake, Elizabeth Lake, San Gabriel River (East, West and North forks). RIVERSIDE--Cahuilla Lake. SAN DIEGO--Cuyamaca Lake.
SALTWATER
The Times accepts and publishes the catch count as a public service. Any responsibility for accuracy is that of the landing operator.
PORT SAN LUIS (Patriot Sportfishing)--8 anglers (1 boat): 12 assorted rock cod.
SANTA BARBARA (Sea Landing)--2 anglers (1 boat): 1 sand bass, 3 mackerel, 12 red snapper, 18 rockfish.
OXNARD (Cisco’s)--20 anglers (1 boat): 6 lingcod, 80 rockfish, 9 sheephead.
MARINA DEL REY--27 anglers (3 boats): 3 halibut, 104 sculpin, 31 sand bass, 3 calico bass, 42 rock cod.
SAN PEDRO (22nd St. Landing)--4 anglers (1 boat): 9 calico bass, 9 sand bass.
LONG BEACH (Berth 55)--8 anglers (1 boat): 30 rockfish, 20 whitefish, 15 mackerel. (Los Alamitos Bay, Marina Sportfishing)--17 anglers (1 boat): 10 sculpin, 92 rockfish.
NEWPORT BEACH (Newport Landing)--14 anglers (1 boats): 4 sand bass, 3 calico bass, 5 sculpin, 1 halibut, 1 barracuda.
DANA WHARF--16 anglers (2 boats): 79 calico bass, 28 sand bass, 6 sheephead.
OCEANSIDE--17 anglers (1 boat): 2 sand bass, 25 sculpin, 50 rockfish, 2 red snapper.
SAN DIEGO (Seaforth)--11 anglers (1 boat): 2 calico bass, 14 sand bass, 2 rockfish, 15 mackerel. (Islandia)--5 anglers (1 boat): 7 sand bass, 2 calico bass, 1 sculpin, 6 rockfish, 2 mackerel.
