Fish Report

FRESHWATER

CASTAIC LAKE--Bill Parrish, Canyon Country, caught the biggest striped bass, a 15-pounder to go along with his 11-pounder, on Bass Trix lures. Bass pro Aaron Martens, Castaic, caught largemouth bass at 9-2 and 6-0, on Optimum Swimbaits. Both species are fairly active in the upper lake. Fishing in the lower lake has been slow because of water releases from the upper lake, though some trout and bass have been caught.

LAKE PIRU--Trout fishing remains steady for trollers using Rapalas, Panther Martins, Super Dupers and Needlefish lures. Bass fishermen are doing OK with spinnerbaits and plastic worms.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass are biting sporadically on anchovies at 20-40 feet, though a few are rising to the surface and taking plugs. Action remains slow to fair on largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, but plastic worms and crankbaits fished along the shoreline are working occasionally. Catfish action is picking up slowly.

LAKE CACHUMA--Big trout are still being caught. A 7 3/4-pounder by Mel Sanchez, Santa Barbara, tops the list. Power Bait and Needlefish lures are getting most. Red ear perch are becoming more active, biting mostly on meal worms at Cachuma Bay.

LAKE CASITAS--About a dozen bass came in at or about 10 pounds, with most caught on swim baits at 10-25 feet. Smaller bass are being caught in the shallows on plastic worms, night crawlers and crawdads. Trout remain active and lots of limits of mostly pan-sized fish are being logged. Needlefish lures and Power Bait are accounting for most.

CORONA LAKE--A lake-record 21-pound 7-ounce rainbow trout was caught by Michael Flaherty, Lake Elsinore, on rainbow glitter Power Bait and four-pound test line after a 15-minute fight. Trout action has picked up some thanks to the latest cold front, and catfish action remains steady. Some bass and crappie are being caught as well.

SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--Ten trout weighing more than 10 pounds and 30 weighing more than 5 pounds in the past week are reason enough to wet a line here. Top trout was a 17-6 by Cheryl Guerrero, West Covina, on a Roostertail at the boat dock. Catfish action is not shabby either.

IRVINE LAKE--Trout action remains fair, but it’s been a crappie week, as the feisty pan-fish are beginning their spring run. Trout are still the main draw, however. A 14-9 was caught by Bill Garcia, on a Kastmaster at the west shore. Bass are still getting some attention, and double-digit scores are not uncommon. Abbreviated fishing hours--from 6-11 a.m.--are in effect today through Sunday because of the Boating Demo Days event. Details: (714) 649-9111.

LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--Catfish and bass have begun to steal the spotlight, as trout action is slowing by the day. An 8-12 bass was caught by Pat Lephes, San Juan Capistrano, on a frog-pattern Jitterbug lure at night.

OSO RESERVOIR--Nothing has changed: Multiple catches of largemouth bass averaging 2-4 pounds remain the rule for those using spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

LAKE PERRIS--Largemouth bass are still the main attraction, with mostly small fish biting at the east end. However, a 10-pounder was caught by Jim Romo, Highland, on a Black Lizard plastic worm. Bluegill are getting increasing attention by those using crickets and mealworms.

BIG BEAR LAKE--A blast of winter-like weather figures to further push back the bass spawn and subsequent bite. Trout remain the best bet, though fishing is far from great.

SILVERWOOD LAKE--Trout fishing is fair, catfishing is picking up and largemouth bass fishing is spotty. Top catch, a 7-12 largemouth on a mini-jig at the dam.

SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--Lake Barrett bass fishermen are scoring double-digit catches with ease: 135 anglers reported catching and releasing 1,772 bass. Sutherland, San Vicente and Hodges are also yielding impressive numbers, with Sutherland accounting for the biggest bass, a 10-12 by John Woolman, Ramona, on a shiner. Bluegill fishermen are enjoying outstanding action at San Vicente. The trout bites are starting to falter at Murray and Miramar.

LAKE CUYAMACA--Trout, bass and catfish are all being caught, but no species is particularly active and none of the fish coming out are very big. Well, there was a 7-4 trout caught by Glynn Brown, Oceanside, on Power Bait at the Fox Hole.

EASTERN SIERRA--Ice fishermen beware that conditions are changing and the ice is not as sturdy as you might think. Bishop Creek is loaded with DFG trout and has larger Alpers trout to boot. Fly-fishermen are doing great in the Owens River gorge, with size 20-22 midges and other small flies doing the trick. Crowley Lake and Convict Lake are good bets for lake fishermen, though none are red hot. Bridgeport Reservoir to the north has a slight edge over all the lakes on the June Loop in terms of quality and quantity. Top river: the East Walker, where small Rapalas are enticing trout to 10 pounds. High flows of late have slowed things some, however.

SALTWATER

MORRO BAY (Virg’s Landing)--19 anglers (1 boat): 3 lingcod, 25 red rockcod, 75 rockcod, 125 rockfish.

SANTA BARBARA (Sea Landing)--25 anglers (2 boats): 14 calico bass, 2 sculpin, 13 whitefish, 2 lingcod, 10 red snapper, 37 rockfish.

OXNARD (Cisco’s)--23 anglers (2 boats): 18 barracuda, 96 calico bass, 1 halibut, 4 rockfish, 4 sculpin.

PORT HUENEME--14 anglers (1 boat): 31 barracuda, 3 calico bass, 2 sculpin, 2 red snapper.

MARINA DEL REY--47 anglers (5 boats): 5 halibut, 136 calico bass, 40 barracuda, 39 sand bass, 21 sculpin, 2 rockfish, 1 black seabass (released).

REDONDO BEACH--32 anglers (3 boats): 56 calico bass, 3 sand bass, 90 barracuda, 6 blue perch, 3 sculpin, 8 whitefish, 4 rockfish.

SAN PEDRO (L.A. Harbor Sportfishing)--52 anglers (3 boats): 292 barracuda, 1 sculpin, 1 rockfish. (22nd St. Landing)--37 anglers (2 boats): 361 barracuda.

LONG BEACH (Pierpoint Landing)--44 anglers (2 boats): 352 barracuda, 31 sand bass. (Marina Sportfishing)--32 anglers (3 boats): 236 barracuda, 3 calico bass, 53 sand bass, 5 cabezon.

NEWPORT BEACH (Newport Landing)--46 anglers (3 boats): 37 calico bass, 2 yellowtail, 8 sand bass, 2 barracuda, 3 bonito, 1 halibut, 2 sheephead, 3 rockfish, 1 black perch, 18 mackerel, 1 white seabass, 1 black seabass (released). (Davey’s Locker)--73 anglers (5 boats): 506 barracuda, 30 calico bass, 14 sand bass, 48 sculpin, 4 sheephead, 16 rockfish, 49 whitefish, 1 halibut.

DANA WHARF--51 anglers (3 boats): 106 barracuda, 99 calico bass, 30 sand bass, 1 halibut.

OCEANSIDE--34 anglers (2 boats): 142 calico bass, 30 sand bass.

SAN DIEGO (H&M; Landing, Fisherman’s, Point Loma)--72 anglers (4 boats): 58 yellowtail, 43 bonito, 6 barracuda, 30 sand bass, 1 halibut. (Seaforth)--64 anglers (5 boats): 64 yellowtail, 2 bonito, 167 calico bass, 16 sand bass, 3 rockfish, 3 sheephead, 6 sculpin. (Islandia)--11 anglers (1 boat): 1 yellowtail, 19 calico bass, 1 sand bass, 1 sheephead, 3 sculpin.

TROUT PLANTS

LOS ANGELES--Crystal Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Legg Lake, Puddingstone Reservoir, San Gabriel River (East, West and North forks). RIVERSIDE--Fullermill Creek, Fulmor Lake, San Jacinto River (North Fork). SAN BERNARDINO--Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Jenks Lake, Lytle Creek (Middle Fork). SAN DIEGO--Doane Pond, San Luis Rey Creek. SANTA BARBARA--Lake Cachuma. INYO--Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Lower, Middle, South forks and Intake II), Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Rock Creek Lake, Shepards Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek. MONO--Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Paradise Camp to Tom’s Place, Tom’s Place upstream to Rock Creek Lake), Silver Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport.