FRESHWATER

CASTAIC LAKE--Striped bass remain the popular draw, with trout-pattern plugs working. Largemouth bass are more active, but the fish being caught--on crankbaits and mud suckers--are on the small side. Trout action is slow in the main lake and fair in the lower lake.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass are biting for those who arrive very early. Try a shad-pattern lure and switch to anchovies when the fish move deep during the day. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are available for those working the points with crankbaits and small plastic worms. Some catfish.

LAKE PIRU--Trout and bass are being caught on standard baits and lures, but the bites are fair at best. Try trolling Needlefish or small Rapalas for trout and dropping night crawlers to the bottom for bass. Some crappie.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout are the best bet, and trollers using Needlefish in deep water near the dam are doing best, but limits are hard to come by. Some bass.

CASITAS LAKE--The bass bite is fair, but very few large fish. Pifa Victoria, Oxnard, 8-pound bass on a plastic worm. Catfish are active as well. Several 10-pounders and a few closer to 20 have been caught on squid and mackerel. The trout bite has slowed, but some are being caught in the middle of the lake.

CORONA LAKE--Catfish are the main attraction and the bite is fair. A 12-pounder tops the list. The focus will shift to trout with the opener is scheduled for Thursday.

SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--Catfish limits are common. The biggest was a five-fish stringer totaling 37 pounds by Cheryl Guerrero, Chino, on mackerel. The trout opener is Nov. 5.

IRVINE LAKE--About 2,000 fingerling Florida-strain bass will be planted Saturday, the same day as a night bass tournament. Meanwhile, the catfish bite is fair but slowing as the fish are moving deeper. The trout opener is Nov. 5.

LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--Top catfish weighed in at a little less than 10 pounds, by Rodney Franklin, West Covina, as part of a five-fish limit totaling 28 pounds, all caught on mackerel. The bite is fair to good, and a lot better than the bass bite.

OSO RESERVOIR--No changes. Bass fishing is very good for fish averaging 2-6 pounds, biting on most lures. The largest checked in at 7 pounds, by Greg Burns, Lake Forest, on a Berkley Power Worm. Lots of catfish and bluegill activity as well.

LAKE SKINNER--Striped bass are being caught occasionally on top-water plugs and swim-baits, but the bite is slow for stripers and catfish.

LAKE PERRIS--The bass are biting on night crawlers, but averaging only about 12 inches. Trout were planted in the marina and limits are coming from there as well as by the island. Power Bait is working best.

BIG BEAR LAKE--Trout fishing remains fair for trollers using night crawler-flasher combos, Rapalas, Kastmasters and the like. No big fish, and very few other species of fish.

GREEN VALLEY LAKE--Trout fishing has dropped off, and so has the lake level--about 10 feet for repairs. Not really worth the trip.

SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--A 9 1/4-pound bass was caught at San Vicente by Linda Robles, Orange County, on a Mega Bass lure. San Vicente has a good bass and bluegill bite. Hodges is slow and El Capitan is fair.

CUYAMACA LAKE--It feels like the Sierra up here--bitter cold in the early mornings. But the trout are biting and days are pleasant. Marty Erickson, Chula Vista, a 10 1/2-pounder on an inflated night crawler. The other big fish were caught on lures.

EASTERN SIERRA--The season closes Oct. 31, the nights and mornings are bone-chilling and the crowds are way down and the trout plants are fewer. Best bets: Convict Lake for large trout--fish in the 3- to 5-pound class are being caught daily and a 6 1/2-pounder was caught by Bob Gartner, Yucaipa, on a night crawler; Twin Lakes Bridgeport for large brown trout, which always perk up just before winter sets in; and Bridgeport Reservoir, which has been good for quality and quantity for weeks.

SALTWATER

The Times accepts and publishes the catch count as a public service. Any responsibility for accuracy is that of the landing operator.

MORRO BAY (Virg’s Landing)--35 anglers (2 boats): 55 albacore, 330 rock cod.

PORT SAN LUIS (Patriot Sportfishing)--12 anglers (1 boat): 12 assorted rock cod, 26 assorted rockfish, 19 red rock cod, 228 bolina, 6 lingcod.

SANTA BARBARA (Sea Landing)--13 anglers (1 boat): 84 calico bass, 38 rockfish.

OXNARD (Cisco’s)--59 anglers (3 boats): 91 yellowtail, 12 barracuda, 9 calico bass, 32 red snapper, 17 rockfish, 10 sculpin, 4 whitefish.

PORT HUENEME--41 anglers (3 boats): 104 rock cod, 1 cow cod, 2 lingcod, 1 sole, 65 red snapper, 98 calico bass, 3 rockfish, 14 sand bass, 1 blue perch.

MARINA DEL REY--43 anglers (3 boats): 31 sand bass, 1988 sculpin, 6 red snapper, 5 grouper, 25 red rock cod.

REDONDO--34 anglers (2 boats): 13 yellowtail, 6 calico bass, 47 barracuda, 63 sculpin, 80 whitefish, 50 mackerel, 80 rockfish.

SAN PEDRO (22nd St. Landing)--65 anglers (4 boats): 43 yellowtail, 43 calico bass, 4 halibut, 3 barracuda, 6 sand bass, 2 bonito, 3 sculpin, 3 whitefish, 12 sheephead, 52 rockfish.

LONG BEACH (Pierpoint Landing)--28 anglers (2 boats): 25 yellowtail, 17 barracuda, 80 calico bass, 3 sand bass, 1 white sea bass, 12 whitefish, 3 sheephead, 4 sculpin, 2 salmon grouper. (Los Alamitos Bay, Marina Sportfishing)--14 anglers (2 boats): 36 calico bass, 2 whitefish, 3 sheephead, 3 bonito, 48 rockfish, 38 red snapper, 4 salmon grouper.

NEWPORT BEACH (Newport Landing)--17 anglers (2 boats): 3 calico bass, 66 sand bass, 2 rockfish, 16 sculpin, 6 mackerel. (Davey’s Locker)--67 anglers (4 boats): 27 yellowtail, 17 bonito, 12 barracuda, 33 calico bass, 28 sand bass, 4 sculpin, 4 sheephead, 1 halibut, 15 rockfish, 190 mackerel.

DANA WHARF--36 anglers (3 boats): 23 yellowtail, 93 calico bass, 30 sand bass, 18 mackerel, 6 sculpin, 2 rockfish.

OCEANSIDE (Helgren’s)--48 anglers (3 boats): 1 yellowtail, 1 black sea bass (released) 2 bonito, 90 calico bass, 94 sand bass, 7 sculpin, 1 halibut, 30 mackerel.

SAN DIEGO (H&M; Landing, Fisherman’s, Point Loma)--10 anglers (1 boat): 25 bluefin tuna, 1 yellowfin tuna. (Seaforth)--92 anglers (7 boats): 11 yellowtail, 42 bonito, 45 barracuda, 66 calico bass, 19 sand bass, 143 rockfish, 21 sculpin. (Islandia)--59 anglers (3 boats): 2 yellowtail, 10 barracuda, 6 bonito, 11 calico bass, 3 sand bass, 26 whitefish, 1 sheephead, 13 sculpin, 75 rockfish, 70 mackerel.

TROUT PLANTS

LOS ANGELES--Big Rock Creek, Crystal Lake, Little Rock Reservoir, Peck Road Park Lake, Piru Creek (Frenchman’s Flat), Puddingstone Reservoir, San Gabriel River (East, West and North forks). RIVERSIDE--Lake Hemet, Lake Perris. SAN BERNARDINO--Silverwood Lake, Mojave Narrows Park Lake. INYO--Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (South and Middle forks), Diaz Lake, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.