FRESHWATER

CASTAIC LAKE--Fishing is slow, although small bass can be taken on dark plastic worms and live baits along the upper-lake shore. There still are a few trout in the lower lake, but eyes are peeled for the DFG delivery truck.

PYRAMID LAKE--Some trout are being caught on standard baits and lures. A few striped bass have been fooled with trout-pattern lures and bass are taking spinnerbaits and plastic worms.

LAKE PIRU--Trout fishing is the only reason for being here, and it’s not a great one. Trollers using Needlefish at 30-40 feet are getting some, as are shore fishermen using Power Bait by the snack bar.

LAKE CASITAS--Top bass, a 12-pounder by John Shull, Oak View, on a swimbait. Bass action is fair, catfish action is great and trout action is, well, the delivery truck will be a welcome sight here too.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout action has picked up dramatically, the fish having moved into the backs of coves. Frank Dumong, Santa Barbara, topped his five-fish limit with a five-pounder. He used night crawlers in Cachuma Bay. Crappies are schooled but the trick is finding them. Layne Kannegieter, Santa Barbara, and Bruce Stevens, Anaheim, got lucky and bagged 16 crappies, a trout and a three-pound bass, the stringer totaling 25 pounds, using mini-jigs at the east end.

JESS RANCH LAKES--A 5 1/2-pound trout was caught on a night crawler in Lake 3 and another weighing 4-12 was caught on Power Bait in Lake 2. Basically, fishing is slow in both. Catfish are biting in Lake 2.

SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--An 18 1/4-pound trout caught on green Power Bait was the largest of many large rainbows. This is the place to go for the big ones, if you don’t mind fishing alongside a freeway. Catfish are biting too.

CORONA LAKE--Top trout was a 16-4 prize caught on rainbow Power Bait. The bite is fair to good for mostly smaller fish.

IRVINE LAKE--Top trout, a 17-pounder by Richard Selva, Buena Park, on Sierra Gold. The lake level remains low and the scenery isn’t what it could be, but the fishing is good, especially early.

LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--Trout fishing is pretty good and big fish are mixed in with the one- and two-pounders. Top catch, a 10-1 trout that inhaled a yellow and white mini jig. Big bass are chasing the smaller trout around, and trout-pattern lures are fooling some of the bass. Catfish action is fair.

OSO RESERVOIR--Bass fishing is only fair and the catfish bite has cooled, but both species are providing some action. The bigger bass are moving into deeper water, but can still be found chasing shad to the surface.

LAKE PERRIS--The big bass have gone into hiding since a 10-pound 8-ounce fish was caught on Nov. 24. In fact, all species seem to be fasting and the concessionaire is wondering why the trout truck hasn’t shown in three weeks.

SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--Best bet is Miramar, where the trout are at least somewhat cooperative, with anglers averaging about three a day using rainbow Power Bait and night crawlers.

LAKE CUYAMACA--A 13 3/4-pound trout was caught on a Mepps, highlighting a decent bite. Power Bait and salmon eggs are getting most.

EASTERN SIERRA--The lower Owens is producing nicely for those using caddis larva flies, crickets and Panther Martins. Sierra Drifters reported a 50-fish day earlier this week. The Owens Gorge is flowing swiftly and lead is required for those using nymphs, but the fish aren’t picky and anything Size 16 or smaller will do. Best bet for big fish is Pleasant Valley Reservoir, where a couple of fish were weighed in at 10 pounds or more. Power Bait, night crawlers, matukas, woolly buggers and Twin Lakes Specials are good choices. These reports are from Brock’s Flyfishing Specialists, Barrett’s Outfitters and Mac’s Sporting Goods.

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)--9 anglers (1 boat): 32 rock cod, 65 rockfish, 19 red rock cod, 2 lingcod, 1 goldeneye.

SANTA BARBARA (Sea Landing)--8 anglers (1 boat): 8 sand bass, 3 sculpin, 8 whitefish, 15 red snapper, 47 rockfish, 20 white croaker.

OXNARD (Cisco’s)--27 anglers (2 boats): 80 whitefish, 4 sheephead, 10 sculpin, 51 rockfish, 15 red snapper, 6 lingcod, 1 blue perch.

MARINA DEL REY--59 anglers (4 boats): 10 halibut, 39 sand bass, 63 sculpin, 1 sole, 1 thresher shark.

REDONDO--24 anglers (3 boats): 9 halibut, 9 sand bass, 10 sculpin, 7 black sea bass (released).

SAN PEDRO (22nd St. Landing)--35 anglers (2 boats): 900 sand dabs, 145 rockfish, 56 calico bass, 2 sargo, 10 sculpin, 12 whitefish, 28 sheephead, 18 blue perch, 2 sole, 10 opal eye perch.

LONG BEACH-- (Belmont Pier)--12 anglers (1 boat): 2 cow cod, 7 rock cod, 3 salmon grouper. (Los Alamitos Bay, Marina Sportfishing)--19 anglers (2 boats): 215 rockfish, 12 whitefish, 12 sculpin, 9 sheephead, 1 perch, 1 rock sole, 13 red snapper, 3 salmon grouper.

NEWPORT BEACH (Newport Landing)--10 anglers (1 boat): 35 rockfish, 5 sculpin, 1 sheephead, 15 whitefish, 12 red snapper.

DANA WHARF--31 anglers (3 boats): 1 blue perch, 8 calico bass, 4 sand bass, 1 mackerel, 1 cabezon, 1 halibut, 1 sculpin, 3 sheephead, 5 half moon perch.

SAN DIEGO (Seaforth)--52 anglers (4 boats): 1 barracuda, 4 sand bass, 72 rockfish, 32 whitefish, 4 sheephead, 5 sculpin. (Islandia)--32 anglers (2 boats): 25 rock cod, 1 sculpin, 10 rockfish.

TROUT PLANTS

ORANGE COUNTY--Carr Park Lake, Centennial Park Lake, Greer Park Lake, Huntington Park Lake, Mile Square Park Lake, Ralph Clark Park Lake, Tri-City Park Lake. SAN BERNARDINO--Mojave Narrows Park Lake.

--Compiled by PETE THOMAS