FISH REPORT
FRESHWATER
Los Angeles County
CASTAIC LAKE--Fishing is slow for all species, with trout offering the most action, biting primarily on Power Bait.
PYRAMID LAKE--Fishing has slowed. Largemouth bass are very deep and jig fishermen are getting only an occasional strike. Trout also are being caught only sporadically and striped bass seem to have disappeared.
Ventura County
LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass are not very active, but a 12-pound four-ounce specimen was caught on a Castaic Trout by Gary Laird, Santa Paula. Trout action is fair to good on lures and bait, and catfish action is slow to fair on mackerel.
LAKE PIRU--Trout fishing is fair on trolling lures and bait, but limits are hard to come by. Bass have gone deep and only a few have been caught.
Santa Barbara County
LAKE CACHUMA--Trout action is fair to good at the east end, with trollers using Needlefish doing best. Shore anglers are getting some on Power Bait at Harvey’s Cove. Bass fishing, while slow, has picked up for those using crawdads from north-shore points.
Orange County
IRVINE LAKE--Top trout was a 21-pounder caught on a Rapala at the west shore by Roger Ortiz, Paramount. Top catch was a 40-pound sturgeon caught on a night crawler by Manual Cruz, Santa Ana. Fishing is fair overall.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--The trout bite is still going strong and a 10-9 tops the list. Lures and bait are doing the trick. Bass fishing has improved for those casting six-inch dark-colored plastic worms.
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--The lakes yielded 30 rainbow trout weighing 10 pounds or more, topped by an 18-pounder caught on chartreuse Power Bait by Nick Sattahon, Los Angeles. Sandy Beach, La Palma Point and Chris’ Pond have been the hot spots. Thunder trout and catfish are also in the mix.
San Bernardino County
JESS RANCH LAKES--Trout and catfish have become sluggish, although there was slight improvement toward midweek.
Riverside County
CORONA LAKE--Top trout was an 18-pounder caught at the dam on rainbow Power Bait by Dean Sattler, West Covina. Fishing is fair for trout and crappie.
LAKE PERRIS--Top bass was a 6-6 by Jess Smith, Hemet, on a purple jig at the east end. A 5-6 was also caught on a purple jig. Bass action has picked up slightly. Trout action is fair at Lot 5.
LAKE SKINNER--Trout have replaced striped bass in the spotlight and are about the only species you can expect to catch.
San Diego County
LAKE CUYAMACA--Fishing has been as cold as the weather. However, some have done well. One duo teamed to catch 10 trout totaling nine pounds, using Power Worms at the Lone Pine Tree.
DIXON LAKE--Trout to about five pounds are fairly active, biting mostly on white and chrome lures. Catfish are biting sporadically on mackerel.
SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--Upper Otay opened Wednesday and big fish cooperated. A 70-pound blue catfish was caught on a crawdad and a 10-8 bass was caught on a waterdog. El Capitan opens Feb. 10. Trout fishing is best at Miramar. Bass fishing is best at San Vicente, although a 10-3 caught at Murray tops the list.
LAKE WHOLFORD--Trout were weighed in at 11 pounds (caught on chicken liver), 8-6 (crappie jig), 7-5 (night crawler) and 6-4 (night crawler). Fishing is fair to good.
Eastern Sierra
The Owens River from Pleasant Valley Reservoir down has been fair to good for those braving cold temperatures. Fly-fishing guides report some ice along the edges of the reservoir, but those nymphing with pheasant tails and midge larva patterns in the river section are doing well. Sierra Drifters reports slow but improving fishing on the Lower Owens, and the action is fair to good on the Owens Gorge, where mostly small brown trout are rising for anything landing on the surface.
SALTWATER
The Times accepts and publishes the catch count as a public service. Any responsibility for accuracy is that of the landing operator.
AVILA BEACH (Patriot Sportfishing)--12 anglers (1 boat): 96 red rockcod, 1 lingcod, 24 red snapper.
SANTA BARBARA (Sea Landing)--10 anglers (1 boat): 1 calico bass, 6 ocean whitefish, 2 sand bass, 5 sculpin. (Hornet’s Landing)--6 anglers (1 boat): 38 whitefish, 5 red snapper, 2 rockfish, 1 sheephead, 1 black seabass (released).
OXNARD (Cisco’s)--16 anglers (1 boat): 60 whitefish, 12 sculpin.
MARINA DEL REY--41 anglers (4 boats): 1 halibut, 277 sculpin, 24 sand bass, 15 perch, 3 cabezon.
REDONDO BEACH--7 anglers (1 boat): 50 sculpin, 5 blue perch, 1 whitefish.
SAN PEDRO (22nd St. Landing)--10 anglers (1 boat): 26 calico bass, 7 sand bass, 3 halibut, 14 sculpin, 1 sheephead.
LONG BEACH (Sportfishing/Berth 55)--12 anglers (1 boat): 12 barracuda, 18 calico bass, 22 sand bass, 1 whitefish, 9 sheephead, 14 sculpin, 3 blue perch, 100 blacksmith perch. (Marina Sportfishing)--15 anglers (1 boat): 1 calico bass, 2 sand bass, 5 whitefish, 3 sculpin, 2 sheephead, 85 blacksmith perch, 1 sole.
SEAL BEACH (Big Fish)--12 anglers (1 boat): 1 cabezon, 4 sculpin, 15 sand bass, 13 halibut, 49 halibut (released).
NEWPORT BEACH (Newport Landing)--9 anglers (1 boat): 3 sand bass, 4 sand dabs, 90 sculpin. (Davey’s Locker)--4 anglers (1 boat): 20 bonito, 2 calico bass, 2 sheephead.
OCEANSIDE (Helgren’s)--13 anglers (1 boat): 4 calico bass, 23 sand bass, 4 sculpin, 1 whitefish.
SAN DIEGO (Seaforth)--45 anglers (3 boats): 5 calico bass, 269 sand bass, 25 whitefish, 1 sheephead, 4 sculpin, 4 halibut. (Islandia)--14 anglers (1 boat): 95 sculpin, 3 sand bass.
TROUT PLANTS
LOS ANGELES--Big Rock Creek, Piru Creek (Frenchman’s Flat) and Pyramid Lake. RIVERSIDE--Cahuilla Park Lake, Evans Lake and Rancho Jurupa Park Lake. SAN BERNARDINO--Glen Helen Park Lake, Seccombe Park Lake and Yucaipa Park Lake. SANTA BARBARA--Lake Cachuma Lake Santa Ynez River. VENTURA--Rose Valley Lake. SAN LUIS OBISPO--Atascadero Lake, Lopez Lake and Santa Margarita Lake. SAN DIEGO--Moreno Lake.
--Compiled by PETE THOMAS