FRESHWATER

Los Angeles County

CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass are fairly active, striking spoons and ice-fishing jigs. Live shad makes for great bait. Trout action is fair to good on Power Bait and small lures. A 12-pound 3-ounce striped bass was caught on an AC Plug.

PYRAMID LAKE--Smallmouth bass are hitting crankbaits and Rat-l-Traps, mostly near the marina and at Yellowbar. Trout action is fair on Power Bait. Striped bass are in hiding.

Ventura County

LAKE CASITAS--Catfish and trout action excellent. Trout are biting mostly on Power Bait and many are weighing more than a pound. Big catfish are biting, mostly on mackerel. A 26-pounder tops the list. Bass fishing is slow.

LAKE PIRU--Bass are biting on plastic worms, jigs and night crawlers. Few fish are topping three pounds, however. Trout fishing is fair, but the fish are scattered so trollers using Kastmasters and Rapalas are doing best.

Santa Barbara County

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout remain the best bet and Needlefish, night crawlers and Power Bait are working best. Some limits. Other species are slow.

Orange County

IRVINE LAKE--A 19-4 trout was caught on a night crawler and night crawlers produced two others nearly as big. Fishing is good for mostly smaller fish, but plenty of lunkers are being landed.

LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--Trout fishing is very good from shore and boat and most baits and lures are working. One angler, on the far shore, bought four five-fish permits, he was doing so well. Shore anglers should arrive early as the top spots--just right of the marina is one--are filling up fast. Top trout, one 11-3 by Lisa Helloder, San Diego, on a salmon egg in the middle of the lake.

SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--Four more trout weighed in at 20 pounds or more, topped by a 21-1 caught on a red jig. Power Worm-Power Bait combos are the most popular choice for those after the bigger fish. More than a few catfish were caught in the last week.

San Bernardino County

JESS RANCH LAKES--Trout to about three pounds are biting on rainbow Power Bait and night crawlers. Catfish, bass and bluegills are being caught too.

Riverside County

CORONA LAKE--A 21-pound trout caught on a night crawler tops the list. Fishing is fair for shore fishermen and slightly better for boaters and float-tubers.

LAKE PERRIS--Fishing is slow for all species. A 5-6 bass caught on a water dog tops the list, but overall the bass are deep and sluggish.

LAKE SKINNER--Striped bass are biting on plugs and live shad, with fish averaging three-six pounds. Largemouth bass action is fair with shad, night crawlers and spinnerbaits. Trout are in the mix too.

San Diego County

LAKE CUYAMACA--Trout fishing has improved, but limits require lots of effort. Lake ranger reports no fish topping three pounds and no limits in less than 30 minutes. Best baits are Power Bait and inflated night crawlers. Gold and brightly colored spinners are working too.

DIXON LAKE--Trout action is fair to good and several were weighed in at five pounds or more. Power Bait and Power Worms are the top producers.

LAKE POWAY--Trout action is good and several were weighed in at five pounds or more, topped by a 7-4 caught on a night crawler.

SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--Trout remain the top draw at Miramar and Murray, and the top catch was one 9-2 caught on a Kastmaster at Murray. Bass fishing is fair to good at San Vicente, where one 8-8 was caught on a swimbait.

LAKE WHOLFORD--Trout action is very good and a 9-9 caught on a gold Kastmaster tops the list.

TROUT PLANTS

LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Park Lake, Crystal Lake, Downey Wilderness Park Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Hollenbeck Lake, Kenny Hahn Park Lake, Legg Lake, Lincoln Park Lake, Magic Johnson Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake, San Gabriel River (East and West forks), Santa Fe Reservoir. ORANGE--Carr Park Lake, Centennial Park Lake, Greer Lake, Mile Square Park Lake, Ralph Clark Park Lake, Tri-City Lake, Westhaven Lake. RIVERSIDE-- Elsinore Lake and Perris Lake. SAN BERNARDINO--Mojave Narrows Park Lake. SAN DIEGO--Doane Pond and Morena Lake.

--Compiled by PETE THOMAS