FISH REPORT
FRESHWATER
Los Angeles County
CASTAIC LAKE--Trout action is fair to good for those using Power Bait and lures. Most fish are pan-sized. Largemouth bass have gone deep with the shad and only an occasional striped bass is being caught.
PYRAMID LAKE--Trout are providing most action, as striped bass and largemouth bass are being caught only sporadically and in deep water. Power Bait and night crawlers are getting the trout.
Ventura County
LAKE CASITAS--Trout are biting on rainbow Power Bait and Wadleigh Arm is producing the biggest fish. A three-pounder tops the list. Catfish are biting on night crawlers and mackerel at 20 feet. Ed Guyette, Ventura, caught an 18-pounder. Big swimbaits are getting a few big bass, but bass fishing is slow.
LAKE PIRU--Trout are biting on lures and bait, at the dam, off Pumphouse Point and at the launch ramp. Bass fishing is slow.
Santa Barbara County
LAKE CACHUMA--Trout remain the top draw and limits are coming from the east end on Power Bait, Needlefish and Rapalas. Red-ear perch are being caught mostly on night crawlers at Jackrabbit and Stork flats. Some bass.
Orange County
IRVINE LAKE--Top catch, a 19-pound 10-ounce trout on Power Bait at the west shore. The west shore is the place to be and Power Bait and Rapalas are the top producers.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--Top haul was by Brian Perry, Mission Viejo, whose stringer included trout at 10 1/2, seven and 5 1/2 pounds. He used white tube jigs next to the concession stand. Trout fishing was great before Wednesday’s rain.
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--Thunder trout made their debut--and a fair-sized splash--but the larger rainbow trout remain the top draw. Top rainbow was a 19-pounder caught on Power Bait at Levitz Corner.
Riverside County
CORONA LAKE--A lake-record 2 1/2-pound crappie was caught by Russ Clyse, Apple Valley, on a night crawler. Trout action is fair to good and an 18 1/2-pounder caught on a jig tops the list.
LAKE PERRIS--Top bass was one 13-6 caught on a swimbait at the island. Bass were also weighed in at 10-4 (waterdog) 6-6 (two of them, caught on swimbaits). Other species are slow.
LAKE SKINNER--Striped bass are biting well on live shad and even frozen shad, as well as on swimbaits and plugs. A 15-pounder tops the list. Largemouth bass and trout are taking the hooks as well. Overall, fishing is good.
San Diego County
DIXON LAKE--Trout fishing is good for mostly small ones, though a 6 1/2-pounder was caught on a trolled Kastmaster. Other species are not really in the mix.
SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--Trout remain the top draw at Murray and Miramar and a four-pounder caught on a jig at Murray tops the list. Bass action is fair at San Vicente and slow elsewhere.
LAKE POWAY--Trout fishing is good early, but the big fish remain shy. Power Bait and night crawlers are best. The lake will close at noon Thursday and through Friday in advance of a youth derby Feb. 3.
LAKE WHOLFORD--A 10-8 trout caught on a night crawler tops a list of big ones. Trout fishing is fair to good for mostly smaller rainbows.
Eastern Sierra
Fishing has been fair at best on the wild-trout section of the Lower Owens River, and bitter cold weather isn’t helping matters. Nymphing with caddis larva, pheasant tails and tiger midges size 16-20 has been best. There is no surface action. The Owens River Gorge is another matter, as small trout will rise after most anything. Brock’s Flyfishing Specialist recommends caddis patterns size 16-18 and midge emergers size 20-22. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is producing well for float tubers at the inlet. Mostly rainbows but also browns are striking woolly buggers and matukas. The Lower Owens has been only fair for drift fishermen.
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)--5 anglers (1 boat): 1 lingcod, 50 red rockcod.
AVILA BEACH (Patriot Sportfishing)--7 anglers (1 boat): 16 rockcod, 54 red rockcod, 1 cabezon.
MARINA DEL REY--37 anglers (4 boats): 2 halibut, 211 sculpin, 24 sand bass, 15 perch, 1 calico bass.
REDONDO BEACH--6 anglers (1 boat): 27 sand bass, 5 calico bass, 6 whitefish.
SAN PEDRO (L.A. Harbor Sportfishing)--20 anglers (1 boat): 19 sand bass, 13 calico bass, 1 barracuda, 1 sheephead, 2 halibut.
LONG BEACH (Sportfishing/Berth 55)--13 anglers (1 boat): 1 barracuda, 21 sand bass, 6 calico bass, 6 sheephead, 4 sculpin, 3 whitefish. (Marina Sportfishing)--11 anglers (1 boat): 18 sand bass, 2 sculpin, 1 sheephead, 110 perch. (Pierpoint Landing)--6 anglers (1 boat): 2 calico bass, 39 sand bass, 2 sculpin, 21 perch.
NEWPORT BEACH (Newport Landing)--9 anglers (1 boat): 1 calico bass, 24 sand bass, 1 copper rockfish, 90 sculpin, 1 sole. (Davey’s Locker)--23 anglers (1 boat): 16 calico bass, 6 sand bass, 1 sculpin, 1 blue perch.
DANA WHARF--21 anglers (2 boats): 34 calico bass, 10 sand bass.
TROUT PLANTS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Park Lake, Crystal Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Elizabeth Park Lake, Kenneth Hahn Park Lake, Legg Lake, Lincoln Park Lake, Magic Johnson Park Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Reservoir, San Dimas Reservoir, Santa Fe Reservoir, San Gabriel River (East and West forks). ORANGE--Carr Park Lake, Centennial Lake, Green Park Lake, Mile Square Park Lake, Ralph Clark Park Lake, Tri-City Park Lake, West Haven Park Lake, Yorba Linda Park Lake. RIVERSIDE--Lake Elsinore, Lake Perris. SAN BERNARDINO--Cucamonga-Guasti Park Lake, Mojave Narrows Park Lake, Prado Park Lake. SAN DIEGO--Lake Cuyamaca.