FISH REPORT
FRESHWATER
Los Angeles County
CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass have remained active despite the weather, striking a variety of lures from five-40 feet. A 12-pound 2-ounce largemouth was caught on a plastic worm by Mike Rego, Valencia.
PYRAMID LAKE--Fishing isn’t great, but smallmouth bass are being caught on crankbaits and trout, and striped bass are being caught daily.
Ventura County
LAKE CASITAS--Rod Thigpin, Santa Paula, had a big-bass week, weighing in fish at 14-1, 11-12 and 10-12. He used a swimbait. Al Holmes, Ventura, five bass totaling 22 pounds on night crawlers. Catfish are biting on mackerel at Santa Ana Arm. Trout are in the mix too, but shore fishermen have to deal with debris caused by the rain.
LAKE PIRU--Fishing is not good but some trout are being caught, mostly by trollers using rainbow- and firetiger-pattern Needlefish with lead-core line at three colors. The bass remain deep.
Santa Barbara County
LAKE CACHUMA--Anglers should call ahead to check on possible rain-related closures. The lake is full and the docks have received minor damage. There is no fishing report.
Orange County
IRVINE LAKE--A 14-8 trout was caught by Orlando Zepeda, Garden Grove, on Power Bait at Sierra Cove. Fishing has been slow. The new Lagoon will open March 17.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--Trout are in a gourmet mode, biting best on garlic-scented night crawlers and Siberian cured salmon roe. Jennifer Poe, Laguna Hills, caught a 7-pound 3-ounce rainbow on a garlic crawler. A 5,000-pound load of fish was dumped into the lake Thursday night. Catfish made an unseasonal appearance earlier this week.
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--Top trout was a 20-12 by Varian Virgen, Buena Park, on a jig at Levitz Corner. Fishing is fair to good.
San Bernardino County
JESS RANCH LAKES--Trout are being caught mostly with night crawlers and Power Bait. Catfish action has improved too.
Riverside County
CORONA LAKE--Trout fishing is fair at mid-lake, and the biggest caught was a 16-pounder by Andy Auyang, La Verne, on chartreuse Power Bait.
LAKE PERRIS--Bass are biting on waterdogs, small crawdads, spinnerbaits and plastic worms, but there have been no notable catches since a 15-pounder on Feb. 23. Several areas have produced. Some crappies. Very few trout.
LAKE SKINNER--Trout remain the best bet, biting on Power Bait and spinners, but striped bass and largemouth bass are beginning to stir. A 14-4 striper was caught on a plug by Bill Lloyd, Moreno Valley.
San Diego County
LAKE CUYAMACA--There was a small crappie run this week, despite the cold. Trout remain the main attraction, however, and processed baits and small, shiny spinners are getting occasional strikes.
DIXON LAKE--Trout fishing has been very good with baits and lures but the big news was a lake-record 17-pound 15-ounce largemouth bass caught by Mike Hoski, Escondido, on a swimbait at Pier 4. Bass fishing is fair.
SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--Bass fishing has been very good at San Vicente and El Capitan, and fair at Lower Otay. Top bass was a 10-9 specimen caught on a swimbait at Murray. El Capitan anglers experienced a solid run on crappies and Miramar anglers notched several limits of trout. Sutherland opens today.
Eastern Sierra
Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters reports good to excellent fishing on the Lower Owens, with a monster brown lost and a 25-inch rainbow netted and released. Multiple strikes are the norm for those pulling streamers. Bait and lure fishermen are getting some strikes where the trails meet the river. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is producing nicely for those float-tubing at the dam. Streamers and small spinners are working. The Owens Gorge is good for fly-fishermen.
SALTWATER
The Times accepts and publishes the catch count as a public service. Any responsibility for accuracy is that of the landing operator.
SANTA BARBARA (Sea Landing)--13 anglers (1 boat): 2 whitefish, 18 red snapper, 60 rockfish, 2 sheephead, 5 sand dabs. (Hornet’s Landing)--5 anglers (1 boat): 38 red snapper, 2 bocaccio, 2 sole.
OXNARD (Cisco’s)--55 anglers (3 boats): 1 cabezon, 5 yellowtail, 43 whitefish, 5 sheephead, 19 sculpin, 360 rockfish, 70 red snapper, 3 ling cod, 1 halibut, 2 barracuda.
MARINA DEL REY--78 anglers (3 boats): 16 halibut, 14 sand bass, 260 rock cod, 3 ling cod, 1 cabezon.
REDONDO BEACH--59 anglers (3 boats): 8 halibut, 32 sand bass, 3 sculpin, 2 whitefish, 2 perch, 1 sole, 30 mackerel.
SAN PEDRO (L.A. Harbor Sportfishing)-- 16 anglers (1 boat): 19 sand bass, 13 calico bass, 6 sheephead, 6 sculpin, 2 halibut, 1 barracuda, 1 whitefish. (22nd St. Landing)--40 anglers (2 boats): 2,025 sand dabs, 45 rockfish, 33 whitefish, 16, sand bass, 5 blue perch, 1 sheephead, 11 sculpin, 1 halibut, 2 calico bass.
LONG BEACH (Sportfishing/Berth 55)-- 51 anglers (3 boats): 1 white seabass, 73 calico bass, 144 rockfish, 1 halibut, 265 whitefish, 34 sea bass, 11 sculpin, 13 perch, 1 sole, 1 cabezon, 1 spanish mackerel. (Marina Sportfishing)--35 anglers (2 boats): 2 calico bass, 37 whitefish, 1 sculpin, 34 sheephead, 4 perch, 209 rock cod, 38 red rock cod, 34 red snapper. (Pierpoint Landing)--46 anglers (4 boats): 21 calico bass, 5 sand bass, 147 rockfish, 11 whitefish, 2 sculpin, 5 sheephead, 105 blue perch, 41 opal eye, 1,085 sand dabs.
NEWPORT BEACH (Newport Landing)--22 anglers (1 boat): 2 halibut, 2 rockfish, 12 sculpin, 1 cabezon.
DANA WHARF--27 anglers (2 boats): 25 sand bass, 17 calico bass, 5 blue perch, 46 rockfish, 75 sculpin.
OCEANSIDE (Helgren’s)--36 anglers (1 boat): 280 sculpin, 7 whitefish, 80 rockfish.
SAN DIEGO (Seaforth)--55 anglers (3 boats): 75 yellowtail, 5 kelp bass, 138 sand bass, 5 rockfish, 8 whitefish, 7 sculpin, 1 halibut, 34 mackerel. (Islandia)--17 anglers (1 boat): 18 whitefish, 5 sand bass, 2 calico bass, 8 sheephead, 10 sculpin, 29 rockfish, 17 mackerel.
TROUT PLANTS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Alondra Park Lake, Arroyo Seco Creek, Belvedere Park Lake, Big Tujunga (Upper and Lower), Crystal Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Hollenbeck Lake, Kenny Hahn Lake, Legg Lake, Lincoln Park Lake, Little Rock Reservoir, Magic Johnson Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas Reservoir, San Gabriel River (East and West Forks), Santa Anita Creek, Santa Fe Reservoir. ORANGE--Centennial Lake, Huntington Park Lake, Mile Square Park Lake, Ralph Clark Regional Park Lake, Tri-City Lake. RIVERSIDE--Cahuilla Park Lake, Evans Lake, Rancho Jurupa Park Lake. SAN BERNARDINO--Glen Helen Park Lake, Mojave Narrows Park Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River (South Fork), Seccombe Park Lake, Silverwood Lake, Yucaipa Park Lake. SAN DIEGO--Carr Park Lake, Doane Pond, Greer Park Lake, Lindo Lake, San Luis Rey Creek. INYO--Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Owens River (Laws Bridge downstream to Steward Lane), Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Shepards Creek, Symms Creek, Tuttle Creek.
