Catfish action has really turned on after a big plant for the summer season opener at Santa Ana River Lakes this past week. Lots of limits for both catfish and trout were reported with a few trophy catches mixed in as well. The lake will continue to receive catfish plants all summer long, so the catfish bite should stay very good. The last trout plant until this fall went in two weeks ago, and while the trout action will most likely remain good for another week or two, after that it will begin to taper off.

The catfish bite picked up immediately this week after the plants. Many limits have been reported and the best action has been on shrimp or chicken liver with Nitro Gravy.

Steve Nguyen, Anaheim, caught the top catfish of the week at 10-4 on shrimp while fishing near the boat dock. Tony Azlin, La Habra, caught two nice catfish at nine pounds and seven pounds on shrimp fishing the bubble hole. Ricky and Bonnie Henderson, Long Beach, teamed up to catch a stringer of catfish totaling 25 1/2 pounds while fishing Levitz' Corner using chicken liver with garlic gravy.

The trout action is still very good. Many limits are still showing a few big fish were reported as well. Orange or chartreuse Nitro Bait has been the hot ticket for trout. Anglers fishing deep water have been having the best success for the rainbows, and boat anglers are having a much easier time fishing the deep water and have been having the best success. Anglers fishing from shore need to fish long leaders (four-foot range) with floating baits and make long casts into the deeper water for best results.

Top trout this week was an 11-pound rainbow caught by John Nguyen, Fullerton, on a jig in Levitz' Corner. Mario Ranuso, Atwood, caught a 10-pound trout on green Nitro Bait at La Palma Point. Man Tran, Anaheim, caught a 9-10 trout on shrimp at the sandy beach. Jaime Delariva, La Puente, caught an eight-pound rainbow on chartreuse Nitro Bait at the pump house. Catfish plants will be weekly all summer, and trophy fish from eight to 15 pounds will a component of each week's plant. The average cat will be in the two-pound range.

Santa Ana River Lakes is open seven days a week with fishing allowed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on day passes or from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on an evening pass. Each of these $20 passes has a five-fish limit. Starting this week, the lake will be open to 24-hour fishing each Thursday through Saturday. These passes have a 15-fish limit and cost $60. A spouse and up to three kids 12 and under can help dad catch his 15-fish limit on these passes. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call (714) 632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.