The catfish fishing was excellent at Santa Ana River Lakes this past week thanks to bonus plants for the official catfish season opener. Limits were common and lots of quality catfish were showing on anglers' stringers. The excellent bite should continue this week with another huge catfish plant slated for the 4th of July weekend.

A variety of baits have been producing good results for catfish with nightcrawlers, shrimp, and mackerel are top contenders, but the hot ticket has been to add Eagle Claw Nitro Gravy to your bait of choice.

The top fish was landed this past week was an 11.9-pound catfish caught by Tony Terry, La Palma. He also had a 10.2-pounder, and his 15-fish stringer totaled 57.2 pounds. He was fishing with shrimp dipped in Nitro Gravy.

Doug Bader, Orange, caught an 11-8 catfish to top his 30 fish stringer totaling over 70 pounds. Scott Zimnicki, Garden Grove, had a 40-fish stringer (he bought three 24-hour passes) totaling 107-8. Zimnicki's top fish was a 7.4-pound catfish, and he was using nightcrawlers with Gravy for bait. Pete and John Williams, Riverside, teamed up to catch a 30-fish stringer of catfish totaling 86.3 pounds, with a 9.4-pounder topping the catch. The Williams' were fishing with the M&M (marshmallow and mealworm) combo dipped in Gravy. Scott Tahoy, Garden Grove, landed a 40-fish stringer totaling 85 pounds on nightcrawlers and shrimp. Mike Scott, Bellflower, caught a 15-fish stringer totaling 46.2 pounds, with a 8.1-pounder topping his 24-hour limit, and all were landed on the M&M combo with Gravy. Douglas Wills, Anaheim, caught 15 catfish totaling 49.2 pounds with an 8.7-pounder topping the catch.

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. Each week all summer long, 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.