Both the trout and catfish bites have been excellent at Corona Lake over the past week. The warm weather has stirred up the catfish, and the trout have moved to deeper water and are cruising close to the bottom.

"Short leaders are the real trick for the trout right now," said David Horn, Corona Lake manager. He recommended anglers keep the leaders to six inches so the bottom-hugging rainbows can easily find the floating baits and inflated nightcrawlers. Chartreuse and corn yellow Nitro Bait fished with Nitro Gravy or Grease has been the best bait, but a few fish are still showing on inflated nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, or small jigs and trout plastics. Horn said the dam and south end of the lake have been the top spots.br>
The biggest rainbow this past week was a 20-pounder landed by Chuck Shamblin, Riverside, while fishing corn yellow Nitro Bait near the dam. Jarred Musby, Corona, landed a 15 1/4-pound rainbow on spring green Power Bait while fishing from a boat, and Mike Drofycz, San Bernardino, had a limit of five trout that weighed 18 pounds drifting salmon eggs. His big fish was an 11 1/2-pound rainbow.br>
There will be double plants of the huge rainbows each week through the rest of the month, and starting this week, steelhead will be planted.

The catfish have been in the flooded trees and the best action has been on cut mackerel for both shore and boat anglers. Fred Offeney, Riverside, had a 5-0 catfish on mackerel.br>
Corona Lake 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. The lake's 24-hour passes are available one weekend a month, usually on the Friday and Saturday night nearest the full moon. The next 24-hour fishing will be March 30-31. These passes have a 15-fish limit and cost $45.

For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call (714) 632-7830 www.fishinglakes.com