Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service
3-22-07

Sixteen rainbows over 10 pounds?Įcaught at Santa Ana River Lakes

The parade of big rainbow trout through the tackle shop at Santa Ana River Lakes. In the past week, there were another 16 rainbows over the 10-pound mark weighed in, and a double stocking of trophy rainbows this week should increase the number of big fish hitting the scales.

The biggest rainbow was a 16 1/4-pounder caught as part of a three-fish stringer that weighed 37 pounds by Robert and W.D. Fuentes, both Phoenix, Ariz. The pair were fishing Z spoons and jigs off Levitz' Corner. Ayaz Uddin, Anaheim, landed trout at 15 1/2 and 13 1/2 pounds fishing jigs in Chris' Pond, while Vincent Virgen, Buena Park, caught five trout that weighed a total of 44 pounds -- nearly a nine-pound average. Virgen's big trout was a 12-pounder, and he caught his limit on Nitro Bait off La Palma Point.

There have also been a lot of steelhead landed after last week's plant. These fish are mostly from two to six pounds, and they are being planted again this week.

Top fishing spots for boat anglers have been the Bubble Hole or trolling mid-lake with bright-colored lures. Trolling has been especially good for the steelhead. Shore anglers are seeing good results with floating baits in orange, rainbow, strawberry, and salmon egg colors at the Bubble Hole, the road, La Palma Point, along the sandy beach, and in Chris' Pond.

The warm weather has also turned on the catfish bite, although few anglers are fishing the cats. The best baits have been trout guts in the big lake or the usual catfish baits fished in the Catfish Lake with a lot of two to five-pound cats showing for those targeting whiskerfish.

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. The lake's 24-hour passes will be available one weekend a month 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 ?Į ??