Over 20 trout topping 10 pounds caught at Santa Ana River Lakes

There were at least 22 rainbows larger than 10 pounds caught at Santa Ana River Lakes in the past week, and the big fish was a 21 1/2-pound rainbow. The big fish action was thanks to a big plant of the super trophies from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms last week. The big fish were mixed in with a lot of one to two-pound trout that also provided limits for a lot of anglers.

Anthony Williams of Anaheim Hills landed the 21-8 rainbow fishing a nightcrawler at the pump house. An 18-pound trout was caught by Jim Rico, Hawthorne, on rainbow Nitro Bait at La Palma Point. Greg McCloud, Seal Beach, and Clem Nunez, Riverside, each landed 17-8 rainbows, while Steve Jaimenez, Montebello, caught a 17-2. Arturo Valesquez, West Covina, had a 17-pounder, while Joseph Olivarez, Covina, landed a 16-even.

There were three trout landed at 15 3/4-pounds, one caught by Jonathan Olalde, Pomona, one by Ayaz Uddin, Anaheim Hills, and the last by Frank Bin, La Cresenta. Timothy Dunn, Ranchos Palos Verde, landed a 15-8, as did Daniel Fernandez, Carson. Larry Houthin, Long Beach, caught a 15 1/4-pounder, while Rick Kizzee, Hawthorne, landed a 15-even.

Nightcrawlers and Nitro dough were the hot baits this past week. Most anglers were inflating the nightcrawlers and adding Nitro Gravy or Nitro Grease, and the best colors for the floating Nitro Bait were rainbow, chartreuse, strawberry, orange and white. A number of quality fish were also caught on Lip RipperZ and Trout Magic trout jigs, Roostertails, and a variety of small trout worms.

There will be a second plant of the super trophies the evening of April 1 for another big, four-day, trophy trout fishing weekend April 2-5 and the biggest have been saved for the second stocking. This will give anglers another chance to test their mettle against these huge rainbows, and the feisty Nebraska Tailwalkers will be planted this week to keep stringer full of quality fish.

Also coming in April is Angler Appreciation Day. This is a special two-for-one event sponsored by Eagle Claw on Saturday, April 18. With each purchase of a full-price lake admission, your wife or fishing buddy gets in free and the first 200 anglers in the gate will get a free Nitro Bait belt holder. Santa Ana River Lakes is normally 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 passes is $22. Seniors only pay $20, with a special $17 pass sold on Wednesdays. All of these passes have a five-fish limit. For kids 4 to 13, a three-fish pass is just $9.. The once-monthly 24-hour passes remain just $60. These passes have a 15-fish limit. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com .