Corona Lake continues to pump out quality rainbows

The trophy rainbows from the big plant of Mt. Lassen Trout Farms super trophies two weeks ago continue to show in good numbers at Corona Lake, and the overall trout action remains excellent.

The top fish this past week was an 18-pound rainbow landed by Bernard Lopez, Wildomar, fishing a nightcrawler doused with Nitro Gravy. Trout at 17 3/4 pounds were caught by Walt Harrison, Mira Loma, and Ron Meek, West Covina. Meek also caught a 16-7 rainbow. Mario Garcia, San Marcos, caught a 17-8 rainbow, while Jose Fierro, Lake Elsinore, landed trout at 17-4 and 15 pounds on two different trips this past week. Felipe Garcia, Moreno Valley, caught a 16-pounder, and Tim Blacksher, Ontario, landed a 15-pounder to top off his five-fish, 30-pound stringer. In all, there were 13 rainbows reported that weighed over 10 pounds.

The best action has been from a boat or float tube in the main channel from the dam out to mid-lake, but shore anglers are also scoring a lot of fish along the whole west side of the lake. Top baits have been chartreuse, orange and rainbow Nitro Baits or a nightcrawler soaked in Nitro Gravy.

A few catfish and crappie are also showing for the few anglers targeted these species. Troy Smoot, Temecula, caught crappie at one and 1 3/4 pounds fishing white jigs.

This coming Saturday Corona Lake and Eagle Claw are hosting Angler Appreciation Day. This is a special two-for-one event. With each purchase of a full-price lake admission, your fishing partner gets in free, and the first 200 anglers in the gate will get a free Nitro Bait belt holder.

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 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. The next 24-hour fishing will be May 8 and 9, which kicks off the weekly 24-hour fishing that will last through the summer. For Corona Lake fishing information, call 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com