Corona Lake churns out at least 22 rainbow trout over 14 pounds
The trophy rainbows action continued to sizzle at Corona Lake during this past week's heat with at least 22 rainbows from 14 3/4 pounds to 19 3/4 pounds caught by anglers at this western Riverside County water.

That 19 3/4-ppounder was caught by Tony Uribe and Kevin Jimenez, both of Perris, while fishing a Nitro Egg from shore, while Andrew Sanchez, Cerritos, landed a 19 1/2-pounder on chartreuse Nitro Bait, also from shore.

Trout at 19 pounds were reported by James Johnston, Pomona, Jessie Enriquez, Baldwin Park, Leroy Chacon, Fontana, and Michael Lopez, Wildomar. On of the top stringers of the week, which consisted of three trout at 18 1/2, 18, and 17 1/2 pounds, was landed by Doi Luong, Chino, fishing strawberry Nitro Bait. Jorden Cook, Murrieta caught an 18 1/2 pounder on a nightcrawler. Lee Bachelor, Claremont, landed an 18-pounder on orange Nitro Bait, Juan Melendez, Riverside, also had an 18-even on rainbow Power Bait.

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, and catfish plants are now every other week starting with this week's stocking of channels from Imperial County.

The Angler Appreciate Day this past Saturday was such a success there will be another one sometime this May, once it is determined the lake is getting to warm to continue stocking trout. The Saturday after the last plant of the season, season passes will be just half price and there will be no limit on the trout for this special event.

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 log on at www.fishinglakes.com