Santa Ana River Lakes continue to crank out limits of nice rainbows
Good trout action at Santa Ana River Lakes this week with a lot of the fish in the three to four-pound range and many anglers posted five-fish limits. Chartreuse Nitro Bait or nightcrawlers fished at Three Pipes or Levitz' Corner has been working best for the trout.

Mark Allen, Garden Grove, and Kevin Apama, Ahaheim, landed 13 trout totaling 28 pounds with a 4 1/2-pounder topping the catch. George Mendoza, Costa Mesa, caught five trout totaling 13-8 out of Levitz' Corner. George Tebelekian, Los Angeles, caught five trout to 4.2 pounds on nightcrawlers and Nitro Bait.

Catfish are showing on the M&M (marshmallow and mealworm) combo dipped in garlic Gravy with the best bite at the boat dock and Three Pipes. Jay Lee, Garden Grove, caught five catfish to 3-8 on marshmallows at Three Pipes. David Kim and Henry Choi, both of Garden Grove, teamed up to catch six catfish on shrimp also fishing at Three Pipes.

Trout will continue to be planted each week all the way through May or until the temperatures rise too much to support healthy rainbows. Anglers need to keep an eye on the Lakes' web site or call the 24-hour fish recording because the last weekend of trout plants will be another Angler Appreciation Day. The last big Saturday of trout fishing season will offer special half-price admission and the limit on trout -- trout only -- will be removed for that day.

Catfish are also being planted alternating week now with the most recent plant this week.

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 24-hour passes remain just $60, and have a 15-fish limit. The next 24-hour fishing will be May 8-9, which kicks off the weekly 24-hour fishing that will last through the summer. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com

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