Corona Lake cranking out some whopper bluegill, and the catfish bite is sizzling hot
The catfish and bluegill bites are both wide open at Corona Lake, and a lot of quality crappie are also showing. Meanwhile, the warming water conditions have really slowed the trout bite, and last week's plant was the final one of the season.

Perhaps the most interest was generated by the quality bluegill landed over the past week. Top fish was a huge 3 1/4-pounder caught by Paul Fornicola, Corona, as part of a five-fish, 10-pound stringer caught on green meal worms and wax worms. Arliss White, Wildomar, landed 20 bluegill that weighed 15 pounds total, and his big fish was a 1 1/2-pounder, and Dave Berry, Murrieta, landed 10 bluegill, all at one pound each. Both anglers were using wax worms from shore.

The crappie are nearly as good with a lot of half-pounders being caught along with a few bigger fish. Mogo Romhn, Corona, caught 10 crappie fishing yellow and white mini jigs that weighed 17 pounds total. His big fish was a 3 1/2-pounder.

The summer catfish bite has kicked into high gear, and Corona Lake will be planted twice a week with catfish through the summer on Tuesdays and Fridays. The big fish this past week was a 17 1/4-pounder caught by Melisswa Martinez, Moreno Valley, as part of a 24-hour pass, 15-fish stringer that weighed 47 3/4-pounds. Lake manager Jim Davis, Elsinore, caught five cats on his J.D.'s Mackerel bait that weighed 36 1/2-pounds, including a 14-pounder. Earl Savard, Moreno Valley, landed a nine-pound cat on mackerel, while Susan Davis, Elsinore, had an 8-12 cat to top off her 28-pound stringer of five-fish.

While the trout have slowed, Andrew Villareal, Corona, caught a 13-pound rainbow, and Joe Webb, Upland, landed four trout to 3-8. The best action has been in deep water on chartreuse Nitro bait.

The last big news of the week is that weekly tilapia plants on Tuesday kicked off this week. These popular panfish are great on the table and are extremely popular with anglers.

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 24-hour passes are now sold every Friday and Saturday and remain just $60.. Anglers can bring a spouse and up to three kids to help fill the 24-hour pass 15-fish limit. For Memorial Day weekend, there will also be 24-hour fishing Sunday night. For Corona Lake fishing information, call 951-277-4489 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com