Santa Ana River Lakes is cranking out scads of five- to seven-pound catfish !!
There have been a lot of quality catfish stringer reported by anglers at Santa Ana River Lakes over the past week, and nearly half of the those checking in at the tackle shop have at least one catfish in the five to seven-pound class in their catch.

The hot baits have been the marshmallow-meal worm combo doused with shrimp-flavored Gravy, but cut mackerel and shrimp have also been mainstays. While fish have been showing all around the Lakes' complex, anglers fishing at Three Pipes, off Levitz' Corner or from boats in the big lake have been getting the quickest limits.

Top catches this week included a seven-pounder that topped off a 13-pound, five-fish stringer posted by Santiago Palacios, West Covina, while Andrea Palacios landed a six-pounder. Jose Rios, Santa Ana, had a five-fish regular pass limit that weighed in 18 1/2 pounds and included a five pounder. Bob and Sally Marley, Norwalk, had 10 cats totaling 26 3/4 pounds and their top fish was a 5 1/2-pounder.

Top 24-hour stringer of the week, a 15-fish catch that weighed in at 31 pounds and included a 5 1/2-pounder, was caught by Todd Jensen, Corona. Justin Wyndham, Irvine, had 15 cats and tilapia that weighed 27 1/2 pounds, while Bo Homistek, Los Angeles, had 15 fish at 26 pounds. Jesus Valdez, Los Angeles, caught 15 cats on his 24-hour pass that weighed 23 3/4 pounds. Brad and Valerie Dew, along with Joe Emerson, all Huntington Beach, caught 21 cats on 24-hour passes and the total stringer weighed in at 39 1/2 pounds.

While sturgeon remain slow with the warm water conditions, Oscar Malone, Long Beach had a 5 1/4-pounder fishing nightcrawlers and meal worms near the Pump House.

Catfish plants are usually twice a week, with the tilapia going in weekly.

The Fish Day Friday coupons are still available on the web site and represent more than a 50 percent savings on day, evening, and 24-hour passes on Fridays. With the coupon you can download off The Lakes web site at www.fishinglakes.com, the regular $22 day or evening pass is only $9.95 and the 24-hour pass, normally $60, is just $29.95. Anglers can still bring the wife and up to three kids to help dad catch the 15-fish limit on that 24-hour pass.

This is Santa Ana River Lakes' stimulus package for anglers that will run now through the end of September, and the coupon is only valid for Friday fishing.

There is an ongoing big fish contest with a $100 gift certificate given away each week on Sunday afternoon. The winning angler can use the certificate only at the new Jimmy's Outdoors Hunting and Fishing Supply, just around the corner from SARL on Tustin Avenue. The week's winner will be posted at 4 p.m. each Sunday at the tackle shop at Santa Ana River Lakes.

Santa Ana River Lakes 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 Thursday, 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. Don't forget to download the coupon for more than a 50 percent savings on Fridays. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.