Catfish action continues to get better and better at Santa Ana River Lakes
The catfish action has continued to improve at Santa Ana River Lakes, with a lot of limits reported and a nice average size fish on some of the stringers.

While the biggest fish reported was just a seven-pounder caught by Alfonso Duarte of Norwalk, five-fish stringers frequently weighed 20 pounds or more and many anglers reported cats in the five to six-pound class.

Rick Haney, Garden Grove, landed five fish and his stringer topped out at 21 1/2 pounds, including a six-pounder as his best. Gilbert Ahumada, Bellflower, had a 20 1/2-pound stringer for five fish, and his best cat was a five-pounder.. While Rick Godsey, Chino, landed a 19 3/4-pound stringer and his best cat was a 5 3/4-pounder. Jimmy Suchi, Anaheim, had a 6  ?-pound cat, while a six-pound fish was landed by Ranferi Armas, Ontario.

While the best bite is still for boat anglers fishing the deeper water of the big lake, catfish are starting show in good numbers all around the complex with good catches reported at the Bubble Hole, Three Pipes, the Pumphouse, the Sandy Beach, Chris' Pond, and the Catfish Lake. Shrimp and nightcrawlers have been the top baits, and both have been improved if anglers added garlic-flavored Grease or Gravy.

Sturgeon are still very slow, but Floyd Rouse, Santa Ana, caught a four-pounder this week. Tilapia are also pretty fair for anglers targeting them with nightcrawler pieces. Also a few carp being caught.

Fish plants are 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 sponsored by Eagle Claw, that will run now through the end of September, and the coupon is valid for Friday fishing and NOW all 24-Hour Fishing Sessions through September.

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 sold every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and are NOW only $29.95, through September. 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 to get this 50 percent savings on Fridays, and every 24-Hour Fishing Session through September. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com