Trout bite finally breaks wide open at Santa Ana River Lakes
A whole set of happy circumstances collided at Santa Ana River Lakes this past week to combine for the season's best trout fishing recorded so far. There were at last 42 limits of trout and more than 15 rainbows topping seven pounds were landed -- and that was just what recorded at the tackle shop.

What led to the excellent action? Prior to this past week, the lake's water temperatures were not optimum for the rainbow trout, but the fish had been planted for four weeks. While trout were being caught in fair numbers in the warmer-than-perfect water conditions, a lot of the trout were simply not eating much and their numbers stockpiled. Last week, the fifth week in a row of trout plants, was also the debut of the new Mt. Lassen Sierra Bows, and it was also the first time this season there was a whole load of trout from six to 10 pounds and bigger. Lastly, the water temperatures finally started dropping with the cool nights, and water conditions are now ideal for the trout.

All those things combined for the best fishing weekend of the fall trout season. The biggest trout recorded was a 10-pound, eight-ounce rainbow landed by Steve Zookzwad, Baldwin Park, while fishing with chartreuse Eagle Claw Nitro Bait dough at Levitz' Corner. This fish topped off a 25 1/2-pound, seven fish stringer. Rainbows at 8 1/2 pounds were caught by Dave Beaver, Anaheim, and Rhonda Kieson, Lakewood. Beaver had a three-fish stringer that weighed in at 23 1/2 pounds, making both of the other two trout on his stringer better than seven pounds each. He was fishing with white Eagle Claw Nitro dough off the Sandy Beach. Kieson had a four-fish catch and here total weight was 13 pounds and she was fishing with chartreuse dough at Levitz.

Four anglers weighed in eight-pound rainbows, including Craig Joachim, Anaheim, Tramel Kerl, Los Angeles, Marty Reitz, San Dimas, and Richard Paddison, Anaheim.

Some notable trout stringers were also posted. Kevin and David Uhl, of Laguna Niguel and Covina, caught five rainbows for a total of 25 pounds on Lip RipperZ at the boat dock, and their best rainbow was a 7 1/2 pounder. Nicolle and Chris Earl, Orange, had eight trout for 20-pounds, 12-ounces, including a 6 1/2-pounder, and Raymond Escobar, Buena Park, landed six trout for 30 pounds with his best a seven-pounder.

Besides the trout, the sturgeon are biting pretty well in the cooling water with a number of fish from three to six pounds. In fact, there were 10 sturgeon reported at the tackle shop, including one fish estimated to weigh around 100 pounds. While most of the sturgeon are being hooked by trout anglers by accident, targeting these fish with shrimp is a good bet. When you add in the decent bite on tilapia, catfish, and even carp, Santa Ana River Lakes has something for everyone.

Photos are being uploaded daily to The Lakes website so anglers can keep tabs on the fishing. In addition, anglers who catch fish and report them to the tackle shop and have photos taken are eligible for a weekly drawing for a package worth $300, including lake passes, pontoon boat rentals, and fishing gear.

This week SARL will be stocked again with the popular Nebraska Tailwalkers, including some of these hard-fighting fish over six pounds. This plant will be followed by another stock of Mt. Lassen Trout Farms fish for Thanksgiving weekend, including some super trophies up to 20 pounds or more. SARL will be closed at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, and it will remain closed Thanksgiving day, but it will reopen Black Friday for all anglers who want to avoid shopping with their wives.

A reminder that private boats are no longer being allowed at Santa Ana River Lakes do to fears of invasive quagga mussels being introduced into the water system. This closure does not apply to SARL's sister water Corona Lake.

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 once a month on Friday and Saturday nights nearest the full moon with the next event set for Dec. 4 and 5. These passes remain just $60. Anglers can bring a spouse and up to three kids to help fill the 24-hour pass 15-fish limit. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.