The brown trout planted last week at Santa Ana River Lakes started biting immediately for anglers tossing Thomas Buoyants or Roostertails with fish to four pounds reported. But then the bite gradually shifted so the action was about 50-50 on lures and floating dough baits in a very good bite.

The browns immediately spread all around the lakes' complex and were showing from just about everywhere. The pump house and sandy beach were probably the better spots on the big lake, while Three Pipes was best on Chris' Pond.

Most of the browns were from two to three pounds with a few bigger fish. Tramel Wilson, Los Angeles, landed five browns that weighed a total of 15 pounds fishing nightcrawlers at the Toad Road and his big fish was a 4-4. William Martinez, Montebello, had a five-fish limit that went 10 pounds, and his top brown was a four-pounder. Jay Fuqua, Huntington Beach, used Roostertails to land his four browns, including one at four pounds.

The sturgeon plant last week also perked the action on these great-eating gamefish, and most of the fish landed were under the 15-pound size limit for keeper fish.

Atreus Chanolen, Fontana, landed a 14-3 sturgeon, while Tim McAroy, Bellflower, caught a 14-even. Ray Sells, Anaheim, landed a seven-pounder. While many of the sturgeon landed at the lakes are caught by trout anglers on floating baits or inflated nightcrawlers, shrimp has consistently been one of the best baits to use if you are targeting the sturgeon.

The warm weather has also brought out the catfish, with several decent fish landed over the past few days. Best fish was a 10  ?-pounder caught as part of a mixed trout and catfish stringer of nine fish that weighed 24 pounds caught by Jose Fernando, Placentia, on a marshmallow-meal worm combo or nightcrawlers. Scott Callahan, Tustin, landed a seven-pound cat on a nightcrawlers.

Rainbow trout plants return this week with three plants of fish. On Tuesday, the lake gets a load of Mt. Lassen trout, including some of the big trophy fish. On Wednesday, the popular Nebraska Tailwalkers arrive, and on Friday, the lake gets Jess Ranch Ruby Red rainbows.

Anglers landing a limit of rainbows or a trout over five pounds can get a free one-year subscription to Western Outdoor News if they report their catch at the tackle shop and have photos taken. Existing subscribers can get half off on a one-year renewal. Starts 3/25/10.

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. 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