Catfish season kicks off this week at Santa Ana River Lakes
While the trout action remains pretty fair at Santa Ana River Lakes, it's time for the changing of the guard at this popular Orange County fishery as the water gets warmer with each sunny day. Catfish season kicks off this week with the first major plant of the spring-summer season.

Anglers targeting the catfish are already seeing a pretty good bite. Ray Waldschmidt and Roger Caraveo, both North Hollywood, landed eight cats for a total weight of 16 1/2 pounds fishing near the boat dock with the marshmallow-meal worm combination.

The trout action has been best on floating dough baits in deeper water and where there is current movement. Top trout was a 7 1/2-pounder caught by Scott Nakata, Garden Grove, on chartreuse floating bait at Levitz' Corner. Chase Britt, Covina, landed a 6-2 rainbow to top off his 10-4 stringer of trout while fishing rainbow floating bait off the west shore.

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 available every Friday and Saturday night are $60, and anglers can bring a spouse and up to three kids to help fill the 24-hour pass 15-fish limit. Camping at the lakes is free with the 24-hour pass. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com