Fishing has been good at Santa Ana River Lakes this week for both trout and catfish. The warm weather has turned on the catfish and the huge sturgeon are still being landed by anglers. Catfish season kicks off this week, May 24-27, with big "pre-grand opening" plants of pan-sized fish, and 24-hour passes will be available for the event as well.

The official catfish "Grand Opening" has been set for next week, June 1-3, when a huge plant of channel catfish, including trophy catfish over 10 pounds, will go into SARL.

The catfish action has taken over the spotlight and the been bite has been on the mackerel, shrimp, and the M&M (marshmallow and meal worm) combo. La Palma Point, the boat dock, and Chris' Pond have been the best spots for cats. The fish are averaging from 2 1/2 to four pounds. Derek Jones, Bueno Park, caught a 6-0 cat on M&M at Levitz. Jim Davis, Anaheim, landed 6 cats totaling 17-0 on mackerel at the pumphouse.?? Marcus Jones, Compton, caught a mixed stringer of 13 trout and catfish totaling 18-4 on nightcrawlers at the docks.

The trout bite is ebbing, but anglers fishing the deep water at La Palma Point, Bubble Hole, and Sandy Beach are still getting a few big fish and some good stringers continue to be caught. The best action has been on nightcrawlers of Nitro Bait in corn yellow, chartreuse, rainbow, or white lightning. The biggest rainbow reported was a 10-8.

Several sturgeon over 50 pounds were landed this past week. Miguel Trujillo, West Covina, landed a 50-plus pound sturgeon on a nightcrawler at Toad Road, while Gilbert Chavez, Long Beach, caught a 50-plus pounder on the same bait from Chris' Pond. Anglers are reminded that if they hook and land one of these bruisers, they are catch-and-release only -- but there is a reward for the catch. The $200-value prize package includes two free gate passes ($40 value), a free pontoon boat rental ($85 value), and a top-quality Eagle Claw fishing combo that includes a graphite catfish rod, multi-ball bearing spinning reel, and spool of Lazer line ($75 value).

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 $20 passes has a five-fish limit. The lake's 24-hour passes will be available every week from now?? on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. These passes have a 15-fish limit and cost $45.

??For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call (714) 632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.