Tayrance Allen of Long Beach landed a 100-plus-pound class sturgeon at Santa Ana River Lake this past Saturday to add an exclamation point to fair to good trout bite that has been taking place at this popular Orange County fishery. Allen avoided the crowded banks of the big lake and Chris' Pond and tossed an anchovy into the Catfish Lake to make his catch, while most anglers were tossing trout baits for limits of rainbows in the other two facilities' waters. The top trout reported was a 12 1/2-pounder landed by Craig Joachim, Fullerton, fishing a floating mouse -- a ball of Eagle Claw rainbow Nitro Bait and a nightcrawler on the same hook. This combo bait has been particularly effective this past week, especially when dipped in garlic Gravy and fished on a long, three-foot leader close to shore. Top colors on the dough bait have been green or chartreuse and rainbow. Santiago Palaceos, West Covina, varied the routine by fishing the marshmallow-meal worm combo at the Toad Road and picked up seven trout and three catfish that weighed 20 1/2 pounds. Ryan Demotta, Anaheim, landed a six-pound rainbow on chartreuse dough bait.

While SARL remains a little off-color with runoff, the complex was triple stocked last week, with Nebraska Tailwalkers and Jess Ranch steelhead on Wednesday and Imperial catfish on Thursday. This week, another trout plant from Jess Ranch went in on Monday and the giant Sierra Bows are coming Thursday, with more super trophies over 20 pounds to be planted. Anglers should note that Chris' Pond will be closed for a private party Saturday, Jan. 22, but the big lake and catfish lake will remain open to the public that day. 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 pay only $20. All of these passes have a five-fish limit. For kids 4 to 13, a three-fish pass is just $9. There are 24-hour passes available the weekend nearest the full moon during trout season, with the next overnight fish Feb. 18-19. These passes cost $60 and anglers can bring a spouse and up to three kids to help fill the 24-hour pass 15-fish limit. Camping at SARL is also free with a 24-hour pass. For Corona Lake fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com