While the trout action is still the mainstay at Santa Ana River Lakes, anglers are also seeing a good number of channel catfish and a few sturgeon are being landed each week.

A big trout plant went in last Thursday for the two-for-one Angler Appreciation Day on Saturday, and the fishing has been solid for trout throughout the weekend, in spite of howling winds on Saturday. The best trout action has been with garlic-flavored floating dough baits, while the catfish have been best on the marshmallow-meal worm combo and shrimp. The sturgeon are showing on both the trout baits and the catfish baits.

This weekend marks the beginning of 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night (not just on full moon weekends). The "family special" applies to the 24-hour passes, when mom and dad and up to three kids under 12 can all fish on the same permit and help fill up the 15-fish, 24-hour permit limit.

The week also marks the last trout plant of the season with a big load of Nebraska Tailwalkers. Starting on Friday, May 13 (not this week, but next Friday), there will no longer be a limit on trout so anglers can help catch all the remaining rainbows before the water gets too warm for them to survive.

Catfish plants will be going in weekly starting next week. Plants of Silver King Catfish go in on both Tuesday, May 10 and Friday, May 13, and tilapia plants will be weekly beginning just before the weekend of May 20-22, which is the annual Catfish Grand Opening when there will also be bonus plants of trophy catfish.

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 every Friday and Saturday. These 24-hour 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.