It's finally here. The official kick-off to Santa Ana River Lakes trout season begins this Friday after plants of five different varieties of rainbow trout.

The biggest fish will be the Mt. Lassen Trout Farms Super Trout in the 20-plus pound class, but the most highly-awaited fish are the giant Big Bad Reds. These are full-finned, pink-meated rainbows from 12 to 18 pounds that are destined to be the hardest fighting trout ever planted in Southern California. The Big Bad Reds were going to be planted toward the end of last year's fishing season at Santa Ana, but lake managers Doug Elliott and Bill Andrews decided to hold off one more season and put another three to five pounds on these beautiful trout.

They will be joined by a huge plant of three to 12-pound class Tailwalkers from Nebraska, two to four-pound Sierra Bows, and two-pound average Ruby Reds from Jess Ranch.

Factoring in quantity, quality, variety and size, Santa Ana River Lakes has never had a trout opener stocking to match this year's opener. And there's one more bonus: Santa Ana is getting a plant of trophy broodstock Silver Catfish from six to 15 pounds this week.

Even before all the giant plants this week, both the trout and catfish action has been good at SARL. Trout plants each of the first two weeks of November primed the pump for the big plants this week, and catfish have been planted each week all summer. The trout action has been excellent with a lot of full stringers of 1 1/2 to four-pound rainbows landed. The key has been light line, two- and four-pound test, and small jigs or dough baits doused with scent.

Frank Carillo, Diamond Bar, had five rainbows for 13 pounds and his top trout was a 4 3/4-pounder, all on Lip RipperZ at the Bubble Hole. Jim Thorpe, Laguna Wood, had a 4 1/2-pound rainbow on a Power Mouse, while another 4 1/2-pounder topped off a 10-fish catch that weighed 27 1/2 pounds made by Miles Crenshaw and Jennifer Robinson, both Garden Grove, on green garlic floating bait. Felix Romero, South El Monte, landed a 3 3/4-pound rainbow on garlic rainbow floating bait.

The catfish are getting very little fishing pressure, but those targeting the cats are seeing some of the biggest fish of the season. Doug Cherry, Placentia, landed an 11 1/2-pound catfish near the boat dock on mackerel. Dale Debraal, Orange, had an 8 1/2-pound cat on a nightcrawlers.

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 each month on Friday and Saturday nights nearest the full moon. The next 24-hour fishing days are Dec. 9-10. 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. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.