A pair of brute rainbows at 17 1/2 and 18 1/2 pounds topped the excellent trout action at Santa Ana River Lakes this past week, and it seemed like most stringers had at least one rainbow in the four to five-pound class after massive plants just before Christmas. Those heavy stocks will continue this week for New Year's weekend.

The big 18-8 rainbow was landed by Eddie Rodriguez, Montebello, on Christmas eve day fishing a green dough bait, and the 17-8 was caught on the same day as part of a four-fish 22 1/2-pound catch made by the Segura family at the spillway on white dough bait with garlic scent.

Some nice stringers included the five-fish catch made by Max Garcia, Placentia, that weighed in at 20 1/4 pounds fishing Kastmasters at the boat dock. Kurt Williams, Riverside, had four rainbows for 19 1/4 pounds, while Linda Perez, Anaheim, caught five trout for 15 3/4 pounds.

The best action has been on one of the floating dough baits or a wide variety of small lures, with trout jigs, small plastics, spinners, and spoons all getting fish. Adding garlic scent to the baits and lures has also seemed to improve the action.

Santa Ana River Lakes will continue celebrating the holidays by stocking the lakes with big tanker trucks-full of rainbow trout this week. There will also be trophy rainbows in the mix, including huge fish topping 10 pounds.

The first event of the new Lip RipperZ Trout Tournament series set to begin Dec. 31 at SARL. Entry fee is $20, in addition to lake fees. Complete details are available at LipRipperZ.com and FishingLakes.com.

The Lakes are open New Year's Eve Day and New Year's Day. The lakes are 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 Jan. 6-7. 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.