Limits of nice rainbows and quality fish to 10 pounds highlighted the trout action at Santa Ana River Lakes, while massive weekly plants continue at this popular Orange County fishery.

The big fish this past week was a 10-pound rainbow landed by Levon Goldblatt, Pasadena, fishing a yellow floating dough bait at the spillway. Paul Tran, Westminister, had a 9  ?-pounder to top off his 19  ?-pound, five-fish stringer, all on a "mouse" bait at the Bubble Hole. An eight-pound rainbow was posted by Craig Joaquim, Anaheim, on a pink worm off the sandy beach to top off his five-fish 22  ?-pound stringer. Bobby and Brian Craig, both Moreno Valley, landed 11 rainbows for 25  ? pounds and their big fish was a 7  ?-pounder.

While many stringers have nice kicker fish, there have been a lot of five-fish stringers filled with 1  ? to three pound rainbows. Scott Nakata, Garden Grove, had five rainbows for 15 pounds fishing yellow dough bait at Levitz' Corner. Kyle Connors and Matthews Steele, both Corona, landed 13 trout for 28 pounds on garlic-flavored dough bait at the Bubble Hole. Chris Moss, Newport Beach, had five rainbows for 12  ? pounds.

The bite has been good on a wide variety of floating dough baits, small trout jigs, and trout plastics. The mouse-style bait-plastic combos have been very good, and the nightcrawler-Power Bait combo has also been producing a lot of trout.

SARL will get Sierra Bows this week on Feb. 16 for the kickoff of the annual tagged trout event. The tagged rainbows are all worth cash and prizes, ranging from free gate passes and boat rentals to fishing tackle. The tagged trout event will continue through March 4. Nebraska Tailwalkers will be planted on Feb. 22 and then more Sierra Bows the following week.