The rainbow trout bite has continued to sizzle at Santa Ana River Lakes with trophy rainbows and hefty stringers of fish on tap at this popular Orange County fish lake, and the annual tagged trout event is adding a little spice with cash and prizes possible on every cast.

The big fish of the week was an 18-pound rainbow landed by Dave Holguin, Rowland Heights, fishing a chartreuse floating bait at Levitz' Corner. John Gguyen, Tustin, caught a 16-pound rainbow on a green plastic worm off La Palma Point. Nick and Robert Avemaria, Placentia, had 10 rainbows for a total of 28  ? pounds topped off with a 10  ?-pounder, all caught in Chris' Pond on a chartreuse floating bait doused with garlic Eagle Claw scent. Gene Naka, Whittier, had a 9  ?-pound rainbow, while Doloars Anderson, La Puente, topped off her 10-fish, 25-pound stringer with an 8  ?-pound rainbow. Garrett and Robert Paterson and Eric Wilkerson, all Orange, had 15 rainbows for 35 pounds.

The best action has been on a wide variety of floating dough baits, Power Mice (or the custom-made equivalent), small trout jigs or trout plastics, especially in bright colors, and adding one of the scents improves the bite. Garlic-flavored scents have been particularly popular.

The tagged trout event continues through this coming Sunday, March 4. The tags range in value from the gray string tag that is worth a pontoon boat rental and two free passes, a $144 value, down to the green tag that is worth a Lip RipperZ tee-shirt. Cash tags are worth $50 or $100 (red and white, respectively), and there are several other color tags worth other prizes. The plant this week with be more Sierra Bows, including more tagged fish, for this final weekend of the tagged trout event. Anglers are reminded at the Fred Hall Show will be March 7-11 this year at the Long Beach Convention Center. SARL and Corona Lake staff will be passing out discount coupons for gate admission and boat rentals. Plus a special two-for-one coupon valid only on March 31 will be available only at the Fred Hall Show. Don't forget to stop by The Lakes booth.

Also mark your calendars for March 15 and March 17. That Thursday is when Lightning Trout will be planted at The Lakes this year. This will be the only stocking of these popular, crimson and golden-hued trout this season, and the following Saturday is when the fourth event in the Lip RipperZ Tournament Series will be held with this event at Santa Ana River Lakes.