Two rainbows topping 17 pounds highlighted the hot trout action as Santa Ana River Lakes in recent days, and the season's only plant of Lightning Trout is slated to go in this week.

The top rainbow was a 17  ?-pounder caught by Art Eslaya, San Gabriel, while fishing a nightcrawler at Three Pipes on Saturday. Jose Munoz, Santa Ana, caught a 17  ?-pounder in Chris' Pond on a firetiger Rapala on Thursday. Alfonzo Diaz, Tustin, landed a 10  ?-pound rainbow on a jig at the Pump House, while Andrew Aparicio, Fullerton, caught an 8  ?-pounder on a shad, also at the Pump House.

Mike and Pete Vallejo along with Vincent Gonzales, all of West Covina, had nine trout for 20 pounds with a three-pound the top fish. The three were fishing chartreuse floating bait in Chris' Pond, and a typical limit was posted by Jerry Warren, Monrovia, who had five trout that weighed 11 pounds total, including a three-pounder.

Floating dough baits in chartreuse and rainbow colors with garlic scent impregnated or added to the baits have been the most popular bait used by anglers. But Power Mice, or home-made versions with nightcrawler or plastic trout worm tails have also been very good bets. The usual array of small trout jigs and trout plastics, especially in bright colors, have also been good.

The season's only plant of the extremely popular Lightning Trout, those crimson and gold-hued trout from Mt. Lassen, is set for this Thursday, March 15. Big Bad Reds are also being planted this week just before the fourth event in the Lip RipperZ Tournament Series which will be held this Saturday.