The good trout action has continued at Santa Ana River Lakes, but the unseasonably warm weather has driven the fish into deeper water so anglers are making longer casts to reach the fish that are still mostly cruising near the bottom.

Top fish reported was a 10-pound rainbow landed by Manuel Berru, Los Angeles, fishing a marshmallow-nightcrawler combo right off the Sandy Beach. Ron Celta, Irvine, landed a seven trout stringer that weighed 23-pounds, 14-ounces, topped off with a 5 1/4-pounder, all on Power Mice at La Palma Point. Oscar Torres, Los Angeles, landed a five-pounder to top off his 15 1/2-pound, five-fish stringer on orange and green Lip RipperZ jigs doused with Love Sauce. John Castaneda, Cypress, has six rainbows to four pounds with a total weight of 15-pounds, 13-ounces, all caught on chartreuse floating bait off La Palma Point.

The bite has been best on floating dough baits, "mice" of various brands, and small trout jigs, and adding scent has been improving the action. The rainbows are still showing around both lake, but the key has been getting out to deeper, cooler water.

The warm weather has perked the catfish and the handful of anglers targeted the channels and blues have been finding very good action on cut baits. Santiago Palacios, West Covina, landed six cats to 7 1/2 pounds with the whole stringer weighing in at 22 pounds.

There is an ongoing big trout contest running now through Sunday, May 13, and the angler who catches the largest trout on a Lip RipperZ product will win a free $500 Turner's Outdoorsman shopping spree. And all anglers who land any trout on a Lip RipperZ product and have their picture taken by one of the lake guides or at The Lakes' web cam will be eligible for an May 13 drawing for a second $500 shopping spree.

Angler appreciation day is set for this Saturday, April 28, when anglers paying for one entry into the lake will get another entry for a fishing partner free with a couple available on The Lakes website at www.fishinglakes.com.