Santa Ana River Lakes continues to have a good bite on channel and blue catfish, and the twice-weekly plants are still going into the lake with bonus fish for the July 4 holiday week. In fact, there will be 24-hour fishing Thursday through Saturday nights this week, instead of just the usual Friday and Saturday night schedule.

Full stringers have been common, especially early and late in the day and at night. Most of the fish are running from 1 1/2 to three pounds but bigger fish are reported each week.

Jeremiah Vigil, Whittier, landed a six-pound catfish fishing mackerel in Chris' Pond, while Santiago Palacios, West Covina, landed a 5 1/2-pounder to top off his 18 1/2-pound, five fish string caught on shrimp with Eagle Claw Gravy. Raul Macias, Ontario, landed a five-pound cat to top off his 12 1/2-pound limit caught on meal worms in the big lake, while Roland Hoshizaki, West Covnia, landed a 4 3/4-pound cat as part of his 14 3/4-pound five-fish limit on shrimp.

Typical stringers of five fish weigh from 10 to 14 pounds. Pedro Villa, Anaheim, had five that went 13-10, while Tony Hicks, Yorba Linda, posted a 13-8 stringer for five cats. Chico Cisneros, Torrance, had a 10-14 five-fish catch.

The best bite has been on the marshmallow-meal worm combo or shrimp and most anglers are using a scent like Gravy or Love Sauce. Using as little weight as possible or fly-lining the baits is the best tactic.

Santa Ana River Lakes will close for summer maintenance after fishing on Sunday, July 8, with operations moving just a few blocks away to Anaheim Lake, 3443 Miraloma Avenue. To reach Anaheim, take the Tustin off ramp from the 91 Freeway, (just like going to Santa Ana River Lakes), however, don't turn on La Palma Ave, go one stop light north of La Palma to Miraloma and turn left to the Anaheim Lake entrance.

Even during this last week of fishing SARL is also hosting five Biggest Catfish Derbies. Entry fee is $5 for any of the five permit time frames -- from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday evening, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday evening. (There will be no derbies for the mid-day special at noon or the 24-hour fishing pass holders. All of the derbies feature a 100 percent payout of the whole pot to the angler catching the biggest catfish. If 20 anglers enter at $5 each, the biggest catfish caught among those 20 anglers wins that angler the whole $100 pot.