Santa Ana River Lakes continues to produce a steady stream of huge rainbow trout over 10 pounds, and these giant fish are mixed in with an excellent bite on one to two pound rainbows that continue to fill stringers. Volume and quality trout fishing has been on tap in equal doses at SARL this season.

The biggest rainbow this past week was a 16-pounder landed by David Rochin, pictured from Fullerton, near the boat dock on a T.K. Jig and worm. John Bylsma, Ontario, landed a 15 1/2-pounder on chartreuse PowerBait off La Palma Point. Fernando Martinez, Anaheim, caught a 13 1/2-pounder on one of the new orange Power Mice baits off the north shore. Campbell McCormack, Ventura, was fishing chartreuse PowerBait to landed a 13 1/4-pound rainbow at the Bubble Hole, while Landon Radilla, El Monte, had an 11-pounder at the pumphouse, also on chartreuse PowerBait with Love Sauce. Ricardo Zepeda, Santa Ana, caught a 10 1/2-pounder on a mini jig in Chris' Pond, and there were a pair of 10-pound rainbows. One by Dale Debraal, Orange, on Power Mice, and the other by Henry Serna on chartreuse Power Bait.

Five-fish limits have been the rule for anglers fishing light leaders with floating baits rolled in the new Hatchery Dust additive or Power Mice Tails, trout plastics, and small trout jigs. Bright colors have been the best in the floating baits or lures this past week chartreuse and oranges the hot colors.

Santa Ana continues to be get a huge plant of trout each week that features tons of pan-sized rainbows along with a large component of bigger trout from five to 15-plus pounds. Every bite could be the trophy of a lifetime here.

The Lip RipperZ Hatchery Dust Challenge is set for Saturday, Feb. 16. This is another big fish/blind bogey 50-50 tournament with added money in the big fish category when the winning fish are caught with Hatchery Dust. The entry fee is $20, in addition to the regular lake fishing fee, but 100 percent of the entry fees are paid back in an even split between the big fish portion of the tournament (top four places win half the entry fee pool) and the blind bogey portion (divided among 10 anglers catching fish nearest to the blind bogey weights). More information is available at The Lakes website, www.fishinglakes.com.

Santa Ana River Lakes is open seven-days-a-week. Fishing is allowed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on day passes or from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on an evening pass. Each of these passes is $25. Seniors pay only $23 with a $20 special on Wednesdays. All of these passes have a five-fish limit. For kids 4 to 13, a three-fish pass is just $12. There are 24-hour passes offered on Friday and Saturday night on weekends nearest the full moon each month. The 24-hour passes cost $75 and have a 15 fish limit. An angler can bring his wife and up to three kids and all can help fill the 15-fish limit on one of these passes, and camping is free at SARL with a 24-hour pass.