Huge 19 1/4-pound trout tops hot action at Santa Ana River Lakes

Santa Ana River Lakes - Santa Ana, CA (Orange County)


by Jim Matthews
3-8-2013
(714) 632-7830
Website

The parade of huge rainbows and nice stringers of pan-sized trout continues to pour out of Santa Ana River Lakes.

The big fish this past week was a mammoth 19 1/4-pound rainbow landed by Armando Ayala, pictured of Pico Rivera, on rainbow floating boat at the Pump House on four-pound test line. Nick Makshanoff, Whittier, landed an 18-pounder on two-pound test fishing chartreuse floating boat from shore at the Bubble Hole, and it took him 20 minutes to landed the fish. A 15-pound trout was caught by Steven Yeh, La Puente, off the Sandy Beach on chartreuse floating bait.

There were three rainbows in the 14-pound class, including a 14-pound, 10-ouncer landed by Doc Molthen, Cypress, on corn yellow PowerBait on four-pound test at Levitz' Corner. A 14 1/4-pounder was caught by Sam Tamtan, Cerritos, on a mini jig, while John Kingkeo, Buena Park, landed a 14-pound, two-ouncer on a yellow and white jig at Johnny's Corner on two-pound test.

The trophy Sierra Bows from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms continue to be a component of each week's massive plant that consists mostly of one to two-pound rainbows. The giant trout are extremely popular with the anglers and have been running from 10 to nearly 20 pounds. Most anglers are getting stringers of one to two-pounders and many have a bigger trout as a kicker fish.

The action has been best on a wide variety of baits and lures, but the most consistent bite has continued to be on floating baits rolled in the new Hatchery Dust additive. Power Mice Tails or the home-made equivalents with plastic or nightcrawler tails are close seconds, and a lot of rainbows continue to show on small trout plastics and trout jigs. Bright colors continue to be the best bet with any of the baits or lures.

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 for $75. An angler can bring his or her spouse and three kids 17 years or younger on that $75 permit, and all can help catch the 15-fish limit. Camping at SARL is thrown in for free.


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