Excellent fishing at Corona Lake this past week with many limits reported for the "official" trout season opener after the season's first plant of trophy rainbows. The result was a lot of quality??rainbows??showing for the opener, along with a few nice catfish mixed in as well.

The trout bite has been very good, with anglers fishing from boats having the most success. Rainbow Nitro Bait dipped in garlic Gravy has been the ticket for the rainbows, with nightcrawlers also producing a few fish. The best spots have been the dam and the mountain side of the lake.

Mark Thomson, Riverside, caught the top trout this week at 15-0 on nightcrawlers fishing from boat. Daniel Escobedo, Perris, caught three trout totaling 21-0 with fish to 9-8 on nightcrawlers fishing near the dam. Lorraina Bishop, Corona, caught two trout at 9-8 each on Rainbow Nitro Bait at the dam. David Rosalls, Corona, caught an 8-8 trout fishing from shore.

The catfish bite has been best at night or in deeper water from boats during the day. The top baits have been mackerel or shrimp dipped in garlic Gravy.

Corona Lake is open seven days a week with fishing 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 $20 passes has a five-fish limit. The popular 24-hour fishing passes are offered on Friday and Saturday nights through October, and then nearest the full moon in November. These passes have a 15-fish limit and cost $45.