Jim Matthews
Outdoor Editor
Anaheim Lake features
exceptional trout action
The trout bite has been excellent at Anaheim Lake, and the big fish bite has already kicked into gear with a lot of rainbows from five to eight pounds and some bigger.
The big fish this past week was a solding 11-pounder caught by Eric Lucero, La Habra, while fishing a green LipRipperZ jig at the road. Obed Sandoval, Norwalk, landed a 10 3/4-pounder fishing a green dough bait at the humps from shore.
There was a trio of rainbows at 9 1/2-pounds reported. David Pierson, Garden Grove, had one of the 9-8s on a Lip RipperZ jig off the east shore. Pedro Villa, Anaheim, used white PowerBait at the pump house for his 9 1/2-pounder, while Richard Pustilnikov, Rancho Cucamonga, caught his on an orange and gree mini jig with garlic-flavored Bite On scent. A nine-pound trout was caught by Chad Fowler, Rancho Cucamonga, to top off his five-fish, 23-pound stringer, all on Lip RipperZ trout worms with Love Sauce. Glenn Matsushita, Gardena, caught an 8 1/2-pound rainbow on a small crankbait at the spillway, while another 8-8 was caught by Andrew Siratte, Huntington Beach, on a Lip RipperZ jig. A third 8-8 was posted by Brian Carter, Ontario, also on a Lip RipperZ jig. Jeff Berg, Lakewood, landed a 7 1/2-pound rainbow on a Lip RipperZ jig.
The top Lightning Trout of the week was a five-pounder caught by Marty Kruskamp, Sunland, on a nightcrawler while fishing from a float tube at the spillway.
Many limits were anchored with better fish. A typical catch of five fish that weighed 16 ½-pounder was reported by Daniel Kalahele, Orange, on chartreuse jigs at the spillway, and his top fish was a five pounder. West Wright, Fullerton, also landed a fish-fish stringer topped off with a five-pounder and the total weight was 15 pounds.
The spillway has been one of the most consistent spots for quality fish and limits, but there are trout showing around much of the lake, with the north shore, pumphouse shoreline, the bubble hole, and Trout Island also good bets. The top baits were the small trout plastics, trout jigs, and floating dough baits in a variety of colors.
Trout season will continue at Anaheim Lake with huge weekly plants through the rest of November, at least. When Santa Ana River Lakes’ maintenance is finished, it will reopen with a huge trout plants and Anaheim will close for the season. The closing date for Anaheim is tentatively set for around November 30, but more details will come soon on this.
Private boats, kayaks, and float tubes are allowed at Anaheim Lake, but they will be inspected for traces of water or evidence of quagga mussel contamination before being allowed on the water.
Anaheim Lake will be 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 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. The are 24-hour passes offered each month on the Friday and Saturday nights nearest the full moon during trout season. The 24-hour passes cost $75 and have a 15 fish limit. An angler can bring his wife and up to three kids 17 and under and all can help fill the 15-fish limit on one of these passes, and camping is free at Corona with a 24-hour pass. For Anaheim Lake fishing information, call 714-996-3508 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
