Santa Ana River Lakes tournament
captured with a giant 16-7 rainbow
The big fish in this past Saturday’s Lip RipperZ Hatchery Dust 50/50 Tournament was a huge 16-pound, seven-ounce rainbow landed by Jay Lamori of West Covina while fishing a green Lip RipperZ jig near the boat dock. It was the biggest trout of the week at Santa Ana River Lakes.
The event was a 100 percent payback event with added money and prizes, and the cash pool was split equally between the big fish portion of the event and the blind bogey portion. Cash was paid to the biggest four trout and there were 10 blind bogey awards where the anglers who caught a trout weighing the closest to the 10 blind bogey weights won that prize.
Winners of the second through fourth places prizes were Cisco Morales, Long Beach with a 14-12 rainbows on a yellow and white Lip RipperZ jig off La Palma Point, a 13-2 trout caught by Bill Wright, Anaheim, on rainbow PowerBait with Hatchery Dust, and a 9-5 trout landed by Louis Moreno, Covina, on rainbow PowerBait with Hatchery Dust.
Other big fish landed this past week, but outside of the tournament, included a 16-pound rainbow caught by Al Rotta, Lomita, while fishing a yellow mini jig in Chris’ Pond. David Rochin, Fullerton, caught a 15-6 rainbow on a pink Power Mice Tail off Levitz’ Coroner, while Ron Deridder, Rollings Estates, used the same bait in the same location to catch a 14-pounder. Steve Zookzwad, Baldwin Park, had a 13-pounder on pink PowerBait with Love Sauce from the Bubble Hole, and Ruben Carranza, Santa Ana, landed an 11-pounder on chartreuse PowerBait off the sand beach shoreline.
Trophy Sierra Bows from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms continue to be a major component of each week’s massive plant, and the action has been consistently good on a wide variety of baits and lures. The new Hatchery Dust rolled onto the outside of just about any floating dough bait has been out-fishing most other baits. Power Mice Tails small trout plastics and trout jigs are close second to the “Dusted” floating baits. Bright colors continue to be the best bet with any of the baits or lures. With the new water circulation system, the trout are showing all around the big lake this year rather than being concentrated in a few spots.
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. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
Limits of rainbow trout
the norm at Corona Lake
Trophy rainbow trout and consistent limits of one to two pounds have been the norm for anglers fishing at Corona Lake this past week, and huge weekly plants have kept this popular western Riverside County fishery jugged with trout.
Power Mice Tails and any of the floating dough baits rolled in the new Hatchery Dust additive have been the hot baits at Corona this past week, with orange and chartreuse the hot colors. Small trout worms, small jigs, and inflated nightcrawlers are also good bets for getting a limit.
The biggest rainbow reported was a 13-pounder caught by Calvin Droege, Mission Viejo, while fishing a green trout plastic on the south end of the lake. Victor Pardo, Corona, had an 11 1/2-pounder on an orange worm. Some typical limits include the five-fish catch made by Chris Mendoza, Pomona, that weighed 9 1/4-pounds and included a four-pounder. He was fishing small jigs from his float tube. Fred Boyce, Los Angeles, bought a pair of permits and took home 10 rainbows that totaled 14 pounds fishing chartreuse PowerBait. Jesse Aaf, Fullerton, had a pair of five fish limits this past week tossing orange Mice Tails at the dam.
Boat and float tube anglers are getting limits a little quicker than the shore anglers with the best action from the dam to the upper end of the lake along the main channel and far shoreline. Shore anglers are seeing the best bite from cove behind bait shop all the way to the dam.
There are huge plants each week, and all stocks include trophy-quality rainbows topping 10 pounds.
Corona Lake is open on a seven-days-a-week schedule. 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. The 24-hour passes are only sold the weekend nearest the full moon. 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 Corona Lake fishing information, call 951-277-4489 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.