Jess Ranch has become our newest strategic partner and together, we will be stocking some of the biggest toughest and hardest to catch trout ever stocked in Southern California.  Can you imagine trying to catch a 20+ pound hard body rainbow trout with full fins and tails?  This is what is coming and with each year, they will get bigger and bigger.  We have obtained a large supply of big trout, the same source as the Alpers Trout caught in the Sierras, and we are growing them in special earthen ponds with chilly well water running through the ponds. They are on an advanced growth schedule and we will have them up to 15 or 20 plus pounds for the exclusive stocking into Corona Lake and Santa Ana River Lakes.  When they reach size, and some will get there this season, they will be stocked (full finned) for you to catch. Good luck!!

Additionally, Jess Ranch will be stocking our Lakes with Ruby Red Steelhead. These are trout that come from steelhead stock.  For any of you that have caught some of the steelhead we have stocked over the years, you know how special these fish are to catch and what delicious table fare they provide.  Ruby Red’s are called that for a reason.  First, you will notice the deep rich and vibrant red gill plate and red body stripe on these steelhead. Secondly, the meat will be a little richer red or more salmon colored than pink.  Steelhead can be caught using many of the traditional rainbow trout methods like bait fishing, but are usually best caught with jigs and spinners.  Trolling lures works well also. One season, we noticed the seagulls were diving on the shad that the steelhead were chasing up in the middle of the lake at SARL. Several keen eyed fishermen took boats out and got slammed in a wide open bite of 6 to 8 pound steelhead that snapped all the 4 pound test they had on their reels.  Some were caught, but fun was had by all.  Expect more of this kind of action from our Ruby Red Steelhead.

Next is our long time supplier Mt. Lassen Trout. Mt. Lassen has upped its game in a big way through the development of what is called the Sierra Rainbow. We received some of these special trout late in the season last year, and our anglers loved them.  Sierra Bow’s are real feisty trout that jump and fight like crazy. These are beautiful full finned line rippers, with pink tasty meat.  You would be hard pressed to distinguish any difference from the quality of trout caught in the Sierra’s.  This trout represents the “Wilder Side” of Mt. Lassen, wherein these trout are raised in some of the most remote facilities they operate high in the mountains, and  in the icy cold headwaters of natural springs.  Being able to raise trout in icy headwaters and in earthen streams and ponds provides exceptional benefits.  Fin quality is preserved because of the earthen ponds and streams but additionally, these beautiful trout are grown and exposed to all the conditions of wild trout.  This includes a natural diet of bugs, grubs, gnats and other natural foods, and because the water comes from the ground at the head water, up-stream bacterial diseases, parasites or other ailments most trout farmers are plagued with, are not a problem for Mt. Lassen Trout.

Mt Lassen Trout Farm has been on the very leading edge in trout biology.  Through their research efforts, they were among the very first to be able to create Triploid Rainbow Trout.  The development of Triploids, a process where in the trout does not go through the reproductive cycle, makes it possible to grow rainbows to gigantic weights of 20 to 30 pounds, weights never before possible. We have again contracted to bring you some of the biggest trout available from Mt. Lassen and hopefully we can break another State Record. Five State Records have been broken at our Lakes, thanks to the huge trout provided by Mt. Lassen.

Following Triploids, Mt. Lassen introduced a long progression of new and exciting trout research.  Mt. Lassen Trout Farm developed the Lightning Trout, a beautiful golden colored, pink meat rainbow.  Then came Thunder Trout, one of the hardest fighting trout you will every catch.  Their research also developed the Tiger Trout and Donaldson Strain pink meat Steelhead Trout. This season, we will again be stocking many of these very popular and exotic trout developed by Mt. Lassen Trout including the popular Lightning Trout.

Last year we introduced the extremely popular Nebraska Tailwalkers. You told us that this trout was one of the best quality trout you have ever caught. In fact, because of your praise for this beautiful and hard fighting trout, the Tailwalker has now set the bar for quality that others must strive too achieve.  We know that after catching and eating the exceptional Tail Walker trout, there is no way you will ever accept the typical hatchery white meat stocker trout again.

Our history with the Tailwalker is as follows:  We were hearing reports of some of the finest Rainbows available anywhere in the United States.  They refer to them as “Tailwalkers,” because of their aggressive fighting style.  They reported these fish battle the fishermen by jumping, thrashing and literally walking on their tails across the surface of the water.  But this is just a portion of the story.  The reports said these fish are the closest thing to a TRULY WILD TROUT.  They are described as having full fins, beautifully formed tail fins, vivid, brightly colored bodies and deeply colored pink meat, exactly like Steelhead and Salmon.  Additionally, their bodies are rock hard, and firm because of the way they are exposed to swift running water for several weeks prior to delivery. All of these reports seemed too good to be true, an exaggeration beyond belief.  So in an effort to confirm these reports the Operators of Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake took a plane trip to Nebraska, to check out the home of these “Tailwalkers”, the Chaulk Mound Trout Ranch.  Much our surprise and enthusiasm, we found all the reports to be true.  Chaulk Mound Trout Ranch owner, Ron Bright, gave them a day long, in depth inspection of all the fish, the facilities and his innovative methods of rearing these beautiful fish.  His facility is State of the art, from the way he grows his fish to the unique semi-truck delivery system.  Leaving nothing to chance, the delivery truck has an on board refrigeration system to ensure ice cold water for optimum fish transportation and a rear trailer steering mechanism, just like a huge fire engine, to ensure access to tight space delivery locations.  But the most important things are how he raises and prepares his fish for delivery.  He hatches his own fish, to ensure absolutely disease free trout.  He then feeds the highest quality feed available, rich in high percentages of protein and ingredients as close as possible to that eaten by wild trout.  This diet, being similar to that of native fish, produces the pink flesh, the full fins and the beautifully colored bodies.  But his unique innovations don’t stop there.  Ron Bright has pioneered a unique system of developing hard bodied fearsome fighting trout.  He has engineered a secret, proprietary facility to duplicate the environment that a WILD TROUT is exposed to in a swiftly flowing mountain stream.  As the trout swims against the raging waters of his artificial environment, for a period of several weeks, their bodies become rock hard, muscular, mean fighting machines, ready to take on any fisherman lucky enough to have the challenge.

Needless to say, this was the most exciting thing Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake’s Operators had ever investigated.  Now, the problem was getting Chaulk Mound Trout Ranch to commit to a long term contract to supply their Lakes with these magnificent Rainbow Trout.  It was not easy, Chaulk Mound Trout Ranch had to make the decision to gear up to supply up to 100,000 pounds of these beautiful “Tailwalkers” and transport them over 1,200 miles to Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake.  Before the contract could be inked, Ron Bright, owner of Chaulk Mound Trout Ranch, wanted to personally visit Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake to inspect the facility and the areas from which his delivery truck would be required to stock the Lakes.  After several weeks of negotiation, it was done.  The rest is history and now Chaulk Mound Trout Ranch brings the “Tailwalker” Rainbow Trout to Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake every other week through out the entire trout season.

Exotic Trout Suppliers:

In addition to the full plate above, we have contracted to also stock German Brown Trout, Brown Bows (a rainbow & brown cross) and Brook Trout.

So there you have it!! The best quality trout, the biggest trout, and plenty of the exotics. And the best news, our admission price is NOT GOING UP. In tougher economic times, the tough get going. We have tightened our belt, trimmed our costs and increased our stocking quality all without raising our admission fees. Additionally, we plan on having many special events and tournaments this trout season, along with special discounts and free offers for those subscribed to our “Big News” email list. So if you are not subscribed or you have buddies not subscribed, it pays to be a member. 

A BIG thanks to Eagle Claw.  Eagle Claw Baits and Fishing Tackle have agreed to Sponsor Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake on a long term contract.  This Sponsorship makes it possible for us to negotiate and purchase these quality fish and bring the finest fishing opportunities available any where in the entire Country.