Big trout still on the chew at Santa Ana River Lakes Catfish season is almost here but the last of the big trout are still being caught at Santa Ana River Lakes.  S.A.R.L. has already started pre-stocking catfish twice a week in anticipation for the huge catfish opener May 23rd.   Art Flores of Norwalk landed a 9 pound rainbow trout using orange dough bait in Chris' Pond.  Chuck Mallory of Lakewood caught a 5 1/2 lb. trout using white lightning

Trout, Catfish & Sturgeon all biting at Santa Ana River Lakes Anglers have been getting a mixture of big trout, big catfish and even big sturgeon the past week at Santa Ana River Lakes.  Fishing with a night-crawler will give you the advantage of catching any one of these species.  Heaviest fish of the week was landed by Patrick Meurs of Yorba Linda.  Patrick caught a 14 1/2 lb. sturgeon using a night-crawler by the pump house.  Biggest trout

Big Trout & Big Cats are on the chew at Santa Ana River Lakes Despite the warmer weather the past few days huge trout and lots of nice limits are still being pulled out of S.A.R.L.  Anglers in boats and float tubes have the advantage with the deeper water.  It's recommended that trout shore fisherman put on extra weight to cast out to the deeper waters. Heaviest fish of the week was landed by Santiago Palacios of West Covina landing a 14 1/2

A 17-7 rainbow in tournament was the best fish of the week at Santa Ana River Lakes Massive stocks of Lightning Trout and trophy rainbows led to excellent, limit-style fishing this past weekend at Santa Ana River Lakes and the trout are being caught all around the big lake and in Chris’ Pond. The big fish portion of the weekend tournament was won by Daniel Gutierrez, Carson, with a 17-pound, seven-ounce rainbow landed on a Lip RipperZ jig while

Huge trout, crappie, and sturgeon highlight hot bite at Corona Lake      The fishing at Corona Lake was hightlighted by a 19-pound rainbow trout, a 25-pound sturgeon, and a 3 1/2-pound crappie this past week.      The amazing part of this week’s catch was that the big sturgeon and crappie were caught by the same angler. Robert Estes, Fontana, was fishing from a boat soaking some roe when he caught the 25-pound sturgeon and then landed the

Over $9,000 raised for Healing Waters veteran’s group during weekend trout tournament at Santa Ana River Lakes Over $9,000 was for Project Healing Waters during this past Saturday’s “Healing and Reeling Big Trout Tournament” at Santa Ana River Lakes. “This special event was designed to give back and honor the gallant men and women in the nation’s armed forces who have given so much to protect our country and our freedoms,” said Craig

Santa Ana River Lakes’ big trout action remains hot, 19-pounder tops this week      The big trout action at Santa Ana River Lakes continues to delight anglers at this popular Orange County water, and there was a 19-pound rainbow and two at 17 pounds to pace the big fish bite this past week.      The 19-pounder topped off a nine-fish, 37-pound stringer landed by Juvenal Serrato, Tustin, fishing green PowerBait at Levitz’ Corner. One of

Trout action remains hot at Santa Ana River Lakes      The trout action has continued to be excellent at Santa Ana River Lakes, and a bonus plant of Lightning Trout this past week made for a lot of happy anglers with full stringers of pink-meated fish. Trophy rainbows topping 10 pounds also continue to be a component of each week’s huge trout plants.      The big trout this past week was a 14-pound, four-ounce rainbow landed by William

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

Pair of 16-pound class rainbows landed at Santa Ana River Lakes      Rainbow trout at 16-pounds, two-ounces and 16 pounds led the parade of big rainbows out of Santa Ana River Lakes this week.      At the Fred Hall Show that concluded Sunday at the Long Beach Convention Center, Craig Elliott announced the winner of The Lakes Facebook contest to guess how many trout over 10 pounds had been planted in Santa Ana River Lakes, Corona Lake, and

Top three trout caught in Corona Lake’s Hatchery Dust tournament over 18 pounds      There was excellent trout action during the Lip RipperZ Hatchery Dust Takeover Tournament this past Saturday at Corona Lake and the top three rainbows caught were all over 18 pounds.      The big fish was a 19-pound, 11-ounce rainbow caught by Xavier Barriga, Hesperia, while fishing with a white trout worm from a boat. Second place went to Kory Allen, Garden

Lightning Trout and rainbows to 17 pounds highlight Santa Ana River Lakes’ hot bite Trophy rainbows, Lightning Trout, and 24-hour fishing combined to make it an excellent fishing weekend at Santa Ana River Lakes. Limits of trout averaging from one to two pounds were the norm, and most stringers had a Lightning Trout or three. There was also the change of one of the huge super trophy rainbows that have been showing each week since the beginning

Lightning Trout planted this week at Santa Ana River Lakes      Excellent trout action continues at Santa Ana River Lakes with a nice mix of limits and trophy rainbows still showing for anglers. This week, the rainbows will be joined by the year’s first plant of the popular, golden-hued Lightning Trout.      “The Lightning Trout are always popular with our fishermen,” said Craig Elliott at Santa Ana River Lakes. “They fight hard and

Six more trout over 15 pounds caught at Santa Ana River Lakes There continues to be a steady procession of giant rainbow trout being caught at Santa Ana River Lakes, and the overall trout bite is simply wide open with lots of limits of one to two-pound class trout being caught every day. The big rainbow this past week was a 19 1/2-pounder caught by Bill Kamio, Westminster, fishing an orange Power Mouse in the dock area of the big lake. Kory Allen,

Santa Ana River Lakes’ giant trout bite doesn’t slow down      Santa Ana River Lakes continues to produce a steady stream of huge rainbow trout over 10 pounds, and these giant fish are mixed in with an excellent bite on one to two pound rainbows that continue to fill stringers. Volume and quality trout fishing has been on tap in equal doses at SARL this season.      The biggest rainbow this past week was a 16-pounder landed by David Rochin,

Jim Matthews, Outdoor Editor Huge 19-pound rainbow tops trophy parade from Santa Ana River Lakes Monster rainbow trout continued to pour out of Santa Ana River  Lakes over the past week in spite of rainy, wet weather, and the top  fish was a huge 19-pounder caught by Varian Virgen, Buena Park, fishing a mini jig.  The Lakes’ complex continues to get huge weekly plants of rainbow  trout that include trophy rainbows topping 10 pounds and tons

  Listen to the radio broadcast that was LIVE at SARL on 1-30-13   Listen to internet radio with PhilipFriedman on Blog Talk Radio

Jim Matthews, Outdoor Editor Santa Ana River Lake is SoCal’s top producer of huge rainbow trout Santa Ana River Lakes had continued to produce more big rainbow trout than any other lake in Southern California, and probably the whole county over the past week. There have been at least 10 rainbows topping 12 pounds reported at the lake’s tackle shop, and at least that many more trout have gone home in ice chests without the anglers bothering to

Jim Matthews, Outdoor Editor Huge rainbows highlight week’s fishing at Santa Ana River Lakes      A huge 20 ¾-pound rainbow trout was caught by Tom Hayes of Carmichael while fishing at Santa Ana River Lakes this past week, highlighting a week filled with monster rainbows at this popular Orange County water.      Hayes’ trout was caught from shore near the pumphouse on a nightcrawler-marshmallow combination doused with Eagle Claw garlic

Jim Matthews, Outdoor Editor Santa Ana River Lakes continues to crank out huge rainbow trout      The Rose Parade only lasts one day, but the parade of rose and crimson rainbow trout out of Santa Ana River Lakes has been non-stop for three weeks, and the lake’s dedicated band of anglers are still marching to the beautiful music big trout make when they strip line off reels against the drag.      The biggest rainbow reported during the first

Jim Matthews, Outdoor Editor Giant trout parade marches on at Santa Ana River Lakes       For the second week in a row, the have been dozens of giant rainbow trout topping 12 pounds pouring out of Santa Ana River Lakes in Orange County, and plants of the bruisers again this week will just keep that parade going.      Fishing buddies Bob Bar, Ben Hinojosa, Gus Torres, and Andrew Navarro, all of Orange, were all fishing from shore near the

Jim Matthews, Outdoor Editor Santa Ana River Lakes cranks out dozens of huge rainbows      An 18-pound rainbow trout caught by Steve Tran of Rowland Heights was the top fish in a parade of monster trout landed at Santa Ana River Lakes over the long holiday weekend. His fish was caught the day the big trout were planted last Friday and he landed the rainbow on a gold Kastmaster.     There were also 16-pound rainbows caught by Craig Miyamoto,

Jim Matthews, Outdoor Editor Big rainbows continue to pour out of Santa Ana River Lakes Santa Ana River Lakes rainbow trout action has been excellent over the past week and the parade of big trout through the tackle shop from six to 12 pounds has been a long and steady one.      The best news is that this week is when the really big trout are being planted for the long four-day Christmas weekend. The plant last week only held the “teenagers.”

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Santa Ana River Lakes’ trout opener called the ‘best ever’ Trout fishing was beyond exceptional at Santa Ana River Lakes over the weekend. The reopening of this popular Orange County fishery was beyond all anglers’ expectations after three huge trout plants that included incredible volume and more big rainbows than have been planted in a number of years. Anglers also lauded the quality of the full-tailed, brightly-colored

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Santa Ana River Lakes reopen this Friday after three huge trout plants Three huge trout plants have poured in Santa Ana River Lakes over the past two weeks in preparation for the grand reopening set for this Friday (Dec. 7). The lake will be loaded with thousands of pounds of one to two-pound rainbows, along with a hefty supply of quality Sierra Bows from six to 20 pounds. The longer-than-expected maintenance was to improve

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Half-price tickets though final fishing weekend at Anaheim Lake Fishing permit costs have been cut in half at Anaheim Lake for this final week of the trout season before the lake closes after this coming Sunday (Dec. 2). “Fishing prices haven’t been this low in 20 years,” said Craig Elliott at Anaheim Lake. “We're asking anglers to come out and help us catch out the trout and catfish before the lake closes for

Monster rainbows are coming to Anaheim Lake for Thanksgiving Huge plants of giant rainbow trout are on tap for this Thanksgiving weekend at Anaheim Lake. “We’re bringing back the ‘good old days,’ and we’re confident more big trout will be caught at Anaheim and Corona lakes this week than all other lakes in California combined,” said Craig Elliott at Anaheim Lake. The plants, which include trophy rainbow trout from 12 to 20 pounds and

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

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Fish finally arrive, excellent trout opener at Anaheim Lake After being delayed a day because of a stalled truck in the Sierra Nevada, The Anaheim Lake trout opener kicked off Friday morning after the first trout plants of the season for 2012. The plants consisted of a huge stocking of Mt. Lassen Trout Farms’ Lightning Trout, scrappy Sierra Bows, and some big hook-jaw male rainbows to nearly 10 pounds. The season was

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Trout opener at Corona Lake is being called ‘the best in years’ Anglers and lake staff are calling the Corona Lake trout opener this past weekend “the best in years” thanks to heavy plantings of Mt. Lassen and Jess Ranch trout, including Lightning Trout, for the opening day on Saturday. The lake was closed the four days prior to the opener for planting of the fish – including a big load of Lightning Trout, the

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Trout season kicks off this week at Corona Lake with Lightning trout The trout season kicks off at Corona Lake this Saturday, Oct. 27, after three massive plants of three types of trout. First, the trophy fish will be big, hooked-jawed male Sierra Bows topping the five-pound marks. Second, Lightning Trout will be planted for the first time for a trout opener in Southern California. Third, the volume of those popular, pink-meated

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Anaheim Lake catfish bite still hot, and “big” changes coming for trout season Anaheim Lake’s catfish bite remains good thanks to twice-weekly plants of blues and channels averaging two pounds, but there continue to be a good number of bigger fish in the catch. The top catfish report this past week was a seven-pounder landed by Tony Truong, Torrance, while fishing with the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo at

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Cats to eight-plus pounds caught in good action at Anaheim Lake Catfish to over eight pounds were the highlight of anglers’ stringers posted at Anaheim Lake over the past week. While the average fish are in the two-pound class, and limits have been common, quite a few bigger fish are showing from deep water. Jimmy Suchy, Anaheim, had two of the bigger catfish this week at 8 1/2 and 6 1/2 pounds fishing the marshmallow-meal

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Anaheim Lake catfish action continues in limit-style mode Anaheim Lake’s catfish bite has remained very good over the past week with light fishing pressure and lots of limits of two-pound average catfish. Due to an large numbers of coromorants, the best action remains in deep water where the fish retreat during daylight hours, but they do move up at night and can be caught in much shallower water then. Shrimp and mackerel

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Limit-style catfish bite at Anaheim Lake The catfish action has continued to be good to excellent at Anaheim Lake during morning, evening, and at night at Anaheim Lake with many anglers posting full, five-fish stringers of fish averaging from two to three pounds. The best action remains in deep water where the fish retreat to avoid the cormorants during daylight hours, but they do move up at night and can be caught in

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor Wide open action on catfish and crappie at Corona Lake The new moon this past weekend was kind of anglers at Corona Lake, making the good catfish and crappie action even better with wide open fishing. The fall crappie action has the fish concentrated on structure all around the lake feeding right on the bottom. Small jigs have been the hot ticket with fish averaging about a pound with some better. Yarol Mogo, Corona, had

Catfish action remains excellent at Anaheim Lake The report for Anaheim Lake’s catfish bite is getting to be like a broken record. It’s excellent, excellent, excellent for pan-sized stringers of fish up to about four pounds. Mackerel and shrimp are the most consistent producers, especially for anglers adding a prepared scent like Love Sauce, Bite On or Gravy to the baits. The marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo, nightcrawlers, and dough or

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor 9/4/12 Big cats anchor quality stringers at Corona Lake A steady procession of nice stringers of catfish continue to come from Corona Lake the week leading up to the blue moon last Friday and right through Labor Day weekend. The biggest fish reported was a 12 1/2-pound catfish landed by Eric Hernandez, Ontario, as part of a nice three-fish stringer he caught using salmon for bait off the shoreline near the boat dock. 

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor 8/28/12 Catfish stringers continue to pour out of Anaheim Lake   The catfish action at Anaheim Lake has been excellent on 1 1/2 to three pounders over the past week, and the fish are biting on a vast array of baits. Shrimp, mackerel, or the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo dolled up with one of the prepared scents like Love Sauce or Gravy continue to be the most common baits used by anglers, but regular nightcrawlers

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor 8/21/12 Anaheim Lake produces nice stringers of catfish Anaheim Lake’s catfish action has continued very good over the past week with limits of 1 1/2 to three pound catfish common for anglers fishing a wide variety of baits. Shrimp or mackerel with one of the prepared scents like Love Sauce or Gravy continue to produce good numbers of catfish, but the marshmallow-meal (M&M) worm combos, nightcrawlers, and paste baits

Jim Matthews Outdoor Editor 8/13/12 Limits of nice catfish are common at Anaheim Lake The catfish action has been very good for anglers at Anaheim Lake over the past week with a lot of limits posted on catfish averaging 1 ½ to three pounds. The best bite has continued to be on shrimp, mackerel, or the marshmallow-meal (M&M) worm combos, and dousing them with Gravy or Love Sauce has improved strike ratios, and the fish remain concentrated in