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 and paste baits are also productive.
Anglers are reminded that the catfish are mostly in deeper water to avoid the lake’s huge population of cormorants. Good spots have been the bubble hole and the hump directly between Catfish Island and Honker Island, most points, along the whole west side of the lake, and off Trout Island. Shore fishermen capable of making long rods capable of getting way out in deeper water are have just as good success as boat anglers.
Some typical catches from this week include a 10-fish, 17-pound stringer posted by C.A. Nunerley III and Alex Macias, both Reseda, while fishing shrimp and mackerel at Honker Island. Mike Ward, Anaheim, landed five catfish for a total stringer weight of 12 1/2 pounds on mackerel with Gravy from a boat, while Jose Magdaleno, Compton, was fishing the shrimp-meal worm combo from shore to get five cats for 11 3/4 pounds. Regular Jimmy Suchy, Anaheim, caught five cats for a total stringer of 10 pounds on the M&M combo.
The weekend Catfish Derbies continue to be held each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Entry fee is $5 for any of the five permit time frames — from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday evening, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday evening. (There are no derbies for the mid-day special at noon or the 24-hour fishing pass holders.) All of the derbies feature a 100 percent payout of the whole pot to the angler catching the biggest catfish. If 10 anglers enter at $5 each, the biggest catfish caught among those 10 anglers wins that angler the whole $50 pot.
Anaheim Lake continues to receive twice-weekly plants of catfish and tilapia on Tuesday and Thursday and will through the rest of the summer fishing season. In August, Anaheim Lake staff is giving away free fishing passes each time you rent a boat and motor. Coupons for these new passes are available on the newly renovated web site site at www.fishinglakes.com.
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. There are 24-hour passes offered every Friday and Saturday night. 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.
Quality cats highlight Corona Lake’s hot bite
Corona Lake’s catfish bite has continued to be good to excellent with a lot of nice stringers and quality fish are still a significant component of the catches.
The best bite has been early morning, evening, and at night, but the mid-day action seems to be returning. Shrimp, mackerel, the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo, and nightcrawlers with Eagle Claw Gravy or Lip Ripperz Love Sauce scents have been the best baits. Hot spots have been the deeper water off the dam and the back end for boat anglers. Shore fishing has been a little more difficult, but J.D.’s Point and the dam areas have been top spots.
The top catfish reported this week was a nice nine-pounder caught by Mike Nguyen, Riverside, to top off his six-fish, 31 1/2-pound stringer caught during an unusual mid-day bite on anchovies. Juan Cajas, Los Angeles, landed five cats for 25 1/4 pounds total, and his best was an 8 ¼-pounder, all on shrimp. Demetrios Johnson, Rialto, landed a 6 3/4-pound catfish on mackerel.
The tilapia action is also pretty good in the shallow, shady areas on nightcrawler piece3s, and there continue to be a few bass, bluegill, and crappie caught by anglers targeting the lake’s resident population of fish.
Catfish and tilapia plants go in at least twice a week, including both blue and channel catfish. In August, Corona Lake staff is giving away free fishing passes each time you rent a boat and motor.
Corona Lake is still having its five “Biggest Catfish” derbies every weekend. Entry fee is $5 for any of the five permit time frames — from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday evening, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday evening. (There will be no derbies for the mid-day special at noon or the 24-hour fishing pass holders.) All of the derbies feature a 100 percent payout of the whole pot to the angler catching the biggest catfish. If 20 anglers enter at $5 each, the biggest catfish caught among those 20 anglers wins that angler the whole $100 pot.
Private boats, kayaks, and float tubes are allowed at Corona Lake, but they will be inspected for traces of water or evidence of quagga mussel contamination before being allowed on the water.
There is road construction ongoing through the end of September at the Interstate 15 Indian Truck Trail off-ramp that leads to Corona Lake. This offramp is closed, but the lake is open during this construction. To detour around the construction, you need to exit from different off-ramps. If you are coming from the south on I-15, from the Elsinore or Murrieta area, exit on Lake Street and follow Temescal Canyon Road north to the lake entrance. If you are coming from the north, from the Corona or Riverside areas, exit the freeway at Temescal Canyon Road and follow the road south to the Lake entrance.
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 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 every Friday and Saturday night. 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 atwww.fishinglakes.com.
Santa Ana River Lakes’ Kid’s Pond to remain open all summer