FISH REPORT

Compiled by Cyndi Gollaz and Jim Matthews

Outdoor News Service

The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included in this report. Faxes can be sent to 909-887-8180. E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@earthlink.net and/or Cyndi Gollaz at cagurrola@charter.net.

This report is published by 11 daily newspapers in Southern California each week. Frequently it is edited for space. A complete version is posted on the Outdoor News Service web site (www.OutdoorNewsService.com). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning. The fish report is copyrighted and any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited without written permission. Posting of links to the fish report on the Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.

The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG's Internet web page is located at the following address: www.dfg.ca.gov.

MATTHEWSí PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. Diamond Valley stays our top pick this week because of the general quality of the largemouth bass showing in this bite. Many anglers are catching and releasing 20 to 40 bass per day or more, and many anglers report their top five fish would top 30 pounds - thatís a six-pound average! This is simply awesome fishing. Add in some 10-pound class fish this past week and you have perhaps the best bass fishing of the year at Southern Californiaís top bass lake. The bass are in a full-on spawn. Most of the fish are tight in shallow water on beds, but bigger fish are still holding off on points or moving in and out. For updates, check with the marina staff at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle in Hemet at 951-658-7410.

2. Casitas Lake cranked out three bass over 10 pounds this past week ñ or at least thatís all that were reported. It might not have the same across-the-board quality as Diamond Valley, but this lake may still be the best bet for a real quality fish over 10 pounds. The private boat ban also means the fishing pressure is way off from normal this time of year. For an update and to check on the availability of rental boats, call the marina at 805-649-2043.

3. The warming weather and water conditions and weekly trout plants make Willow Beach on the Colorado a top opportunity for a big striped bass. There were two fish over the 20-pound mark this past week. With warm weather forecast, that could really wake up these big fish. However, if you like big stripers and can choose to go this weekend or next, wait until the full moon weekend on the 20th to go. Hurl big trout-like plugs and fish from the hatchery downstream. For an update, check with the Willow Beach marina staff at 928-767-4747.

FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS

TROUT: Good trout action throughout the region. Top bets this week have been Santa Ana River Lakes, Laguna Niguel, Irvine Lake, and Corona Lake. All four of these waters have been crowded. In the High Desert, Hesperia Lake, Jess Ranch, and Mojave Narrows all have been good this week, too. All of the inland San Bernardino County Park lakes - Glen Helen, Cucamonga-Guasti, Prado, and Yucaipa are also fair to good and are getting their last county trout plants of the season this week. In San Diego County, Wohlford, Dixon, Poway, Jennings, Morena, and Cuyamaca have consistently fair to good bites after weekly plants. In the southern Sierra, Lake Isabella and the Kern River are both very good. The Eastern Sierraí early trout season continues good at Diaz Lake and the small streams from Independence south and all were planted again this week.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Spawn time. Casitas, Diamond Valley, Perris, Skinner, Castaic, Sutherland, San Vicente, and Lower Otay all have been good this past week in spite of the weather. Add in Piru, Cachuma, Skinner, and Silverwood among the list of waters getting better fast. Poway, El Capitan, Hodges, and Wohlford all have fair and improving bites. On the Central Coast, Nacimiento still has a good spotted bass bite, and Lopez is worth fishing for largemouths. Keep in mind all of the local lakes with bass, except at higher elevations, have fish on beds.

STRIPED BASS: Skinner has fair to good action, but the reports coming in from Castaic and Silverwood show these bites are also breaking open. Pyramid has been closed for over a month for dock repair and lake drawdown, but it opened back up with pretty good fishing (but light fishing pressure and few reports). On the Colorado River, bites were improving, with Willow Beach breaking open this past week with a few big fish, and even Mohave cranking out a couple of bruiser. Still the best action has been at Havasu and Mead where a lot of smaller fish to six pounds showing. Even the lower river below Havasu has areas of good action all the way to Palo Verde.

PANFISH: The panfish bites are just starting to really turn on. There are very good crappie bites at Buena Vista Lake (near Taft) in the southern San Joaquin Valley and at Lake Hodges. Other budding crappie bites to note are at Henshaw, Elsinore, Perris, and Piru. Bluegill and redear are both still slow most places, but there are more and more places starting to improve with some better catches made this past week. A few big bluegill are showing at Diamond Valley and there is a budding redear bite at Lake Perris.

CATFISH: Diamond Valley still has a decent bite, but overall the catfish action is still mostly slow. More fish are showing at Hesperia Lake thanks to more spurts of sunny weather, and some cats are starting to show in better numbers in the lower Colorado River. Some big blues are also being caught from some of the San Diego area lakes, but no real monsters again this week.

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

SILVERWOOD: The striper bite is still fair to good on anchovies, minnows and sardines near the dam and off the dock. The shoreline in Cleghorn has also been a decent spot. Larry Jameston, San Bernardino, caught a seven-pound striper off the docks. Kathy Summers, Apple Valley, landed a six-pound striper near the dam. Trout action good off the docks on yellow and orange Power Bait and Power worms in all coves. Sam Pickens, Helendale, landed a 4-8 trout in Cleghorn on Power Bait. DFG trout plant this week. The largemouth bass bite is improving with some fair action for anglers tossing plastics, jigs, or nightcrawlers. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.

BIG BEAR LAKE: The trout fishing is wide open. Trollers and bait anglers are pulling out easy limits of holdovers to two pounds. Trollers are having the best luck with Needlefish in the red dot frog pattern or Thomas Buoyants. Curt Dills, Fish Big Bear Charter Service, caught and released 21 trout in two hours near the observatory, in front of Big Bear Marina. Sam Eash, Sugarloaf, landed a 5-1 rainbow on rainbow Nitro Bait east of the dam. DFG trout plant last week. Information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222 or bigbearmarina.com.

GREGORY LAKE: Mostly slow action with a few trout on floating baits fished closed to the bottom. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-338-2233.

GREEN VALLEY LAKE: The lake is closed until later this spring. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.

ARROWBEAR LAKE: The lake has opened for the season. DFG trout plant last week.

JENKS LAKE: Closed until later this spring. Only walk-in access. Information: 909-794-1123, ext. 4.

HIGH DESERT LAKES

HESPERIA LAKE: No freshwater record-size sturgeon this week, although the bite continues to be good on nightcrawlers, mackerel and Power Bait. The lake has been planted with several loads of Alpersí trout, and the trout bite is good. Catfish are stocked every week and the bite is exceptional on shrimp, mackerel, and nightcrawlers. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH: Trout bite excellent on Power Bait (sherbet, rainbow, spring green, chartreuse and orange), inflated nightcrawlers dipped in garlic or anise, lures, jigs and Senkos. Lots of limits were pulled out with most trout near or over two pounds. Hot spots included the western, eastern and northern shores of lake 2, especially the inlet as well as the eastern shore and western shore from the pump house to the bridge. Rick Trudeau, La Verne, caught a 5-12 rainbow. Maurice Van Der Moere, Costa Mesa, caught a 4-13 trout. Jack Krause, Fontana, landed a 4-6 rainbow on a Thomas Buoyant. Taylor Henson, Palmdale, caught a 3-11. Trout from the lakesí hatchery are planted every Friday. The lake is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.

MOJAVE NARROWS: Fair trout action with fish up into the seven-pound range and some bigger. Top baits are Power Bait (rainbow, red, white and orange), nightcrawlers and plastic trout worms. Action is best in the morning from both Pelican and Horseshoe Lake. County trout plants are weekly through April 17. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Good trout action with a lot of limits reported on Power Bait, jigs, and nightcrawlers. Most of the fish are from one to two pounds. DFG trout plant this week, and this week is the last week of county trout plants. Information: 909-481-4205.

PRADO: Trout action improving with a fair to good. The Rosales family, Pomona, pulled out 20 trout for 25 pounds, topped by a 4.5-pounder on chartreuse Power Bait. Catfish, bass, and carp remain fair. DFG trout plant this week and the last county plant of the season is also going in this Thursday. No fishing on stocking days. Information: 909-597-4260.

YUCAIPA: Good trout action this week with the best bite on Power Bait, mini-jigs, and small trout plastics. Also a fair bite on bluegill and carp, with the catfish still mostly slow. DFG trout plant this week and the last county plant of the season is also going in this week. Lake or derby information: 909-790-3127.

GLEN HELEN: Good trout action with lots of limits reported on fish averaging from 1 1/2 to two pounds. Top trout baits have been Power Bait (yellow or green) and nightcrawlers. Slow to fair catfish action. Most of the cats are running two to four pounds and are showing on mackerel, shrimp and Hog Wild. DFG trout plant this week and the last county plant of the season will also go in Thursday. Information: 909-887-7540.

MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.

SECCOMBE LAKE: No recent plants. Information: 909-384-5233.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

DIAMOND VALLEY: The bass spawn has continued to keep things exciting for anglers. Fish from two to four pounds have been landed at the east dam and in Rawson Cove, in five to 20 feet. Drop-shotting purple or green worms or Carolina-rigged Brush Hogs has been a popular bet, while others are using watermelon or green pumpkin Senkos, and tube jigs. The Top Stick Tour last weekend brought out more of the outstanding bass bite. Anglers on 12 of the 20 boats had limits weighing over 20 pounds for five fish. Mike Hart landed a 29.91-pound limit, with the top two fish of the competition, 10.07 and 8.98 pounds. Tony Capparelli and Jae Cho took second with a 27.68-pound bag. Other fish, outside of the competition, were landed in good numbers with bass to 10.3 pounds reported. Chad Stern, Lake Elsinore, caught a 21.5-pound limit of bass. The trout bite slowed to a crawl for shore anglers, but some boaters reported a decent trout bite. Surface trolling the dams with Needlefish or Rapalas, or drifting nightcrawlers was the best method for boaters. DFG trout plant this week. Fair to good catfish bite in the third cove and near the east dam and wave attenuator on anchovies, mackerel, and raw shrimp. Most catfish have been found on the bottom in 10 to 20 feet. David OíGwynn, San Jacinto, caught a 5.34-pound catfish off the marina. Some panfish reports with the most luck along the dams, specifically near the stairways on live worms. Paul Para, Anaheim, caught five sunfish totaling 8.75 pounds. Information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait & Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.

PERRIS: Bass bite fair to good. The fish are in the shallows, spawning, with the east end, just off the marina, and lots 11 and 12 the hot bite areas. Most fish have been landed on nightcrawlers or crawdads. Mark Byers, Perris, landed a 5-7 bass on the backside of the island on plastics. R.G. Fann, San Bernardino, landed a 5-0 bass on a plastic wading the east end. A four-pounder landed by Hector Tello, Riverside. Shane Hanson, 3, Rancho Cucamonga, caught a 3.9-pound bass. Trout fair on worms, Power Bait and nightcrawlers at lot 5 with many anglers catching their limit. DFG trout plant this week. Fair bluegill and crappie action in the marina and launch areas around structure. Robert Jenkins, Moreno Valley, landed 15 bluegill off the marina docks on crickets. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee during store hours only. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.

SKINNER: The striper bite remains very good on chicken liver and anchovies, especially in the inlet. Joe Embrey, Fallbrook, caught a 3.5-pound striper. The trout are biting Power Bait, nightcrawlers or dough near Launch Ramp 2. Some increased activity from the largemouth bass this week on plastics and nightcrawlers with fish flooding the shallows. Some early season catfish biting on chicken liver and crankbaits. Dan Harada, Moreno Valley, caught a three-pound catfish by the dam. The bluegill are starting to bite, and with upcoming warm weather, the bite should really take off. Steve Davis, Menifee, landed a 1.5-pound bluegill on meal worms off the east end. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.

LAKE ELSINORE: Crappie bite fair to good on nightcrawlers off the west side marina. The carp have a fair to good bite off the east end on dough balls. The cats are showing at the state park, on mackerel, shrimp and nightcrawlers. Some bass action at the southeast end on plastics. Information: Catfishing R Us at 877-685-7752.

CORONA LAKE: Anglers here are catching full stringers of pan-sized rainbow trout, including a lot of tagged fish, and a few quality fish. The tagged fish were planted as part of the ongoing ìpokerî tournament that continues through Saturday. Jim Sparacino, Santee, caught a 14-pound trout on orange Power Bait. Chris Lutz, Rancho Cucamonga, caught an 11-pound rainbow on a nightcrawler fishing near the boat dock, while Joe Dzogas, Corona, caught an 8-8 trout on a nightcrawler. More and more catfish are being reported each week with the majority being caught on mackerel and shrimp. Martin Rios, Arleta, landed a 13-pound catfish to top off his stringer. There is also a pretty decent bite on largemouth bass and a few quality crappie have been reported, including one at 3 3/4 pounds. Information: 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com.

EVANS LAKE: Fair trout action on Power Bait and nightcrawlers.

RANCHO JURUPA: Trout action fair on Power Bait and worms. Lots of limits right after plants. Most fish are in the one to two-pound range. Information: 951-684-7032.

FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Trout plants will go in every other week for the season. Fair bite on small spinners and floating baits. Fair catfish bite from all three lakes on pieces of nightcrawlers, Power Bait, mackerel or anchovies. Upcoming events: fishing derby every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 909-795-2411.

ANGLER'S LAKE: Fair trout action with some trophy rainbows still in the mix, including several fish over nine pounds at space 54, by the dam. Anglers have landed up to 20 fish per day. The lake is closed Mondays. The lake will be closing April 30, perhaps permanently. Information: 951-927-2614.

REFLECTION LAKE: The lake will be planted with 500 pounds of rainbow trout each week through spring. The bite has been very good on chartreuse or rainbow Power Bait. Information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.

JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Good rainbow trout bite on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Some channel cats showing. The best time to fish is mid-day, when the sunís out, on shrimp, mackerel or stink bait. Rainbow trout plants go in twice a month through spring. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: 951-679-6562 or 951-259-2021.

SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS

LAKE HEMET: Last weekís windy conditions slowed both the bass and trout bites, but the action is still decent, and should take off with this weekendís good weather forecast. The best bass bite has been on plastics and crawdads. Fair to good trout action on Power Bait, trout plastics and nightcrawlers. Trollers also scoring with Rapalas or Kastmasters. Average fish size was 10 inches. DFG trout plant this week. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.

FULMOR LAKE: No recent plants. Information: 951-659-2117.

ORANGE COUNTY

SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: There continues to be good trout fishing this week with a lot of tagged trout planted for the ongoing ìpokerî event which will conclude this Saturday. Trout fishing continues to be best on dough baits or nightcrawlers fished in deep water. Arturo Velazquez, West Covina, caught the top fish this week at 12-8 while fishing the three pipes are. This was Velazquezí second trout caught over 12 pounds in the past two weeks. Mel Montes, El Monte, caught a 10-8 rainbow on Nitro Bait at Rainbow Basin. Kelly Marks, Mesa, Ariz., caught a 10-0 trout at the boat dock on a Super Duper. Anthony Leyba, Alhambra, caught nine trout with an 8-4 topping the catch. David Garcia, Santa Ana, caught a 7-14 trout on a Nitro Worm fishing at three pipes. Information: 714-632-7830 or www.fishinglakes.com.

ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or www.fishinglakes.com.

IRVINE LAKE: Good to excellent trout action for trollers using Rapalas on Santiago Flats. Bait anglers using Power Bait (rainbow or chartreuse), Power mice or salmon eggs for a variety of rainbow, brown and brook trout are keeping anglers busy, with the hot spots near Trout Island, off the west shore and flats, and in Boat Dock Cove. Tom Collins, Santa Ana, caught an 11-6 trout. Bo Ramos, Huntington Beach, landed a 10.04-pound trout. Nate Lewis, Long Beach, caught a 10-pound trout in Sierra Cove. Ryan Arballo, Orange, landed a 9-4 trout. Jarard Denniston, Rancho Santa Margarita, caught an 8-8 rainbow. Panos Nikolaou, Anaheim, landed an 8-2 trout. Connor Mo, Glendora, caught five trout totaling 22.8 pounds. The bass bite is fair to good with quite a few landed on the drop-shot or with Texas-rigged plastics or Senkos on Santiago Flats. Good crappie bite on white Atomic Teasers or Atomic Tubes tipped with a meal worm in the flats. Numerous catfish in the one to three-pound class are biting nightcrawlers, which means their breakthrough bite is just around the corner. The lakeís hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Upcoming events: Sport Chalet Derby and the Irvine Lake Masters set for Saturday. The first ìNight-Time Bass Tournamentî in several years will be held May 10, with signups only available at the lake or Anglerís Marine. The lakeís summer catfish opener is scheduled for June 6. Information: 714-649-9111 or www.irvinelake.net.

LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: No more trout plants will go in this season, but the catfish plants are just around the corner, with the first one slated for the week prior to Memorial Day Weekend. The trout bite is good on inflated nightcrawlers doused in garlic or corn Trout Dip or Power Bait (red, white and blue or chartreuse) dipped in garlic Nitro Gravy in the flats and off the launch ramp. Fighting Frog Lip RipperZ and Trout SpoonZ are top lures for the big trout. The fish are in the two to three-pound range, with some over. Plenty of bass action on fish in the one- to three-pound range. Although one angler brought in a 10-8 bass on a Robo worm. The best action has been on dark-colored plastic worms in deeper water by the dam. Some crappie showing on small crappie jigs (chartreuse or white). The occasional catfish on mackerel or nightcrawlers in the flats and by the launch ramp on nightcrawlers dipped in garlic. The lake is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.

LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES

CACHUMA: Fair trout bite in the open water for trollers using Needlefish and nightcrawlers. The trout are from 1 1/2 to two pounds, with some in the five to six-pound range. The trout bite is best in Cachuma Bay and Santa Cruz. Bass bite fair in the mornings with spoons and Senkos in the Jackrabbit Flats on jerk bait and purple and brown plastic worms. The 13th annual Cachuma Lake Trout Derby, sponsored by the non-profit Cachuma Lake Nature Center, will be held April 19-20. Registration is $35 for adults, $10 for children 10 and younger. There will be $5,000 in cash prizes for a variety of winning categories for both adults and children, including longest trout caught, trout caught with the highest numbered tag, and shortest trout caught. Call the Trout Derby Hotline at 805-693-8381 for more information. For quagga mussel and the new boat launching information, log on at http://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/Cachuma.html. Fishing information: 805-688-4040.

CASITAS: The big bass are out and the bite is hot on swimbaits and live and plastic worms, in 10 feet. Travis Walters, Oak View, caught a 12-pound bass on a swimbait. Todd Thigpin, Santa Paula, caught a 10-8 bass. Phuoung Phan, Ventura, caught a 10.25-pound bass on a plastic worm. Robbie Martinez, Ventura, landed a 6-8 bass on a swimbait. Trout action slow to fair, but last weekís plant should perk the bite. Small ones being landed on Power Bait and spinners. Laurer Campos, 8, Ventura, landed a two-pound trout on Power Bat. Catfish action slow. Nightfishing scheduled for April 17-19. Some crappie and redear off Sunken Island on nightcrawlers, live worms or crappie jigs. Private boats are not being allowed on the lake because of fears of quagga mussel infestation. Information: 805-649-2043.

CASTAIC: Better weather, meant a much improved largemouth bass bite. The bass are in Fish Arm and have been landed on plastics. Joey Horvath, Thousand Oaks, caught a three-pound largemouth. Jimmy Yu, Santa Clarita, caught a 2.1-pounder. Kenny Hemer, Castaic, caught a two-pound bass. Striper bite is good near the dam on frozen shad. No trout have been reported in the upper lake, but there is a slow to fair bite in the lower lake on nightcrawlers. DFG trout plant last week. A few carp on frozen shad off the west ramp. Drew Baumgardner, Thousand Oaks, landed a 9.8-pound carp. Information: 661-775-6232.

PIRU: Fair trout bite on Power Bait, plastic worms and nightcrawlers for bait anglers. Trollers have been using Kastmasters, Rapalas or Needlefish in 65 to 85 feet. Most fish are in the one to two-pound range, with an occasional four-pounder or better. DFG trout plant last week. Slow to fair crappie action in 10 to 20 feet on white mini-jigs. Most fish are under a pound, with a few over. Bass action improved, with fish in a pre-spawn mode on nightcrawlers and plastic worms in 10 to 15 feet. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: park 805-521-1500, marina 805-521-1231.

PYRAMID: The lake reopened Saturday after being closed for several weeks for repairs to the boat dock. The bite is fair to good for stripers on anchovies off the shore. The lake was planted with trout by the DFG, and the bite is fair to good. Information: USFS 661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.

QUAIL LAKE: No reports.

PUDDINGSTONE: Decent trout action on Power Bait or Lip RipperZ plastics and worms. DFG trout plant this week. Slow to fair bass bite off the east shore on drop-shot plastics, jerk baits and live worms. Fair bluegill action on meal and wax worms. Crappie bite fair on small jigs. The action is best in or around Sailboat Cove. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.

SANTA FE DAM: Fair to good trout action on nightcrawlers. DFG trout plant this week. Fair bluegill action on worms and nightcrawlers in the afternoon. Most fish are under a pound. Fair catfish action on mackerel, shrimp or chicken liver. Information: 626-334-1065.

ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.

BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent plants.

BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.

CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.

DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant this week.

ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.

EL DORADO PARK LAKE: No recent plants.

ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.

HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.

HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Information: 213-261-0113.

JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent plants.

KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.

LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week

LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.

LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.

MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.

PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Some decent trout action at the drop offs. Some fair carp action with fish in the 1-8 to two-pound range on dough balls. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 818-448-7317.

SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES

BARRETT: The lake is closed for fishing, but will reopen on May 7. Reservations available through Tickemaster. Call (619) 220-8497. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.

HODGES: The crappie bite is on fire. This week 165 anglers checked reported 349 crappie, 94 bass, 14 bluegill and two channel catfish. The lake is open for fishing and boating Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.

EL CAPITAN: The bass bite perked. This week 209 anglers checked reported 235 bass, 23 crappie, 12 blue catfish and 10 channel catfish. The lake will be open Thursday through Monday for fishing. Permits on Thursday, Friday and Monday will only be available through the Iron Ranger/Pay Station by the concession building (exact change only). Boat rentals on Saturday and Sunday only. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.

LOWER OTAY: Fair to good bass bite. This week 279 anglers checked reported 210 bass, 32 bluegill, 11 channel catfish, three rainbow trout and one crappie. John Kerr and Mike Long won last weekendís bass tournament with 15.7-pound limit, 6.59-pound top fish. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.

UPPER OTAY: Fair bass bite. This week 37 anglers reported catching 34 bass. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for fishing, sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is closed to vehicles, but anglers may walk in to fish during lake hours. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.

SAN VICENTE: Good bass action. This week 129 anglers reported 252 bass, 13 channel catfish, six bluegill and three crappie. The lake is open Saturday and Sunday for fishing from sunrise to sunset. Rentals are available both days. The shoreline from the launch ramp to the buoy line is closed to all activities. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.

MURRAY: Fair bluegill action with an improving bite. This week 94 anglers checked reported 132 bluegill, 16 rainbow trout and six bass. The lake is open for fishing and boating seven days a week. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.

MIRAMAR: Fair rainbow trout bite. This week 117 anglers checked reported 63 rainbow trout, 16 bass and one channel catfish. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.

SUTHERLAND: No report this week. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.

WOHLFORD: The water is clear, and the trout action is good with plenty of rainbow trout taken on nightcrawlers, Power Bait (green and yellow) and Power worms. Best trout areas have been in Boat Dock Cove, off the Senior Shoreline, and in Willow Cove. The bass are in pre-spawn mode and the bucketmouths are moving into shallower waters. Senkos, swimbaits, crawdads, live golden shiners, and plastic worms are working best for the bass. Crappie have started to bite with the water warming and rising. Mike Kostial, Oceanside, caught a 2-7 crappie on a crappie jig near the West Buoy Line. The occasional early cat. Blas Romero, Escondido, caught a 4-3 catfish on bread & Peanut Butter in Willow Cove. There is a temporary ban on private boat launches, canoes, kayaks, float tubes, trolling motors, fish finders and anchors due to quagga mussels. Rental boats available. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.

DOANE POND: DFG trout plant this week.

DIXON: No large bass have been landed. The bass are getting a lot of pressure, and the action is fair to good, especially off the north shoreline, in the shallows on plastics or swimbaits. Most fish are from one to three pounds. The trout action has been good over the past week with some limits being reported over the weekend. The best baits have been rainbow and green Power Bait, nightcrawlers and small gold Kastmasters. Charlie Haynes, San Diego, landed a 6-4 rainbow on nightcrawlers near the buoy line. Another 1,200-pound plant of rainbow trout will go in this week. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.

POWAY: Good trout bite with fish in the 2-8 to four-pound range on Power Bait, nightcrawlers or Rapalas in Half Moon Bay. John Roche, Mira Mesa, caught a 4-3 trout on. Jeff Kopischke, Chula Vista, landed a four-pound trout. The catfish bite is good along the Log Boom. The bass bite is improving with a lot of bass moving around along the shorelines. The bluegill bite is still slow. The shoreline is now open for fishing in the curtain area. The lake is open for fishing Wednesday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset. Upcoming events: The Open Trout Derby is set for Saturday and Sunday. The derby will run from sunrise to sunset on Saturday and from sunrise to noon on Sunday. Prizes will be awarded for the largest trout overall in three divisions (men, women and youth). Derby tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youths for each day. A derby ticket and a fishing permit must be purchased in order to fish on either day even if you don't choose to participate. Fifty motorboats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for derby participants. The lake will be closed to boating and fishing Thursday and Friday to prepare. Derby or lake information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770, concessions 858-486-1234.

JENNINGS: The bass are just off the shoreline and in Shadow Cove in 15 to 20 feet on crawdads, Ikas or Gitzits. Nightcrawlers and Power Bait are the top baits for the trout, and the bite is concentrated off Eagle Point and near the eucalyptus trees in Cactus Patch. Trout bite fair to good on nightcrawlers, Power Bait and plastics. The lake is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Lake information: Ranger Hugh Marx, 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.

MORENA: Improved trout action. The fish are out in the late morning, and early afternoons and are taking Power Bait, rainbow Rapalas or Kastmasters near the launch ramp or from the shoreline around it. Boaters are also catching their limit by the dam in Paradise Cove and working the northern shoreline toward the dam. Fly fishermen have found good fishing at the Cottonwood Creek area. Bass fishing getting better, with several trout fishermen reporting them on their stringers on plastics. The bass bite will improve as water temps do. The boat launch is open. Rowboats and motorboats are available to rent Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-694-3049.

CUYAMACA: Good trout bite on nightcrawlers and Power Bait. The nice spring weather has brought the fish out, and both bait anglers and trollers are getting their share of action. Chambers Park, Fox Hole and the West Finger Jetty are the hot spots. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.

HENSHAW: The crappie bite is hot. Anglers are pulling out 10 to 12 per day on crappie jigs. Bass starting to spawn, with fish showing in the shallows. Catfish and carp action fair. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER

LAKE MEAD: Improved striper bite with good action along the Boulder Beach area and in Saddle Cove. Fish to 17 pounds reported this week. Trout fair to good after the last plant of the season this past week. Best action on small spinners and floating baits in the evening. No more trout plants will in until fall. The largemouth and smallmouth action fair to good with fish to eight pounds.

WILLOW BEACH: Striper bite fair to good. John Hornett, Holden, Arizona, caught a 21.92-pound striper on a Super Shad lure. Ed Harris, Rialto, landed a 25-pound striper on an A.C. Plug. Rainbow trout bite fair on Power Bait, spinners, Panther Martins, Roostertails, floating baits, and salmon eggs. Trout are stocked every Friday, and the bite is best for the first day or two after the plant. Information: 928-767-4747.

LAKE MOHAVE: Cottonwood Cove has reopened with full domestic water service. Fishing in the vicinity has been fair for catfish and small stripers. Power Bait, worms and Woolly Buggers have all been working for rainbow trout. Trout from two to three pounds have been landed. Crappie bite fair near El Dorado Canyon, Money Hole, and near Willow Beach on crankbaits or anchovies fished. Bruce Silat, landed a 41.25-pound striper. Lily Easter, 7, caught 22.5-pounder. Largemouth bass and the occasional smallmouth are also being caught on plastics. Information: 702-297-1464.

BELOW DAVIS DAM: The last trout plants of the season went in two weeks ago at Davis Camp and near The Riverside Resort. The fishing is exceptional, but these are the last plants this spring, so the bite will wind down in a few days. Spotty striper and catfish action near Harrahís Casino on anchovies. Some good stripers have been landed in the Big Bend area. Decent smallmouth action at Davis Camp.

NEEDLES: Fair striper action on small fish downriver in the Topoc area. A few catfish are starting to show and some crappie are also biting in the gorge. Largemouth action still spotty. Information: Premier Sports 760-326-2727, Golden Shores 760-768-2325.

TOPOCK MARSH: Slow to fair striper action, but a few crappie and bass are starting to show, especially the bass. Catfish slow to fair on mackerel, anchovies, worms, or shrimp. The marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: 928-768-2350.

HAVASU: The striper bite is fair to good all over the lake with a lot of fish to four pounds. The stripers are keying on shad, so swimbaits and small cranks are a good bet. The smallmouth and largemouth bass bites are improving with the fish moving shallow. Some bass in the three to four-pound range have been landed off the point at Six Site and this action has been improving daily. Information: 760-663-3811.

PARKER STRIP: Fair catfish action with some flatheads to 12 pounds reported in an improving bite. The smallmouth bass action has improved, and there are more and more largemouth showing each day, with both earning at least fair ratings this week. Information: Juneís Unique 928-669-8883.

BLYTHE: Bass bite has been good in the main river for smallmouths and in the ditches and backwaters for largemouth, with some fish to four pounds reported this week. The catfish action is also improving with the warmer weather with flatheads to 15 pounds and above reported this week. Fenton Walker, Blythe, caught a 30-pounder flathead, and Rafael Terrones, San Bernardino, caught a 73-pound flathead from a local canal on goldfish. Bluegill are still spotty. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.

PALO VERDE: The fishing is picking up across the board. Water temperatures and levels are up, and the bass are improving in the backwaters and smallies on the river rip-rap. Also improving action on schoolie-sized stripers in the river with fish to four pounds reported. Information: Walter's Camp 760-854-3322.

PICACHO AREA: Some catfish and bass action reported. Both bites fair to good.

MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Fair to good largemouth bite on cranks, spinnerbaits and plastics. Channel catfish bite decent, and the crappie bite is also fair on small live minnows. A few flatheads are showing in the main river, too. Information: 928-783-9589 or www.martinezlake.com.

YUMA AREA: The Gila Main Canal in East Yuma is still fair for channel catfish, large redear, and bluegill. All biting on worms. In the main Colorado River, the channel catfish bite has been fair on chicken liver or worms dipped in stink bait. The flatheads are also starting to get active. Largemouth bass in the main river and backwaters started to really turn on this weekend. This bite could break wide open this week.

LOWER DESERT WATERS

SALTON SEA: No reports. Information: Red Hill Marina 760-348-2310, Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052. Weather information: 760-352-3360, Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast 760-398-7211. Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one.

ALAMO RIVER: No reports.

COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports but some channel cats and the odd bass has been reported.

ALL AMERICAN CANAL: Very little fishing pressure.

FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.

WEIST LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago. Information: 760-352-3308.

SUNBEAM LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago.

LAKE CAHUILLA: Fair trout action on Power Bait (rainbow) or nightcrawlers. DFG plant three weeks ago. Crappie action good around the docks, but most are small. Also a good bullhead bite. Information: 760-564-4712.

EASTERN SIERRA

GENERAL: Trout season is closed throughout most of this region. General trout season opener will be Saturday, April 26. For updated road and camping information: Interagency Visitor Center 760-876-6222, Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405, or www.bishopvisitor.com.

BRIDGEPORT REGION: Only the East Walker River remains open to catch-and-release fishing in this region. The bite at the East Walker is fair with some decent-sized rainbows in the pools. Information: Ken's Sporting Goods 760-932-7707.

MAMMOTH AREA: Only Hot Creek and the upper Owens River remain open to fishing, and both of these waters are catch-and-release only. Good action at Hot Creek with midges and caddis at midday and a fair bite for anglers fishing streamers along the banks. Upper Owens seeing a good mid-day bite with some dry fly. Fishing information: The Troutfitter 760-934-2517 or Sierra Drifters Guide Service 760-935-4250.

BISHOP AREA: Only Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the lower Owens River (in both the Gorge below Crowley Lake and below Pleasant Valley Reservoir) are open to fishing in this region. On the lower Owens, nymphing with Hareís Ears and Pheasant Tails is best. Hatch in the mid-afternoon, early evening. Fair to good bite at Pleasant Valley. Tubers have had good fishing from the launch ramp to the inlet. Information: Culver's 760-872- 8361 or Brock's 760-872-3581.

BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Plants throughout the region improved the trout action on the early season streams. Pretty decent bite in both the lower Owens River and Diaz Lake, and all of the small streams were planted again this week and there was good action in Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Lower Owens River below Tinemaha Reservoir, Lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws, Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Shepherd Creek, Symms Creek, Tuttle Creek. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to www.lonepinechamber.org.

WESTERN SIERRA.

LAKE ISABELLA: Fair to good trout action on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs in Paradise Cove and by the dam. Fair to good crappie bite on minnows. Bass bite improved this week, with a good bite on plastics. Also a fair catfish bite at the dam on shad, clams and minnows. Fishing information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.

KERN RIVER: The Kernville area has a fair to good trout bite on salmon eggs and crickets. The smallmouth action in the lower river around the Hart Park area is good on plastic worms, salmon eggs and nightcrawlers. Good trout action in the lower river on crickets and nightcrawlers. The flows are low, and the area is very fishable. Information: Kern River Troutfitter 760-376-2040 or www.kernriverflyfishing.com, or James Store 760-376-2424.

RIVER WALK PARK: Fair trout action on Power Bait, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs.

AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The striper action is very good on shad, Gitzits, lug worms and blood worms. Tito Aguilar, Bakersfield, caught a 32-pound striper on an anchovy. Decent catfish action on shad and nightcrawlers. Cleo Hopkins, Bakersfield, landed a five-pound catfish on shad.

HART PARK LAKE: Good bass action on brush hogs, and nightcrawlers. Trout action fair on Power Bait and nightcrawlers.

TRUXTUN LAKE: Good bass bite on nightcrawlers, live minnows and brush hogs. Fair trout action on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Good carp bite on dough. Catfish bite picking up. Annabel Morales, Bakersfield, landed a two-pound cat. Bluegill action fair on wax worms and crickets.

MING LAKE: Very good carp action on dough. Fair to good bass action has been reported on plastic worms, nightcrawlers, Brush Hogs and minnows. Slow to fair trout action on Power Bait.

BRITE LAKE: Trout bite is fair on Power Bait and spinners. Warm water temps and high winds sent the trout deeper. Water level coming up. No other reports.

BUENA VISTA LAKES: Good crappie bite on minnows and jigs with some two-pound plus fish. Fair bluegill bite on wax worms. Good trout action on mini-jigs, Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Fair to good striper bite on blood worms and lug worms. Good bass action on Senkos, brush hogs, crawdads and large minnows. The catfish bite is fair on shad or minnows. Some bluegill starting to show with warming weather on wax and meal worms.

WOLLOMES LAKE: Fair bluegill action on wax worms. Bass bite good on minnows and plastics.

SUCCESS LAKE: The levels are up, and anglers are able to launch boats. Action slow. Overall bite fair on plastic worms and Senkos. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 559-781-2078.

KAWEAH LAKE: Fair crappie bite on small minnows. Fair bass action on Senkos. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 559-597-2526.

CENTRAL COAST LAKES

SAN ANTONIO: Fair to good striper action in Bee Rock Cove and Harris Creek on anchovies and swimbaits. The smallmouth are scarce, however the largemouth bite is fair to good around the rocky points on swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits and plastic worms. Fair catfish action on anchovies. Information: 805-472-2818.

SANTA MARGARITA: Largemouth bass action fair to good on Brush Hogs, plastics or crankbaits. Anglers have landed their limits, with largemouth to five pounds on some stringers. The early morning bite, from sunrise to 8 a.m. is best. Fair trout action on Power Bait or worms. Decent crappie action on jigs near the river. DFG trout plant last week. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.

NACIMIENTO: Good spotted bass action on plastics and spoons. The spotted bass are in the narrows and off the rocky shorelines. Anglers reported catching 12 to 15 fish by putting in two to three hours. The white bass are in pre-spawn mode, and the bite is getting hotter each day. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.

LOPEZ: Bass action decent on jigs, nightcrawlers or plastic worms, especially in Wittenberg Canyon. The bass are coming up in the shallows. Decent crappie action in 25 to 30 feet across from the marina and near the boat house on jigs. Slow to fair bluegill and redear action on meal and wax worms. Catfish bite spotty. Try anchovies or shrimp. Fair trout action on nightcrawlers and rainbow Power Bait in Cottonwood Cove, off the Cottonwood shoreline, off the points, and across from the marina. Trollers are also having luck just outside Cottonwood Cove on Needlefish. Most fish are under the two-pound mark. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 805-489-1006.

TROUT PLANTS

Barring adverse weather, water, road conditions, and the availability of trucks and personnel, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked this week with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries:

LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Park Lake, Cerritos Park Lake, Downey Wilderness Park Lake, Magic Johnson Park Lake, San Gabriel River (east and west fork), Echo Park Lake, Jackson Lake, Kenneth Hahn Park Lake, La Mirada Lake, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Legg Lake, Lincoln Park Lake, Big Tujunga Creek (lower and upper), Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Reservoir, Santa Fe Dam.

RIVERSIDE: Diamond Valley Lake, Hemet Lake, Perris Lake.

SAN BERNARDINO: Guasti Regional Park Lake, El Prado Regional Park Lake, Glen Helen Regional Park Lakes, Lytle Creek Middle Fork, Miller Canyon Creek, Silverwood Lake, Yucaipa Regional Park Lake.

SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.

ORANGE: Trabuco Creek, Laguna Lake.

INYO: Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Lower Owens River below Tinemaha Reservoir, Lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws, Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Shepherd Creek, Symms Creek, Tuttle Creek.

FRESNO: Avocado Lake, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam.

CATFISH PLANTS

No Plants.

OCEAN FISHING REPORT

By Terrence Berg and Phil Friedman

For Outdoor News Service

CHANNEL ISLANDS UPDATE: Excellent rockfishing continues in the Channel Islands for all the landings, and for boats focusing on the lings, there have been good scores on these fish, too. There has been more and more bait squid around too, giving hope for more white seabass, yellowtail, halibut and other species once winds die down later this week. So far, Channel Island boats have only scratched up a few of these exotics.

LOS ANGELES LANDINGS UPDATE: Catalina Island has produced hit and miss white seabass fishing with no consistent bite yet. While better weather is finally forcast for this weekend, the tides are pretty dismal. There is still plenty of squid around and there are likely to be a few halibut and seabass taken this weekend, but the days just before the next full moon on April 20 could be exceptional. There continue to be some quality bonito, a few calico bass and some barracuda around Catalina. At San Clemente Island, there was another poke on the yellowtail this week and a pretty good bite on the calico bass for private boaters fishing tight to the island. Closer to the coast, there is still a pick on local bass out of Marina del Rey. Local rockfishing has been excellent with a smattering of lings.

ORANGE COUNTY LANDINGS UPDATE: Sculpin and rockfish have been biting along the Orange County coast, along with a sprinkling of bass and halibut. Water temps are just getting to the point where more and more barracuda will start to move in. Behind the barracuda come the sand bass. Winds have held down all the bites this past week, and generally poor fishing tides this week probably wonít help things, even with the better weather.

SAN DIEGO AREA UPDATE: There was a little shot on the yellowtail this week for the 3/4-day boat anglers fishing open water south of Point Loma. Water temperatures have climbed up into the 60 to 62 degree range and the warming water has spurred some better action on bonito and barracuda, too. Bottom anglers continue to hammer on the rockfish, too. A few calico bass with an occasional white seabass and yellowtail have also been taken around La Jolla. For the long range fleet, the focus will be shifting to five to six-day trips around Cedros and Benitos islands where the focus will be on smaller tuna offshore and quality yellowtail inshore. The last of the long, long range boat anglers are reporting very good wahoo action on the Hurricane Bank off Cabo, but most of the 14-day and longer trips are over for the season.

LANDING CONTACTS

Southern California: Virg's Sportfishing, Morro Bay, 805-772-1222; Patriot Sportfishing, Avila Beach, 805-595-7200; Sea Landing, Santa Barbara, 805-963-3564; Harbor Village Sportfishing, Ventura, 805-658-1060; Channel Islands Sportfishing, Oxnard, 805-985-8511; Captain Hook's Sportfishing, Oxnard, 805-382-6233; Port Hueneme Sportfishing, Hueneme, 805-488-2212; Malibu Pier Sportfishing, 310-328-8426; Marina Del Rey Sportfishing, Marina del Rey, 310-822-3625; Redondo Sportfishing, Redondo Beach, 310-372-2111; Rocky Point Fuel Dock (skiff rentals for King Harbor), Redondo Beach, 310-374-9858; 22nd Street Landing, San Pedro, 310-832-8304; L.A. Harbor Sportfishing, San Pedro, 310-547-9916; Long Beach Sportfishing, Long Beach, 562-432-8993; Pierpoint Landing, Long Beach, 562-983-9300; Marina Sportfishing, Long Beach, 562-598-6649; Newport Landing, Newport Beach, 949-675-0550; Davey's Locker, Newport Beach, 949-673-1434; Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point, 949-496-5794; Helgren's Sportfishing, Oceanside, 760-722-2133; Fisherman's Landing, San Diego, 619-221-8500; H&M Landing, San Diego, 619-222-1144; Seaforth Landing, San Diego, 619-224-3383; Point Loma Sportfishing, San Diego, 619-223-1627; Islandia Sportfishing, San Diego, 619-222-1164.

Mexico Landings: Sergio's Sportfishing, Ensenada, 011-526-178-2185; San Quintin Sportfishing, San Quintin, 011-526-162-1455.