San Diego Bass Catch Is Excellent

The excellent bass fishing in the San Diego lakes is one of the West’s best-kept secrets, and right now, according to Manager Jim Brown, it’s as good as it’s going to get.

Said Brown: “It’s gone from so-so to excellent this last week. The season is year-round, but it really starts in early or mid-February on the lower lakes, when the days start getting longer. The fish react to the longer photo period, not (warmer) water temperature. Then the fishing peaks in March.”

Three of the five lakes also are heavily stocked with trout.

SAN DIEGO LAKES--Otay: 1,110 anglers caught 843 bass, 126 crappie, 2 channel cats. Rick Montero, LaVerne, took an 11-pound 12-ounce bass on a shiner. Miramar: 481 anglers, 587 trout, 41 bass. Dick Postulka, Poway, a 4-8 rainbow, on a Rapala. El Capitan: 876 anglers, 635 bass, 201 crappie, 12 channel cats, 20 blue cats. Harold Davids, Perris, a 10-12 bass, on a shad wrap. San Vicente: 799 anglers, 357 bass, 19 trout, 6 crappie, 5 channel cats. Darrel Langley, El Cajon, an 11-5 bass on a brown worm. Murray: 417 anglers, 10 bass, 2 sunfish, 630 rainbows, 3 channels. Rick Bailey, San Diego, a 4-4 rainbow, on Power Bait.

IRVINE LAKE--Many limits of trout are being taken on Power Bait. Some big ones: John Carney, Hawaiian Gardens, 11 3/4 pounds; Judy Robertson, Valinda, 7 1/2. Gary DeFosse, Lakewood, took a seven-pounder on a red rooster tail. The lake has filled over the road on the west shore and should provide a weed habitat for bass and crappie in another month.

LAKE CASITAS--Trout have been biting and bass are taking crawdads and some plastic worms. Mike Franklin, El Cajon, took a 14-pound nine-ounce largemouth, and Cory Jolly, Santa Paula, had an 11-pounder.

PYRAMID LAKE--Lots of limits of trout are being taken. Stripers and largemouth are picking up. Paul Selkirk of Simi Valley had a two-day total of nine stripers from six to 22 pounds, all released.

LAKE PIRU--Trout fishing excellent with limits on Power Bait and any kind of gold lure, plus small Rapalas and gray shad. Bass are starting to show in small numbers at the points of coves and in rocky areas.

CASTAIC LAKE--Greg Deane, Chatsworth, seven-pound two-ounce bass on the upper lake, using a rattletrap. Dominic Gonzales a 15-pound catfish offshore with an anchovy.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Trout limits being taken from Miller Canyon on Power Bait. Largemouths biting but crappie slow.

LAKE HENSHAW--Some nice bass were taken over the weekend, including one at seven pounds four ounces by Bruce Gillis of Long Beach.

SALTON SEA--The corvina are biting at the north shore and Red Hill, and off the jetty at Salt Creek.

LAKE CACHUMA--Some smallmouth bass biting on jigs and small crawdads. Trout shore-fishing is good at El Dorado Point, where fish are taking Power Bait and night crawlers.

WILLOW BEACH--Russ Reed, Las Vegas, brought in a 33 1/2-pound striper from Mile Marker 38, trolling a red fin.

LAKE MEAD--Striper action has been slow but frozen anchovies are working best.

BULLHEAD CITY--Trout biting in the river, mostly on pink and yellow Power Bait, and also on blue fox spinners. Trolling on the lake is slow.

Trout Plants

LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Big Tujunga Creek (lower section); El Dorado Park Lake, Malibu Creek, Peck Road Park Lake, Piru Creek, (Frenchman’s Flat), Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas Reservoir, Santa Fe Reservoir.

RIVERSIDE--Evans Lake.

SAN BERNARDINO--Colorado River (at Needles), Cucamonga-Guasti Park Lake, Silverwood Lake, Yucaipa Park Lake.

SANTA BARBARA--Lake Cachuma.

VENTURA--Lake Casitas, Reyes Creek, Rose Valley Lakes, Sespe Creek (upper section).