GO FISH

About 550,000 pounds of fish are taken each year by anglers at Orange County’s major fishing lakes. The lakes provide about 900 acres of freshwater fishing. Some tips on what to bring and where to go to land “a big one’:

Local Lakes

Irvine Lake

4621 Santiago Canyon Rd., Silverado, (714) 460-4940

Open daily 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Entry fee: $12 adults, $5 ages 4-12, under 4 free.

All-day powerboat rentals: $25 Monday-Thursday, $40 Friday and weekends.

Night fishing to begin in June; date to be announced.

Santa Ana River Lakes

4060 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, (714) 632-7830

Three lakes open daily 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Night fishing Fridays and Saturdays to 11:30 p.m. Entry fee: $12 adults, $10 ages 5-12, under 5 free.

All-day powerboat rentals: $20 weekdays, $25 weekends.

Laguna Niguel Lake

La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (714) 362-3885

Fishing hours: 6 a.m. to midnight daily.

Park entry fee: $2 per car, $4 on weekends.

Day-use fishing permit: $10 adults, $7 under 17, $8 for senior citizens. Each permit covers two poles.

Rowboat rentals: $8 per hour, $20 for 4 hours.

WHEN TO FISH

Morning

Mornings are best to try surface fishing for trout and bass; both eat insects off the glassy surface. As the sun rises, trout and bass will drop to the lake bottom not only to escape the warmer water but to move from sunlight. Summer bass fishing will be most successful with surface plugs and plastic worms; Power Bait works best for trout. For best results, use light line for trout and medium to heavy for bass.

Evening

Late afternoons and evenings are great times to catch crappie and catfish. Although both varieties prefer deeper waters during hot summer days, as the sun crosses into late afternoon, they glean through reeds for insects. For panfish like crappie, use a light line (2-4 pounds) with small marabou jigs or small hooks baited with grubs. Catfish, however, have large mouths and are heavy. To keep the line from breaking, use a 10-20-pound fishing line and large hooks. Unlike trout and bass, catfish will eat almost anything . . . the stronger the stench, the better. They’ll hit on worms and grubs but fish-based wet cat foods, canned tuna or sardines are among the most effective catfish baits on the market.

SALTWATER FISHING

OCEAN SPORTFISHING

In Orange County, four ocean sportfishing outfitters take thousands of anglers into waters stretching from San Onofre to Long Beach, including Santa Catalina and San Clemente islands. They return with about 4,000 tons of fish annually.

License: A state saltwater license good for a single day ($6.60) or one year ($18.40) is required for anglers older than 15.

Tackle: An entry-level rod and reel costs about $100 and can be rented for $7-$8.

Bait (included in price of boat pass): anchovies, sardines, small mackerel. Lures: tady, ironman.

Common Catch:

Barracuda

Sand bass

Mackerel

Bonito

Yellowtail

Landings

Seal Beach Sportfishing

At end of Seal Beach Pier, (562) 598-8677

Boat passes: Three-fourths day trip: $30 adults, $24 for under 16 and seniors above 62. Half day: $22 adults, $17 for juniors and senior citizens.

Newport Landing Sportfishing

309 Palm, Suite F, Balboa, (714) 675-0550

Boat passes: Three-fourths day trip: $35 adults, $25 for under 13 and seniors. Half day: $23 adults, $15 juniors (seniors receive junior rate Monday-Friday).

Davey’s Locker

400 Main St., Balboa, (714) 673-1434

Boat passes: Three-fourths day trip: $36 adults, $28 for under 16 and seniors. Half day: $24 adults, $16 juniors/seniors.

Overnight trip: $60 adults, $45 juniors/seniors.

Twilight trip: $24 adults, $16 juniors/seniors.

Dana Wharf Sportfishing

34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, (714) 496-5794

Three-fourths day trip: $35 adults; $25 for under 13.

Half day: $22 adults; $17 juniors.

All day: $45 adults, $35 juniors.

Overnight trip: $75.

SURF FISHING

Surf fishing, another year-round recreation opportunity, is free of charge and easily accessible. Prime beaches: Bolsa Chica State Beach; Huntington Beach; Santa Ana River jetty to Newport Pier; 15th Street south to the Wedge; Corona del Mar State Beach; all Laguna Beach coves; San Onofre State Beach.

Fishing can also be done from rocks and off any of Orange County’s six piers.

License: Required for anglers over 15.

Tackle: An entry-level rod and reel cost $50 to $100. A spike to anchor rod in sand is $10.

Bait: Sand crabs, ghost shrimp, mussels, bloodworm. Plus various lures and flies.

Common Catch:

Barred surfperch

Spotfin croaker

Corbina

Halibut

What You’ll Need

Leaders, Sunscreen, Bobbers, Sinkers, Hooks, Fishing Line, Drinking Water, Lures, Rags, Hat, Net

Hot Rod and Reel

Most fishing rods are made from light yet strong materials such as graphite, boron and fiberglass. Rods pull apart for storage. Expect to spend about $40 for an entry-level spinning rod & reel. Rentals available at lakes.

Spin casting reels. which have a cover over the line, are least likely to jam or allow the line to tangle

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TECHNIQUE: HOW TO SNAG ONE

Tying Knots

Improved clinch knot

Improved clinch knot (also called fisherman’s knot) is easy to learn and very strong. It has many uses including tying lines or leaders to hooks, lures, jigs or swivels.

Baiting a Hook

Use salmon eggs in clusters, three on a treble hook. Be sure the eggs are seated firmly on barbs.

Thread hook through worm twice to ensure it doesn’t wiggle free.

Casting

1. Make sure fishing line isn’t tangled at tip section of pole or on guides.

2. Check for people behind you; avoid casting under low-hanging trees.

3. Hold rod out in front, press thumb on stop and hold in.

4. Swing rod up and slightly over head. Bring rod down; release thumb stop about halfway through movement. Caution: Releasing thumb too soon will result in popping up the line; waiting too long to release will result in a short cast.

Hooking

1. As soon as you feel the line pull or see the bobber drop under the water, give the line a quick tug.

2. Play the fish by bringing rod tip up, then lowering it back down while reeling in.

Landing a Fish

1. Small fish: Lead fish in head first while reeling in.

2. Large fish: Use net to avoid breaking line. To remove hook, hold fish firmly behind gills and use needlenose pliers to grasp hook.

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Trout

Hook: No. 12 (treble)

Bait: Power Bait, salmon eggs, spinning lures.

Best Fishing: Pre-dawn to dawn. Often near surface in a.m.

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Bass

Hook: No. 6

Bait: Night crawlers.

Best Fishing: Early morning or late afternoon; near bottom hiding in weeds, along shoreline.

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Catfish

Hook: Nos. 1-4

Bait: Cut mackerel, dough bait, cut liver.

Best Fishing: Early morning or evening; best from midnight to 3 a.m.

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Crappie

Hook: No. 10

Bait: Mealworms, crickets, crappie jigs.

Best Fishing: Early morning or evening, often near pier pilings.

Sources: Department of Fish and Game, individual operators, “Pacific Coast Fishes,” World Book Encyclopedia, “The Complete Book of Fishing’; researched by APRIL JACKSON, BRAD BONHALL and CHUCK NIGASH / Los Angeles Times