Trout Are Plentiful in Sierra

The Eastern Sierra trout season closed Tuesday, but the lower Owens River and Pleasant Valley Reservoir will remain open year-round, and trout limits are not hard to come by, according to Dave Smith of Culvers Sporting Goods in Bishop.

One reason is that the 10-fish limit has been reduced to five. Smith said anglers can expect to catch mostly rainbows between eight and 15 inches, and some larger browns in Pleasant Valley Reservoir.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass biting primarily in lower basin. Live shad at 25-60 feet best bet. Top-water action slow. Largemouth bass and catfish slow.

LAKE HAVASU--Striped bass action best from 30-40 feet using anchovies and deep-running lures off points. Largemouth bass slow, pressure high because of recent and future tournaments. Spinner baits and plastic worms working best. Catfish biting at 20-40 feet on most baits.

BULLHEAD CITY--Some limits of trout caught on river, but strong winds making for tough fishing. Berkley Power Bait and blue Mepps lures working best. Catfish averaging five pounds biting primarily on river. Anchovies best bet.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina fair, best in early mornings at State Park jetty and North shore area. Inconsistent afternoon bite at Red Hill. Sargo biting throughout sea. Nightcrawlers and corn best bet. Tilapia small but active, biting best in late afternoon at Salt Creek and Corvina Beach. Channel catfish bite fair in All-American Canal.

LAKE CACHUMA--Catfish providing best action, averaging 8-10 pounds, biting primarily at Johnson Bay area at 45-50 feet. Mackerel best bet. More than 4,000 trout stocked recently, the result of private and Department of Fish and Game plants. Small spinners working best in mornings; most trout baits working during day.

LAKE CASITAS--Several limits of trout, coming mostly from northeast end. Spinners and cheese baits good for fish to five pounds. Catfish excellent, several limits. George Collier, Oxnard, 10 trout, 80 pounds. Deer Slope and east shore of main island suggested areas. Largemouth bass slow.

PYRAMID LAKE--Striped bass picking up, averaging between 15 and 20 pounds and biting primarily in marina and near dam. Trout stocked Monday, bite fair to good. Catfish good, best at dam and island. Bluegill excellent, 15-fish stringers common. Crappie fair. Jose Munoz, Los Angeles, two-pound crappie, caught in marina.

LAKE CASTAIC--Largemouth bass fair, best in upper lake at 30-60 feet. Gabriel Halcovich, Granada Hills, nine-pound bass, caught from shore in lower lake. Catfish slow, biting primarily in upper lake. Trout bite good, biting in both lakes. Power Bait best bet.

IRVINE LAKE--Trout opener last weekend apparently a successful one, several limits reported. biting best along west shore. Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers best baits. Suzie Martin, Lakewood, 7 1/2-pound trout. Anthony and Mike Nuzmen, Orange, 10 trout, 11 1/4 pounds. Catfish slowing down, best outside Santiago Flats. Rudy Benton, Orange, 11-pound catfish. Largemouth bass and crappie slow.

LAKE SKINNER--Largemouth bass picking up, fair throughout lake. Plastic worms and grubs working best. Tom Sullivan, Orange, 8 3/4-pound bass. Steve Pezman, Encinitas, two bass, 6 3/4 pounds. Eric Noel, El Cajon, five-pound one-ounce bass. Catfish biting throughout lake. Mackerel and shrimp. Trout picking up.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Trout stocked Monday, biting primarily in Miller Canyon. Striped bass biting mainly in channel and along shore. Steve Evans, Apple Valley, 24-pound striper. Ben Dye, Victorville, 19 1/2-pound striper. Chris Hooper, Colton, 28-pound striper. Catfish biting throughout lake, averaging about seven pounds. Frank Stunden, Rialto, 19 1/2-pound catfish. Largemouth bass fair, many more than five pounds.