Outdoors : Puddingstone Reservoir Is Still Loaded With Trout

Trout fishermen may find the fish bigger than usual in Los Angeles County’s Puddingstone Reservoir, where there remains a surplus of big fish left from a plant by a private hatchery for the Big Fish Trout Derby last Saturday.

Ronnie Meissner of San Dimas won the tournament with a 6 1/2-pound trout, and according to tournament chairman Ron Lindblom, “the place will be loaded for a couple of weeks.”

LAKE MEAD--Fishing generally slow. Some striped bass activity in lower basin on anchovies.

LAKE HAVASU--Striped bass providing most action, biting in scattered locations in deep water. Spoons, frozen anchovies and live shad all working. Largemouth bass and catfish slow.

BULLHEAD CITY--Striped bass still best off Davis Dam, most taken on anchovies. Trout fair in river, most pan-sized. Crappie fairly active in Topock Marsh.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina most active off North Shore Jetty, starting to bite on artificials but best on live shad. Croaker fair in Niland area.

LAKE CACHUMA--Two trout plants last Thursday. Best from marina to launching area for shore fishermen. Raymond Cabun, Pacoima, 3 1/4-pound trout. Boat fishermen doing best near Little Cachuma, Bobcat and Johnson’s coves. Largemouth bass picking up, biting along rocky cliffs. Jerry McCall, Santa Ana, 6 1/2-pound bass. Some moving into water in Santa Cruz Bay. Water between 50 and 54 degrees. New hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

LAKE CASITAS--Trout providing most action. Trollers using three colors rainbow trout or frog-colored needlefish lures catching most limits. Catfish at 25 feet biting on mackerel. Largemouth bass spotty.

PYRAMID LAKE--Trout planted Tuesday but striped bass slow to react to their favorite food. Trout biting in Serrano Cove. Largemouth bass active in Brazo’s and Lost Mine cove. Most undersized. Catfish best in channel and Bear Trap Cove.

LAKE PIRU--Trout fishing good. Trollers using four-five colors and frog or shad needlefish lures. Bait fishermen using Velveeta cheese toward dam on west side and San Felicia Cove. Largemouth bass becoming more active, most under three pounds. Nightcrawlers best bet. Catfish slow.

CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass still active, biting primarily in upper lake. Gary Harrison, Castaic, 10 1/4-pound bass, caught on crawfish. John Conrad, Simi Valley, five bass, largest 11 1/4 pounds. Trout fair in both lakes. Bob Morrillo, Canyon Country, two trout, largest 2 3/4-pounds. Catfish slow.

IRVINE LAKE--Trout most active, biting on most baits along west shore and Sierra Cove. Paul Mintzer, Anaheim, seven-pound trout. Mike Winter, Norwalk, six-pound trout. Jim Chapman, Gouda (Holland), five trout, 6 3/4 pounds. Largemouth bass picking up, primarily near floating docks in Sierra Cove and Rocky Point. Craig Yoneda, Anaheim, 3 1/4-pound bass. Catfish biting off Rocky Point. Rudy Benton, Orange, five catfish, 26 pounds.

PUDDINGSTONE RESERVOIR--Lots of large trout left over from plant by private hatchery for the Feb. 17 Big Fish Trout Derby. Crappie jigs working throughout reservoir. Thomas Cheng, Brea, 3 1/2-pound trout. Tim Rask, San Dimas, three-pound trout. Largemouth bass biting at 30 feet near clam beds. Fish from two to four pounds. Water temperature 50 degrees. Plastic worms best bet.