Special events coming up at SARL and Corona Lake

Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake will have a succession of special fishing events in March and April.

First, both complexes will be planted with the popular, hard-fighting steelhead rainbows March 12, 19, and 26. These fish are coming right on the heels of the Lightning Trout plants which just ended at The Lakes, according to Craig Elliott, head of marketing for The Lakes.

"Our anglers really like these pink-meated steelhead because they fight so hard," said Elliott. "They are really known as jumpers."

In the middle of the steelhead stocking program, there will be three night fishing days and bonus catfish plants for Easter weekend. Anglers will be able to fish on 24-hour passes Thursday, March. 20, Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22. And the lakes will be open all day Easter Sunday, March 23.

Then from March 27 through April 19, there will be the Tagged Trout Poker Tournament.

"This is something I've always wanted to do," said Elliott. "We're going to plant hundreds of tagged trout and each tag will be worth a card value -- from two to ace."

There will be daily winners -- $55 worth of Eagle Claw fishing tackle -- for the angler who catches the best poker "hand." Then on Sunday April 20, there will be a drawing for cash prizes worth $50, $100, $200 and $500 among all anglers who caught tagged trout and won the daily high hand. This gives those daily winners high odds of winning some big cash. In addition, the angler who caught the highest daily "hand" in the overall tournament will win $1,000 CASH. Cash prizes will be awarded at both Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake.

And anglers are reminded there's still an Eagle Claw bounty for the capture of one of those two 30-pound class rainbows swimming in Santa Ana. If you catch a trout bigger than the state record (28.1 pounds) on Nitro Bait or Nitro Bait scent additives, you will win $500. If you use an Eagle Claw hook, it will be worth another $500.