Most trout stringers have trout in eight-pound class in excellent Santa Ana River Lakes bite

Many anglers have posted five-fish trout limits at Santa Ana River Lakes over the past week, and it seems like everyone is going home with at least one rainbow in the eight-pound range.

While the biggest trout reported was a 10-pounder caught by Keith Barron of Whittier as part of the three-fish 15-pound stringer, six to nine-pound rainbows have been common with at least 30 fish that size weighed at the tackle shop.

Scott Lee, Garden Grove, had four rainbows weighing 27-pounds, eight-ounces, including a 9-8 trout, while Brian Carlson, Mira Loma, caught a nine-pounder to top off his 22 1/2-pound three-fish stringer. Roland Cortez, Carson, landed a nine-pounder. Santiago Palacios, La Puente, caught five trout that weighed 20 pounds total and his big fish was an eight pounder, and Rcardo Zepeda, Santa And, landed two rainbows at eight and 6 1/2 pounds.

The best action has been on the floating baits and nightcrawlers fishing at the Bubble Hole, off the sandy beach, and Levitz' Corner. Small jigs and plastics have also been good bets, with Lip RipperZ the hot lures. Trollers working mid-lake have also been scoring.

Two big events are coming up next week. First, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, SARL will be stocked with the largest Nebraska Tailwalkers the Chaulk Mound Trout Farm has to offer. This will be followed with a special $20 buy-in trout derby on Saturday, Dec. 20. The entry fee is in addition to the usual lake entrance, but all derby entry money will be awarded to the anglers catching the five biggest trout caught that day. The biggest fish will win half the derby money, the second biggest will get 20 percent, the third biggest 15 percent, the fourth biggest will win 10 percent, and the fifth largest trout will get five percent.

Two big events are coming up next week. First, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, SARL will be stocked with the largest Nebraska Tailwalkers the Chaulk Mound Trout Farm has to offer. This will be followed with a special $20 buy-in trout derby on Saturday, Dec. 20. The entry fee is in addition to the usual lake entrance, but all derby entry money will be awarded to the anglers catching the five biggest trout caught that day. The biggest fish will win half the derby money, the second biggest will get 20 percent, the third biggest 15 percent, the fourth biggest will win 10 percent, and the fifth largest trout will get five percent.

Santa Ana River Lakes is open seven days a week with fishing allowed from 6 a..m. to 4 p.m. on day passes or from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on an evening pass. Each of these passes are $22. Seniors only pay $20, with a special $17 pass sold on Wednesdays. All of these passes have a five-fish limit. For kids 4 to 13, a three-fish pass is just $9. The once-monthly 24-hour passes remain just $60 with the next 24-hour fishing set for Dec. 12-13. These passes have a 15-fish limit. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.