Trout at 18 1/2 and 21 pounds pace hot bite at Santa Ana River Lakes

In a preview of the action likely to take place over two big special-event, trophy-trout weekends this spring, Santa Ana River Lakes cranked out rainbow trout at 18 1/2 and 21 pounds over the past week.

The 21-pounder was caught by John Nixon of Carson while fishing with chartreuse Nitro Bait at Levitz' Corner this past Saturday, while George Perez of Paramount topped off his 30-pound, three-fish stringer with an 18 1/2-pound rainbow, also while fishing at Levitz' Corner. Perez other two trout averaged nearly six pounds each, and many of the limits posted had at least one trout in the five- to seven-pound range.

Steve Valle, Walnut, had an eight-pound rainbow to top off his three-fish catch that weighed 13-2, while Keith Young, Arcadia, landed a seven-pounder. Other seven-pound rainbows were caught by Scott Nakata, Garden Grove, and Daniel Fernandez, Carson. Jerry Olalde, Placentia, had a 17-pound, five-fish limit and his best fish was a five-pounder

The rainbows are showing all over the big lake and Chris' Pond with the floating dough baits catching the most fish, but inflated nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, and Lip RipperZ plastics have also been productive.

While the trout bite is excellent, the fishing focus will shift away from the rainbows a little with a special, early-season stocking of trophy class channel and blue catfish this week for the monthly 24-hour fishing this Friday and Saturday nights. Most of these trophy cats will top the six-pound class and many will go up into the 'teens. This catfish event is just the first of a whole series of special plants and events over the next 30 days.

The two big rainbows caught this past week are just a hint of what will take place when the largest rainbow trout planted in Southern California since 2005 are going to be planted in Santa Ana River Lakes, and its sister Riverside County water, Corona Lake, for two trophy trout fishing weekends. Huge, 20 to 30-pound class rainbows from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms will be planted just before the first big four-day fishing blowout set for March 19-22 and the bruisers will go in again for another four-day bash on April 2-5. Sandwiched between these two trophy trout events is another special event -- Angler Appreciation Day. This is a special two-for-one event sponsored by Eagle Claw on Saturday, April 18. With each purchase of a full-price lake admission, your wife or fishing buddy gets in free. Or maybe you can get your fishing buddy to buy.

Santa Ana River Lakes is normally 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 is $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. These passes have a 15-fish limit. This month's 24-hour fishing days will be March 13 and 14, and don't forget the special bonus planting of trophy catfish for this weekend. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com