The weather was all over the place this week with windy days, warm days where the crew was in flip flops and shorts and then snow over the weekend. Fishing was exceptional for most anglers when the wind wasn't blowing with fish biting just about everywhere on the lake. Best fish counts came from the Rock Slide, the Long Lake inlet and the dam. Lots of big fish in the 3 to 5 lb range are still coming out with the big fish of the week weighing in at an even 5 lbs caught by Mike Martinez from Moreno Valley on a pumpkin pepper mini-jig at Boiler Cove.

The top producing artificial lures, especially for the trophy fish, were mini-jigs with bright colors like fluorescent pink and orange working best. Natural colors like cricket or grasshopper tipped with an orange trout worm trailer is also a great tactic. The best metal lure hands down is the red/gold Thomas Bouyant in the 1/6oz size with lots of cookie-cutter 3/4lb rainbows falling for lures on a fast retrieve. Spinners like Roostertails and Panther Martins are also working well following DFG stockings.

Bait anglers are doing best on Rainbow Garlic or the fluorescent orange powerbait fished off the bottom with a 2 to 3 ft leader. Inflated crawlers or nightcrawlers fished 4ft under a bobber is also producing limits.

Trolling remains very slow...not sure why but just about everyone out there trolling is struggling.

Small boats can now safely launch at the lake but private boaters should still use caution to prevent any damage to their boat or trailer. There is a $5 voluntary launch fee to help with Alpers stocking. Due to limited available parking there is designated trailer parking at the lower lot and private boaters are required to disconnect their trailers there.

Photos:

Main Photo Above: Mike Martinez from Moreno Valley, CA with a 5lb even Alper caught using a pumpkin pepper.
Photo # 1: Max Umland from Pasadena with a 4lb 8oz 'bow caught at South Lake on corn Powerbait
Photo # 2: Ron Johnson with a solid 4lb rainbow caught on a pink mini-jig at South Lake
Photo # 3: Lee Hobson with a 3lb 1oz trout caught on a pink mini-jig at South Lake while on a guided fishing trip.
Photo # 4: Unidentified Angler with another nice catch.