The catfish bite at Corona Lake has continued to be good to excellent with a lot of nice stringers and quality fish still a significant component of the catches made in by early morning, evening, and at night.

A nine-pounder was the top catfish landed this past week by Jose Mancia, Los Angeles, as part of a five-fish, 17 1/2-pound stringer caught on shrimp fishing from a boat. Jose and Geovanni Marquez, both Riverside, had stringers at 23 1/2 and 28 pounds, respectively, and the biggest cat they landed a seven pounder. They were fishing mackerel and shrimp from a boat. A five-pound catfish topped off an 11-fish, 34  ?-pound stringer caught by Dave Berry, Lakeland Village, on Whoopass Catfish Bait from shore, and Victor and Brian Lopez, both East Los Angeles, had 15 catfish with a five-pounder the top fish on their stringer caught off J.D.'s Point on shrimp. Christopher Taulbee, Azusa, landed 15 catfish for a 29-pound total on shrimp and mackerel on a 24-hour pass.

The mid-day bite has been tough, but the night and low-light action has been very good. Shrimp, mackerel, the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo, and nightcrawlers with Eagle Claw Gravy or Lip Ripperz Love Sauce scents have been the best baits. Hot spots have been the deeper water off the dam, J.D.'s Point and the back end for boat anglers.

There have been a few bass, bluegill, and crappie caught this past week by anglers targeting the lake's resident population of fish.

Catfish and tilapia plants go in at least twice a week, including both blue and channel catfish. In August, Corona Lake staff is giving away free fishing passes each time you rent a boat and motor.

Corona Lake is have five "Biggest Catfish" derbies every weekend. Entry fee is $5 for any of the five permit time frames -- from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday evening, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday evening. (There will be no derbies for the mid-day special at noon or the 24-hour fishing pass holders.) All of the derbies feature a 100 percent payout of the whole pot to the angler catching the biggest catfish. If 20 anglers enter at $5 each, the biggest catfish caught among those 20 anglers wins that angler the whole $100 pot.

Private boats, kayaks, and float tubes are allowed at Corona Lake, but they will be inspected for traces of water or evidence of quagga mussel contamination before being allowed on the water.

NOTICE: There is road construction ongoing through the end of September at the Interstate 15 Indian Truck Trail off-ramp that leads to Corona Lake. This offramp is closed, but the lake is open during this construction. To detour around the construction, you need to exit from different off-ramps. If you are coming from the south on I-15, from the Elsinore or Murrieta area, exit on Lake Street and follow Temescal Canyon Road north to the lake entrance. If you are coming from the north, from the Corona or Riverside areas, exit the freeway at Temescal Canyon Road and follow the road south to the Lake entrance.