The trout season kicks off at Corona Lake this Saturday, Oct. 27, after three massive plants of three types of trout. First, the trophy fish will be big, hooked-jawed male Sierra Bows topping the five-pound marks. Second, Lightning Trout will be planted for the first time for a trout opener in Southern California. Third, the volume of those popular, pink-meated Sierra Bows planted will be staggering this opener. The lake will be closed this week from Tuesday through Friday for the plants and to allow the fish to get acclimated, but it will reopen for fishing Saturday morning.

Lake owners Doug Elliott and Bill Andrews are excited about this year's trout season. Andrews said "we're going back to the big ol' days." Corona Lake will be stocking the biggest trout available every week. The huge, trophy rainbows will be a component of every plant this season. There will be more of the biggest trout planted than have gone in during recent trout seasons, and rainbows topping 10 pounds are likely to be caught every day of the season this fall and winter.

While the focus will shift to trout this week, the catfish bite has remained excellent, in spite of light fishing pressure. The weekly catfish plants have keep the lake filled with catfish that average about two pounds, but quality fish are landed every week, and the tilapia bite has been good during the warm days. Santiago Palacios, West Covina, had 22 catfish on a day and 24-hour fishing pass and the total stringer weight was 74 pounds, including a 7 1/2-pounder. All were caught on shrimp from shore. The biggest catfish was a 9 1/2-pounder landed by Eric Fennell, Compton, to top off his 35-pound, 15-fish stringer on mackerel, also from shore. Hoa and Tran Nguyen, Corona, had nine cats for 27 pounds, including a 7 1/4-pounder fishing chicken liver at the dam, while Jim Davis, Murrieta, landed a seven-pounder. Russell Montgomery, Rancho Cucamonga, had five cats for 11 1/2-pounds, including a 6 1/2-pounder.

The best tilapia this week was a huge 4 1/2-pounder landed as part of a three-fish, six-pound catch made by Rosa Ramirez and Eduardo Carrillo, both La Puente, on nightcrawlers. Robbie Thomas, 15, Moreno Valley, had two tilapia, both at 2 1/2 pounds on nightcrawlers.

Corona Lake 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 is $25. Seniors pay only $23, with a $20 special on Wednesdays. All of these passes have a five-fish limit. For kids 4 to 13, a three-fish pass is just $12. With the shift to trout season, 24-hour passes are only sold the weekend nearest the full moon. The 24-hour passes cost $75 and have a 15 fish limit. An angler can bring his wife and up to three kids 17 and under and all can help fill the 15-fish limit on one of these passes, and camping is free at Corona with a 24-hour pass.