Trout fishing was beyond exceptional at Santa Ana River Lakes over the weekend. The reopening of this popular Orange County fishery was beyond all anglers' expectations after three huge trout plants that included incredible volume and more big rainbows than have been planted in a number of years. Anglers also lauded the quality of the full-tailed, brightly-colored trout.

"Some people said it was the best trout fishing they've ever had in their lives," said Craig Elliott at SARL. "People were buying double and triple passes. Everyone just had huge smiles on their faces, and there were more big fish than I've seen in a long time -- probably ever."

The biggest fish reported over the opening weekend was a 15-pound rainbow landed by Vo Chau, Anaheim, on green dough bait from Chris' Pond. But that was just one of over a dozen 10-pound or better class fish reported on Friday through Sunday.

Elliott said that only about 40 percent of the anglers catching big fish bothered to go up to the tackle shop to weigh and report fish because everyone carries hand digital scales these days.

Steve Zookzwad, Baldwin Park, landed a 12-pound, five-ounce on rainbow PowerBait at the pumphouse, and Joe Fernandez, Placentia, landed a 12-pounder to top off his four-fish 36-pound stringer, also caught on PowerBait at the Pumphouse.

Eric Mossman, Pete Guerrero, and Glen Matsushita, all Carson, weighed in their six best trout for 52 pounds total, including one at 11 1/2-pounder by Mossman. All were caught on mini jigs at the Bubble Hole from a boat. Craig Adkinson, Bob Barr, and Ben Hinojosa, all Orange, weighed in their top five trout for a 35-pound total, and the best fish was Adkinson's 11-pounder. All five were taken on Trout Kings and Lip RipperZ baits.

Another 11-pounder was landed by Israel Carranza, Cerritos, fishing a hatchery pellet and a nightcrawler from the shore near the pumphouse, and that fish was matched by yet another 11-pounder caught by Oscar Laloca, Chino, to top off his five-fish, 17 1/2-pound stringer caught on PowerBait.

One of the most impressive stringers of the weekend was a 35-fish catch weighed in by Michael Godinho, Blake Brewart, and Tim Kruse, of Ontario and Upland. The stringer was 75 1/2 pounds and the big fish was an 8 3/4-pounder. The trio was fishing near the Bubble Hole from shore and from float tubes and they were hurling both Kastmasters and corn PowerBait. The 10-fish, 50-pound catch by Adrian Contreras, Clint Jerome, and Justin Beitler, all Riverside, was as impressive. The trio's big trout was an 8 1/2-pounder, and they were all caught on Pewee Worms.


The action was good all around the big lake and Chris' Pond with the new water circulation system working exceptionally well and the fish well distributed throughout both of the lakes. The bite was good for shore, float tube, and boat anglers and there were no real hot spots.

The fishing should stay this hot through the rest of December and into early January. There will again be huge plants each of the coming three weeks, with bonus plants of three to eight pound "teenage" rainbows along with some of the super trophies - those double digit rainbows up to 20 pounds -- on the Fridays before Christmas and New Year's day. This week's Thursday plant will also have tons of one-pounder and some of those teenage trout and a few trophies.