It took an 18 1/2-pound rainbow to win the big fish portion of the 50/50 tournament held at Corona Lake this past Saturday. That trout was also the biggest fish of the week amid an excellent trout bite that had lots of limits of rainbows along with a steady procession of big trout.

The big trout was caught by Santiago Palacios, pictured above from West Covina, while fishing chartreuse PowerBait at the dam, but his 18 1/2-pounder was just one of a number of big rainbows caught over the week. Adrian Lecesne, Upland, landed a 16 1/2-pounder on a white trout plastic, and Bob Sawyer, Corona, landed a 16-pounder and a 13-pounder to top off a 10-trout stringer, all on PowerBait at the dam. Jeff Weaver, Riverside, had a 14 1/2-pound rainbow to top off his 26 1/2-pound limit on white mini jigs. Brian Holmes, Torrance, landed a 13 1/2-pound rainbow on small jigs off JD's Point, and David Relly, Rialto, caught a 12 1/2-pound trout on an orange Nitro Worm from his float tube.

Five-fish limits of trout averaging from one to two pounds have been the norm for both shore and boat or float tube anglers. The best shore action has continued to be from the cove behind bait shop all the way to the dam with the best action in the deeper water in this stretch. Boat and float tube anglers are getting most of their fish from the dam to the upper end of the lake along the main channel. The best action has been on floating baits or Power Mice Tails rolled in the new Hatchery Dust, scent-doused nightcrawlers, small trout jigs and trout plastics.

Heavy weekly plants of rainbows averaging around a pound are made each week, and those plants always have a hefty component of rainbows from five to eight pounds along with super trophies topping 10 pounds and going well up into the teens.

Corona Lake is open on a seven-days-a-week schedule. Fishing is 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. The 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.