SILVERWOOD: The heat slowed the striper and trout bites this past week, but the catfish bite has stayed fair to good with the best bite off the dam and in most of the deeper coves and bays on chicken liver, sardines, lug worms, and nightcrawlers with fish running from 3 to 8 pounds. The striper bite is still fair for anglers trolling white flies or cut baits like sardines, blood worms, or lug worms, in the bigger coves and main lake points. Alex Hernandez, Long Beach, had a pair of stripers and his best was 8 pounds, both caught on sardines. The trout bite remains fair on small trout plastics, small jigs, or PowerBait in Cleghorn and Miller canyons, through the main channel, and even at the dam. The fish are just in deeper water, and trolling will probably replace shore fishing for the rainbows in the coming weeks. Marcus Blake, Pomona, had a limit of rainbows to two pounds trolling a small fly on lead core line. The bluegill and largemouth bass bites have all been pretty fair as the lake warms. Bass are still schooling and chasing bait in less than 15 feet of water and drop-shot plastics are best. William Cramsey, Apple Valley, had four bass to 3 pounds, all on nightcrawlers in Miller Canyon. Bluegill have moved shallow and are mostly showing in less than 10 feet of water. Anglers should be aware of health warnings for the consumption of fish from this lake because of high PCB and mercury levels in the fish flesh and skin. Here’s the direct link to a PDF brochure explaining consumption recommendations: oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/pdf_zip/081013KioskadvySilverwood.pdf. Dock fishing is allowed for $3 for adults, $2 for kids and seniors. Private boats must be inspected for zebra and quagga mussels. Boats with wet lower units will be turned away. Boats inspected and tagged at Diamond Valley and Perris will be allowed at Silverwood. The park is open seven days a week. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: There has been a steady parade of big trout planted for the Western Oudoor News tournament two weeks ago (with very few caught during the event). The biggest fish was a 15 1/2-pounder landed by Christopher Vournas, 15, Huntington Beach, while fishing with Mike and Trish Marzell of Luck Bear Charters. Collin Crilly, 11, Temecula, landed a 15-6 rainbow, while Donald Junger, Las Vegas, landed a 12-10 rainbow. Both of these trout were caught while fishing with Curt Dills of Fish Big Bear Charter Service. Shoreline trout anglers are seeing good action from Old Grays Landing to the dam. Garlic-flavored PowerBait fished on the bottom with a Carolina Rig and a two to three-foot fluorocarbon leader of not more than 4-pound test is best. Trollers are continuing their circuits around Trout Alley and the mouths of Boulder and Metcalf bays. A slow troll at .5 to 1.5 mph and depths of 12 to 22 feet (three to five colors on leadcore) is the most consistent way of putting fish on the boat. Top lures are Needlefish and Thomas Bouyants in copper/red and color patterns. But Rapalas in Blue/Silver and Gold/Black are also doing well. DFW trout plant slated for this week. Bass are fair on plastics in around rock structure near the dam and in Boulder and Metcalf bays. Some panfish are also finally starting to show around the docks in shallower water, most on wax worms or small jigs. For updated fishing information: Big Bear Sporting Goods at 909-866-3222 or visit the store’s Facebook page.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: The trout bite has been fair to good with a few five-fish limits and some nice quality fish in the mix. Mot recent plant was 800 pounds of Jess Ranch rainbows on June 16. The best action has been along the south side of the lake on PowerBait (chartreuse), but some on nightcrawlers, small trout jigs, and trout spoons. Top fish reported this past week was a 7-2 rainbow landed by Kerwyn Thomas, Green Valley, while Ryan Yamaguchi, Diamond Bar, landed a 5-10. Frank Gray, La Verne, landed a 5-5. The crappie bite is very good, but the fish are small. Anglers get a raffle ticket or a Bass Pro gift card each time they bring in 15 to 25 crappie. Fishing fees are $15 per adult, $10 for kids. Information: 909-867-2009 and the website, with an in-depth fishing report, is gvlfishing.com.
JENKS LAKE REGION: DFW trout plant four weeks ago. The Santa Ana River and the South Fork of the Santa Ana River are slated to get trout this week and they were both planted three weeks ago.