DIAMOND VALLEY: The first trout plant of the season went in last week and the trout bite was excellent over the weekend, with a lot of limits and trout to five-plus pounds reported. Small jigs, trout plastics, and PowerBait have all been getting the rainbows. Justin Susana, Menifee, landed a 10-pound rainbow. The striped bass bite continues to improve for anglers trolling flies or other shad-like lures and casting trout-like swimbaits now that trout have been planted. The stripers have been showing at the inlet-outlet tower, around the marina, and along the west dam. The marina will be giving away a free annual pass for the biggest striped bass weighed in at the marina in November. The leader in this little competition is now an 18.20-pound fish caught this week by Gabriel Hoguin, Hemet, on a LunkerPlunker. The bluegill and largemouth bites are both fair, but slowing. The largemouth bass are steady still showing cranks and swimbaits morings, but on drop-shot plastics in deeper water the rest of the day. While most are smaller right now, a few fish have been up into the five and six-pound range. The bluegill are running up to a pound, and they have been best on wax worms, meal worms, red worms, and other small baits. The top spots have been the ladders on the dams for boat anglers and the second cove to the right of the marina for shore anglers. The catfish bite is slow with little pressures. Best bite on nightcrawlers, anchovies, and mackerel along the dam and in most coves. Private boats must be inspected to be quagga mussel-free and boats certified at Lake Perris and Lake Skinner will be accepted here. For general lake and launch information, call 800-590-LAKE. For fishing and boat rental info call the marina at 951-926-7201 or www.dvmarina.com or Last Chance Bait and Tackle at 951-658-7410 or www.lastchancetackle.com.
PERRIS: The bass and bluegill action has been fair to good over the past week. The bluegill – and a few redear mixed in – are good off the marina docks, the tire reef, and the backside of the island, and some better quality fish have been reported. Sonny de la Torre, Perris, landed a 2.25-pound bluegill on meal worms fished on a micro jig off the docks. The bass are showing off the dam and the back of the island in 10 to 18 feet of water on nightcrawlers on plastics. Javier Cruz, Hemet, landed a three-pound bass on an inflated nightcrawler off the island. No catfish, carp, or striper reports this week, and there is no word on when trout plants will start from DFW. The reconstruction of the Lake Perris dam is ongoing and scheduled to be done by early next year. During the process, the entire dam and Bernasconi Beach side of the lake, including the Bernasconi Beach parking area, will be closed to public access. (The closure includes the bicycle trail on the east side of the lake.) The recreation area remains open, including access for fishing, boating, camping, and hiking. The west side of the lake will remain open. Private boats must be inspected for zebra and quagga mussels. Boats with wet lower units will be turned away. Boats inspected and tagged at Silverwood or Diamond Valley will also be allowed at Perris. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The first trout plant of the season was Nov. 8 and the next plant was slated for this week. The bite for the rainbows has been slow, but should perk around the marina after the plant. The striper bite surged over the past week with good action early and late in the day at the dam and inlet area on both cut baits and some on topwater during boils. Dustin Rivers, Lake Elsinore, had a five-pound striper on a bluegill-like crankbait, while Kyle Somme Rivers, Murrieta, had four stripers to 5.6 pounds off the south shore on nightcrawlers. The catfish are still fair but off from their hot pace of the past few weeks. The top areas are still at the dam/inlet area, Catfish Alley, and around both launch ramps. Best baits continue to be cut baits (chicken liver, sardines, anchovies). Kimmy Santiago, Murrieta, had a nine-pound cat on chicken liver at the dam. The largemouth bite slowed with only a few fish on plastics and nightcrawler around Ramp No. 1 and along the north shore. The bluegill bite is slow. Information: store 951-926-1505, marina 951-926-8515, entrance kiosk 951-926-1541.
FISHERMAN’S RETREAT: First trout plant of the season was two weeks ago, but some fish are still showing. Information: 909-795-0171 or on Facebook.