Santa Ana River Lakes Report

Santa Ana River Lakes - Santa Ana, CA (Orange County)


by Nor Cal Fish Reports
2-26-2016
Website

The month of March may provide just that opportunity... A new State Record for Rainbow Trout is likely to be caught at Santa Ana River Lakes... Will you be among the fortunate to catch some of these SUUUUPER TROOOUT?

The current Lake Record Trout, and former State Record held by Mike Lopez, weighed 28.1 pounds. The current State Record just 4 ounces heavier, was set a few years back, but that record of 28.5 pounds is likely to be shattered very soon at Santa Ana River Lakes.

Santa Ana River Lakes, often referred to as the "Big Fish Lakes" has earned a reputation for consistently producing some of the BIGGEST Trout and Catfish caught in California. Many would say, it wouldn't be a stretch to acknowledge that more big trout and catfish are caught at Santa Ana River Lakes than any other lake in the Western States, and for good reason. Santa Ana River Lakes fishermen have set six California State Records for Rainbow Trout and one State Record for Channel Catfish along with thousands of other notable Big Fish catches over the years. Recently, the Lakes stocked the largest Blue Catfish ever known to be stocked at 78 pounds. BLUEZILLA the name coined for this monster catfish, has been caught and released at least four times and is still lurking in the depths of the Lake. Even monster sturgeon, some up to 150+ pounds have been stocked and caught at Santa Ana River Lakes.

Catching big trout in the winter and big catfish in the summer are nearly daily occurrences at Santa Ana River Lakes. Huge fish are such a common occurrence, that some of the "regular" fishermen don't even stop at the tackle shop to get a photo taken, if their fish if it's not over 10 pounds. An 8 or 10-pound fish caught at some of the other lakes is usually a big deal or certainly one of the largest fish caught that season, but not at Santa Ana River Lakes.

A few years back, the Lakes held a competition to guess how many trout were stocked and caught weighing over ten pounds during only the first four months of the trout season. The answer was 642, which included Corona and Anaheim Lake the other Lakes they operate. Presently these Lakes are closed due to the drought. This means that all the big trout they contract for each season are currently going solely into Santa Ana River Lakes.

No other lake or lakes, even come close to stocking this many big fish. Nor do the other lakes stock the quantities or with the consistency as Santa Ana River Lakes does. Every week, just like clockwork, Santa Ana River Lakes is stocked with a big truckload of fish. And every week, the Lakes record and publish a Stocking Video on their website for everyone to view. www.fishinglakes.com Stocking Videos, now popular at many lakes, originally started at Santa Ana River Lakes in November of 2006. Since then, over 350 consecutive stocking videos have been uploaded to their YouTube page fishinglakesdotcom. Not a single weekly stocking has been skipped since 2006. That's called consistent stocking, and a stocking record no other lake or lakes can match.

Many people ask, why do these Lakes get all the big fish? Here's why, the Operators of Santa Ana River Lakes have been in the recreational fishing lake business for nearly 40 years, longer than anybody in this area. They opened Irvine Lake, then Santa Ana River Lakes, Anaheim Lake, and Corona Lake and were the first to bring big trout (over 10 pounds) to the Southern California area. They were really the first to develop promotional recreational fishing as we know it today in Southern California. Over these years, these Lakes have provided thousands of fishermen with the opportunity of catching big fish, right in their own backyards. In fact, typically one would have to travel to Alaska or Canada to even have the same opportunity of catching such huge fish. Many fishermen started fishing these Lakes as youngsters and developed their love and association for both fresh and saltwater fishing at these Lakes. Over the past 40 years, these Lakes have become one of, if not the biggest private purchaser of rainbow trout and catfish anywhere in the State. And because of this, the Lakes have been able to consistently contract for the largest trout and catfish available from the biggest and best fish suppliers. In fact, about 10 years ago, the Operators of the Lakes, seeing a potential shortage of available catfish for their Lakes, purchased their own catfish farm. Imperial Catfish Farm, at nearly 600 acres, is now one of the largest catfish farms in California. The Farm measures one half mile wide and 2 miles long and is one of the biggest catfish farms this side of the Mississippi. This ensures that Santa Ana River Lakes will always have a plentiful resource for quality catfish that can be grown much larger than what was typically available from regular catfish suppliers. Owning their own catfish farm and having a partnership and long term relationship with one of the biggest and most successful trout suppliers, Mt. Lassen Trout Farm, is why the Lakes get all the biggest fish. And this month is not going to be an exception for BIG TROUT. In fact, it's likely to be a RECORD BREAKER, because the BIGGEST TROUT in California could soon be caught at Santa Ana River Lakes.

Mt. Lassen Trout Farms, World Famous for producing the LARGEST TROUT around, just made available ALL of their BIGGEST MONSTER TROUT to Santa Ana River Lakes. The last time the Lakes were able to stock trout this large was over 10 years ago, back when the last State Records were broken, so this is a VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY. So rare, that an opportunity like this may never happen again due to the high costs and risks associated with growing trout this big. Mt. Lassen has told the Lakes that the average weight of these HUGE TROUT is bigger than anything the Lake has stocked before. And for Santa Ana River Lakes, THAT'S SAYING A LOT!!!

Thousands of pounds of HUGE TROUT, will be stocked twice at Santa Ana River Lakes during the month of March. Many trout are so big that the State Record (28 pounds, 5 ounces) is likely to be shattered, making the skilled angler(s) that catches the newest Trout Record(s), someone that will hold this honor for a long, long time.

To celebrate this special opportunity, Santa Ana River Lakes, sponsored by Berkley Fishing will be holding two RECORD TROUT TOURNAMENTS. The first Event will be Saturday, March the 12th and the second Event will be Saturday, March 26th, 2016.

These MONSTER trout will be stocked on the Thursdays before the Events and the Lake will be closed all day each Thursday, to give the trout one full day and night to acclimate and spread out across the Lake, giving everyone an equal opportunity to catch some SUUUUPER TROOOUT!!

There is no increase in the regular admission fee to have the opportunity of catching these remarkably HUGE Trout. If you wish to participate in the Tournament, the Buy-In for each Event is only $20, and will get you into the Big Fish Contest and the Blind Bogie. Plus, there is a FREE Raffle, sponsored by Berkley, for thousands of dollars in great Berkley Products.

For more information, and other IMPORTANT details in the month of March...

DID SOMEONE SAY BIG CASH REWARD??

Visit Santa Ana River Lakes in person



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