Corona Lake still producing a lot of rainbows, catfish season begins
Corona Lake's trout bite has continued good to excellent after last week's plant of Sierra Bows from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms, but catfish season kicks off this week with the first major plant of cats going in this week.

The best trout action has been on floating baits fished in deeper water near the dam as the rainbows seek out the coolest water. Top trout reported this past week was an 8 1/2-pounder landed by Brian Grant, Riverside, to top off his five-fish, 14-4 stringer while fishing floating bait at the dam. Jeff Anderson, Victorville, landed an 8-4 rainbow on a Roostertail near the dam fishing from shore, while Tim Rogers, Covina, landed a limit of rainbows that weighed 18 pounds and included a seven-pounder while fishing lures at the dam.

The catfish bite has already been pretty good for anglers targeting the cats, and sturgeon have been a bonus catch for anglers fishing the cut baits and nightcrawlers normally used for the channels. Dave Beaver, Anaheim, landed a 22 1/2-pound sturgeon at the back of the lake fishing a jig.

Corona Lake is open seven days a week with fishing 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 $22. Seniors pay only $20, with a special $17 pass sold on Wednesdays. All of these passes have a five-fish limit. For kids 4 to 13, a three-fish pass is just $9. The 24-hour passes now sold every Friday and Saturday through the summer. They cost just $60, and anglers can bring a spouse and up to three kids to help fill the 24-hour pass 15-fish limit. Camping at Corona Lake is also free with a 24-hour pass. For Corona Lake fishing information, call 951-277-4489 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com