Largemouth Bite Improves at Lakes in Three Counties

Although most Southland fishermen have been concentrating on trout, some are reacting to a much-improved largemouth bass bite.

Marshall Adcock of Granada Hills caught a 10 1/2- and 7 1/2-pound bass at Los Angeles County’s Castaic Lake; Hog Groshong of Oxnard landed a 9 1/2-pound bass at Ventura County’s Lake Casitas, and Dennis Foster of Rialto brought in a 7 1/2-pounder at San Bernardino County’s Silverwood Lake.

LAKE MEAD--Striped bass biting primarily in lower basin, most coming from 40 feet on anchovies. Washes and dam best areas. Catfish and largemouth bass slow.

LAKE HAVASU--Striped bass biting at 40-50 feet on anchovies. South end best area. Catfish fair in same area. Largemouth bass slow.

BULLHEAD CITY--Limits of trout on river. Stripers to five pounds biting on lake.

SALTON SEA--Orangemouth corvina hitting artificial lures at State Park area. Some fish biting at Red Hill. Sargo consistent throughout sea. Croaker bite best near Salt Creek.

LAKE CACHUMA--Trout planted Tuesday, action good on most baits. Largemouth bass fair. Catfish slow.

LAKE CASITAS--Largemouth bass picking up. Trout at 70 feet, biting best near dam. Catfish slow.

PYRAMID LAKE--A few big striped bass biting in marina and channel. Action best for bluegills and largemouth bass, mainly in coves and near docks.

LAKE PIRU--Trout still the best bet. Trollers using lead-core line of six colors with gold lures; and bait fishermen using Power Bait catching some limits. Largemouth bass fair, averaging 1 3/4 pounds, biting off rocky points near dam at 40 feet. Catfish slow.

CASTAIC LAKE--Largemouth bass biting on plastic worms at 30-60 feet. Fish between three and 10 pounds. Catfish biting, primarily in upper lake. Nick Legino, Van Nuys, 19-pound catfish, caught on nightcrawler.

IRVINE LAKE--Trout most active off West Shore, some upwards of 10 pounds. Most baits working. Catfish slowly slowing down.

PERRIS LAKE--Trout fishing best near inlet. Bass action picking up a little. Spoons and plastic worms to 40 feet working best.

LAKE SKINNER--Several limits of trout being caught after a recent plant of 2,500 pounds. Catfish fair. Largemouth bass slow.

BIG BEAR--Several limits of trout, biting all over but best at Boulder Bay. Most baits working.

LAKE SILVERWOOD--Striped bass starting to run deep, biting on surface primarily after trout plants. Some big fish taken. Largemouth bass becoming active in channel and Miller Canyon. Jeff Clements, Redlands, five-pound largemouth bass. Ken Hondingford, Ontario, three largemouth bass caught in channel. Crappie biting in marina. Catfish biting in channel and coves on bottom.