Memorial Day Weekend Fishing
By Gordon McHenry
If you love to fish Lake Arrowhead with your family and friends and you enjoy a little friendly fishing competition, you'll want to sign up for the 16th Annual ALA Fishing Tournament that's set for Saturday, May 27.
Sponsored by the Arrowhead Lake Association, the UCLA Conference Center, The Mountain News and the Lake Arrowhead Yacht Club, the tournament begins at 5:30 a.m. at the yacht club and should conclude around noon after a great UCLA BBQ lunch.
The annual tournament has always enjoyed a good turnout, especially when it has been held over Memorial Day weekend as it will be this year. While the $1,000 in prizes always sounds nice, it's the big “braggin' rights” trophy that turns out to be the real prize that many anglers covet.
Anglers can fish in two categories: trout or bass. Trout anglers fish for the heaviest five-fish limit. Bass are catch-and-release only, so bass anglers will need a full functioning live well to keep their five heaviest fish healthy.
While the bass anglers usually have things pretty well wired with the smallies, they shouldn't forget the largemouth bass bite. A kicker largemouth can turn things around pretty fast!
Trout anglers need to remember that anglers pulling Rapala lures have a very impressive win record over the years at Big Bear's May Trout Classic. I'd be trolling #5 and #7 Shad Raps along with some original Rapala's. Go a little heavier on your equipment. Even before the latest stocking, there were some BIG trout in Lake Arrowhead!
If you register before tournament day, tickets are only $50 per team. Kids under 14 are $15. Tickets include a derby hat, bait, lures, snacks, a prize drawing ticket and lunch. Anglers will also have the opportunity to lay claim to the big Arrowhead Tournament trophy! Call (909) 337-2595 for more info.
Green Valley Lake anglers enjoyed a great bite opening weekend after a big Mt. Lassen trout stocking. Limits of beautiful 2- to 3-pounders were common and several lunkers in the 5- to 10-pound range were caught on Power Trout Worms and jigs.
Pete Vermillion, Crestline, caught a beautiful 2-1/2 pound trout on a jig out of Lake Gregory this past week. Anglers were catching limits on floating Power Eggs and rainbow Power Bait. Check this week's paper for more info on our June kids derby at Gregory! Good fishing.
For more fishing info, check out Gordon's CAFishingShow.com website
