The bass fishery in this striper lake is fair to good. The DFG is still working on the idea of doing a habitat project on Skinner. If it happens, it should markedly benefit the bass population. Because body contact is not allowed at Lake Skinner and boat motors are restricted, it remains a fine place for a true fishing experience.

Lake Perris looks to be about the same as in the past -- and that's not bad. "Perris is Perris; it doesn't change a whole lot," said Giusti. "We changed the limit from the 15-inch, two-fish limit that had been in place, to a 12-inch, five-fish limit. We don't have a lot of data yet on how the bass fishery may be affected." As Giusti noted, the overall bass population is unchanged from last year. His records show that about 40 percent of the fish are over 15 inches.

Noted for winter catches of really big bass, last year Perris didn't produce many monsters, but that may be because of the mild winter. If we get cloudy, dark days, we could see some very big fish from Perris this spring. This is an ideal place to employ big swimbaits and giant plugs that mimic a hatchery trout during the cold, overcast days of spring

A lake that may be on the verge of making a comeback is Lake Elsinore, Southern California's largest natural lake. For decades Elsinore has not been much more than a mud hole for water-skiers. In the last couple of years, a concerted effort by the local watershed agency and the City of Elsinore has started taking steps to improve the fishery. More water is being pumped into the lake, and an aeration system was installed. Over a million pounds of carp have been seined from Elsinore, and last summer, 4,500 hybrid bass called wipers were stocked in the lake as first step in thinning the threadfin shad population. Wipers, sterile crosses between striped and white bass, are known as excellent sport fish that should improve the overall situation for building a new bass population. Stay tuned for developments here.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY
The San Diego City Lakes, which are spread throughout San Diego County, suffered the ravages of the fire season in 2004, and also lost their long time biologist, Larry Bottroff, to retirement in late 2004. According to Joe Weber, Recreation Manager for the City Lakes, Bottroff's position will be filled with another biologist, but he admitted the new person will also have to deal with a number of other duties. The impact on the fishery program will probably not be known for several years.

"Water levels vary from lake to lake," Weber said. "Otay Lake is usually best for water and San Vicente is pretty good. In the northern part of the county, Lake Hodges and Lake Sutherland have very low water levels. Hodges is pretty much out of action as far as boat launching goes." He did note, however, that the city plans to begin purchasing water for Hodges.

"We are building a reservoir above Hodges for emergency storage," Weber said. "We have a pipeline from Hodges to the new site. We don't have direct line to Hodges right now, but the new reservoir will be on a pipeline which will allow water to be brought in from other areas. That means we can also get water into Hodges when necessary. The pump station and pipeline will be in place in 2008." The new reservoir, which has not yet been named, will be closed to the public.

"Our smaller lakes, Murray and Miramar, are good. El Capitan is OK right now, but it might have to close for low water by late spring. Barrett Lake is fairly low, but that seems to be its normal condition."