Santee Lakes Fishing Report: Can You Beat the 13 lb. 8 oz. Lake Record Bass?

By Greg Even, Santee Lakes

WEEK OF: March 18, 2013

BASS:

The Bass bite continues to be good especially in the AM hours. Lake 5 has been the hot spot however all lakes are producing. Reminder ALL Bass are catch and release. Lake record is 13 lbs. 8 oz.

Michael Martinez age 14 from Santee landed a nice 7 lb. Bass out of lake 5 on a nightcrawler.

Billy Boucher reeled in a 6 lb. 8 oz. Bass also from lake 5 on nightcrawler.

Cameron Walton age 13 from Chula Vista caught a 2 lb. 4 oz. Bass from lake 7 on a kastmaster.

Lakes 6 and 7 are reserved for campers only.

TROUT:

One week left to catch a 5 lb. or larger Trout and get entered into the April 1^st drawing for a flat screen TV. A total of 13,500 lbs. of Rainbow Trout was stocked this Season.  Fish lakes 2, 3 or 4 in the day park or if camping lakes 6 and 7 also received stocks of Trout.

CATFISH:

Opening Weekend scheduled for April 6^th and 7^th. 2,000 lbs. of Catfish will be stocked including HUGE Cats and tagged Catfish worth cash and prizes! Gates open at 6:00 am.

Recipe of the Week: 

Pete’s Catfish 

Ingredients

• 6 large catfish fillets
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 quarts peanut oil

Directions

Put the catfish a shallow pan and cover with water. Add a tablespoon of the salt, cover with plastic wrap and soak overnight in the refrigerator.

Mix the cornmeal, flour, the remaining1 teaspoon salt and the black pepper in a plastic bag. Drain the water from the catfish and transfer the fillets one at a time to the bag with the cornmeal. Shake the bag to coat the fish and place on a sheet tray or platter.

Heat the oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 300 degrees F.

Drop a few fillets into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd. Cook the fish until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove the pieces with a slotted spoon and keep warm in an oven while frying the remaining pieces

NEXT STOCK

(stock will arrive on or before date below)

April 6^th and 7^th

Catfish Opening Weekend

2,000 lbs.

Night Fishing (registered campers only, lakes 6 & 7)

Fishing Permit Fees

Adult (ages 16 and over) $9.00 per day

Junior (ages 7 to 15) $6.00 per day

Second fishing pole stamp $4.00

*One child under 7 may fish for free with a paid adult

** No California State Fishing License required to fish at Padre Dam’s Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve.