BY MIKE STEVENS
MOUNTAIN CENTER— Trout anglers have been killing it at Lake Hemet after a hefty delivery of Mount Lassens on January 30. That new batch of fish circulated quickly, and the bite remains productive at a fishery known for sustained bites well after stock day.
Specifically, a total of 4,000 pounds of trout went in to seriously beef up a bite that was already pretty solid. A total of 900 pounds of that load were lightning trout (the lake’s largest lightning trout plant ever) and 3,100 pounds of rainbows, and a good portion of those were trophy size.
“Lake Hemet was unreal last stock,” said Jackson Norris. “Both me and my pops landed toad lightings. Mine went 8.6 and my dad’s went 7.7, and both on Get Bent Baits in Mac-n-Cheese color.”
That minijig bite was hot right off the bat and throughout that first week of February (that’s pretty standard up there), but it’s starting to predictably evolve into a steady pick for floating bait dunkers sending out PowerBait, Mice Tails, trout worms and inflated nightcrawlers. That being said, it’s still a good idea to keep minjigs at the ready in the event schools of trout are spotted within casting range.
Similar stocking is set to go down prior to the WON Big Trout Campout at Lake Hemet April 27-28. That 2-day trout derby will including thousands of dollars in cash and prizes awarded each day, and there is a Marlon welded utility boat with a Suzuki outboard up for grabs as a raffle prize. For more info and to register online, click HERE.
