You know, in the summers Puddingstone, which is only 12 miles east of Santa Fe on the 10 freeway in San Dimas, can be pretty reliable. I've seen lots of cats brought up out of there using a variety of methods. A good place to try is by the boat rental. The guys working there will usually let you fish off the dock (heck they do it themselves!) but anywhere around there also works. Of course, evening is the time to go. Once a month they'll bust a midnight madness fishing deal where you can camp on the shoreline for just entry fee and fish all night. Never camped but did fish nights, and it was pretty fun.

Threaded nightcrawlers consistently banged 'em over there. A few years ago, one guy was trolling rapalas for trout & nailed a 17 pound whiskerfish. They're in there, somewhere.

It's a decent place to take kids who are starting. They have a thriving bluegill population with some decent redear as well.

If you hit it up, post so I can keep up with the So Cal scene.