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Fishing Report by Jim Matthews
HESPERIA LAKE: Big catfish continue to be landed along with limits of fish averaging 1-0 to 4-0. There have been nine catfish over 30-0 landed in the last two weeks. The best bite continues to be on the mealworm and marshmallow combo, a nightcrawler and marshmallow combo, shrimp, or mackerel.
Fishing Reports
HESPERIA LAKE: This small lake continues to produce some of the best catfish action in the state with most anglers taking easy limits of catfish from 3-0 to 5-0. Top baits have been mackerel, shrimp, mealworm and marshmallow combos, or nightcrawlers and marshmallows.
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Savor the scenery from one of the Spanish colonial-style resort's panoramic-view rooms. Unwind in a cabana at the spa surrounded by a California aloe garden. Indulge in the "Four Seasons in One Treatment" that combines a scrub and floral wrap with varied massage techniques. End your perfect day with dinner at Vivace, known for its sumptuous northern Italian cuisine prepared by executive chef Pierre Albaladejo. Pair an exquisite California wine with grilled double lamb chop gremolata accompanied by gnocchi and candied shallots.
DEL MAR
Mention Del Mar and visions of the famed Seabiscuit galloping to victory come to mind. Indeed, the Del Mar racetrack, where "the turf meets the surf," still hosts some of today's fastest Thoroughbreds. If you're a romantic, why not have a romance director at your disposal? At L'Auberge Del Mar such a being creates magic for couples seeking weekend getaways. Guests arrive at their California-Provence-style rooms to find the fireplace lit and rose petals strewn across their pillows. The resort's lush landscape includes an aromatic herb garden that supplies executive chef Tom Atkins with the ingredients for dishes at J. Taylor's such as star anise couscous and red pepper coriander coulis. The restaurant's ambience lends itself to passion, with sofas and settees taking the place of chairs.
RANCHO SANTA FE
Situated on 20 acres of rolling green hills is the Inn at Santa Fe. Built in 1923, the inn has been operated by the Royce family since 1958. They've made the facility warm and welcoming, with its claw-foot tubs and Beech hardwood floors worn to a shine by guests over the years. Each room and cottage has its own personality. Antique furnishings and wood-burning fireplaces set the mood for nestling into Hilden Halifax linens in a custom-made pillow-top bed. As you stroll the serene grounds, you'll likely spot guests playing a civilized round of croquet. The inn caters to visitors with particular interests with packages including theater tickets for performances at the Northern Coast Repertory Theatre and Turf Club passes to the Del Mar Race Track.
LA JOLLA
From the cliffs of Lo Jolla Cove you'll spot the glimmer of girabaldis among the kelp, sunbathing seals on the rocks, and kayakers and swimmers taking advantage of the waves. Close by, the Torrey Pines State Reserve provides visitors with scenic hiking trails and beaches.
Adjacent to the Torrey Pines State Reserve is the California Craftsman inspired Lodge at Torrey Pines. This cliff-top resort overlooks both the Pacific Ocean and the Torrey Pines Golf Course. On arrival you'll be greeted by kilt-clad doormen. Cuddle fireside in your room decorated with Stickley-style furniture. Partake in the spa's Ancient Oceans Ritual and be scrubbed, soaked, and massaged with elements of the sea. Jump off a cliff for a tandem hang gliding flight at nearby Torrey Pines Gliderport. Those with eagle eyes get the added bonus of soaring over swimsuit-optional Black's Beach. Save time for dinner at the lodge's signature restaurant, . Valentien's, and a helping of parsley soup with potted short ribs and tarragon vinaigrette.
BARONA VALLEY
If both indoor and outdoor gaming sounds appealing, the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino is the place for you. Located on the Barona Indian Reservation, it gives guests a taste of the Old West not only through its decor but also through executive food and beverage director Scott Kidd's diamondback rattlesnake fritters at the Barona Oaks Steakhouse. Explore the surrounding hills and the property's old mill waterwheel and period footbridge. One of the resort's biggest attractions is its 7, 100-yard, par-72 golf course with five sets of tees graced by 170 oak trees. Step inside for a go at the resort's daily payout of $13 million at one of 59 game tables and 2,000 slot machines.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego is a veritable hotbed of activity. Hop on the San Diego Trolley and take in some sites that will help you bone up on San Diego's history.
First stop Old Town, the birthplace of California, where you'll get a glimpse of San Diego's pueblo period. It won't be hard to envision "Judge" Roy Bean's gunfight while strolling along Old Town's dirt paths. Stop by the Sheriff's Museum for a gander at what Bean was up against when he made his escape from the local prison. Kick back with a margarita at one of Old Town's restaurants and tap your foot along to a mariachi band.
There's much to see and do at nearby Balboa Park. Grab the brass ring on the carousel. Watch keen competition among lawn bowlers. Listen to refrains from the outdoor pipe organ at Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Stroll through the Japanese Friendship Garden. There are 15 museums on the property, including the San Diego Museum of Art, which houses fine art from Spanish and Italian masters, French impressionists, artists from the Northern European school, and an American collection. New to the museum is Jose Guadalupe: My Mexico, a collection of more than 110 prints by Mexico's famous graphic artist. Also on tap for 2004 is the work of 19th-century American landscape painter George Inness, along with such diverse exhibitions as Past in Reverse: Contemporary Art of East Asia and Maxfield Parrish--Master of Make Believe.
The glow from old-fashioned gas lamps in the Gaslamp Quarter beckons visitors to its Victorian buildings, which house pubs, side-walk cafes, nightclubs, art galleries, fine dining, theaters, and shops. For fun, unravel the mystery behind the man escaping from an upper-story window at 565 Fifth Avenue, get the lowdown on Wyatt Earp's years in San Diego from Ken Clich, owner of the Wyatt Earp Museum and Bookstore, duck into the Gran Havana for a peek at the hookah, and give a whistle and see if the ghost of Bum the alcoholic dog and San Diego dignitary from the 1880s haunts the brick walkways of the Quarter.
If you prefer shopping seaside, Seaport Village might be your ticket. Galleries, restaurants, and boutiques are watched over by a replica of the Mulkilteo Lighthouse, the center's symbol. Nearby is the Manchester Grand Hyatt. This modern high-rise offers impressive views of the San Diego Bay and homey rooms with 18th-century red mahogany furnishings. On site are four tennis courts, a lap pool, and a fitness center. The hotel can also arrange cycling, sport fishing and sailboat and motorboat rentals. Nearby is the Del Mar National Golf Club's 18-hole golf course. After working up an appetite, imbibe cocktails at the Top of the Hyatt, 40 floors above the Pacific Ocean. Dine at Sally's Seafood on the Water for the added fun of a chef's table where you can watch chef David Campbell in action and learn culinary secrets at his elbow.
CORONADO
Cross the Coronado Bay Bridge and be transported to 1888 via the Hotel Del Coronado. This red-roofed Victorian grande dame stands majestically on 31 acres of beachfront property. Take advantage of the setting through the hotel's offerings of surfing, snorkeling, sailing, boating, tennis, and biking, or linger in the shade of a cabana. The glamour and nostalgia of old Hollywood is alive and well at the Hotel Del, where the film Some Like It Hot was filmed and celebrities like Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo holidayed. One of the Del's most famous personalities, though, is that of its resident ghost, Katie Morgan. Thrill seekers can request Katie's room, 3327. Those looking for more secluded accommodations can choose the Del's cottages on North Beach, with special amenities like the drawn bath service or the private candlelit four-course dinner complete with Hamilton Robusto cigar and cognac. If you prefer dining out, visit the Prince of Wales at the Del. Chef Jesse Frost presents delicacies such as sauteed Sonoma squab with foie gras moulard, truffle risotto, arugula puree, and squab truffle jus.
As you toast the sunset, wishing that the weekend could last forever is bound to occur. Though you may never want to leave San Diego and its surrounds, take heart in the fact that they're only a hop, skip, and a jump away from home.
RESOURCE GUIDE
Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino
1932 Wildcat Canyon Road Lakeside, CA 92040 (888) 7-BARONA
Four Seasons Aviara
7100 Four Seasons Point Carlsbad, CA 92009 (760) 603- 6800
Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Avenue Coronado, CA 92118 (800) 582-2595
L'Auberge Del Mar Resort & Spa
1540 Camino Del Mar Del Mar, CA 92014 (800) 245-9757
San Diego Museum of Art
1450 El Prado Balboa Park San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 232-7931
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
5951 Linea de Cielo Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 (858) 756-1131
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
11480 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 4534420
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