Big trout were the story this week at Irvine Lake, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Big trout from 8 to 14 pounds were the rule rather than the exception almost every day for the past week", observed Getty. "There were lots and lots of really nice 4 to 7-pounders to go along with the trophy-class fish. We had so many big fish over the weekend, that we stopped weighing the 4 and 5-pounders!"

The trout have spread out all around the lake, with good catches reported from the west shore, near the dam, Sierra Cove, mid-lake and Santiago Flats. Bait fishing continues to be more productive than trolling, but some significant catches were again being garnered by trollers.

Best bait was a Power Mouse made with a Gulp! Salmon Egg and a half-nightcrawler, but Power Bait and plain nightcrawlers were also effective on 12 to 18-inch leaders.

Favored trolling lure was a firetiger-color CD03 or CD05 Rapala, but brown trout-color J05 and J07 Jointed Rapalas also caught some fish.

The Kids Lagoon continues to yield excellent catches for families with children age 12 and under. Incidental catches of 2 to 5 pound catfish are still being seen for trouters offering nightcrawlers.

Vehicle access to the west shore road is extremely limited, so anglers wishing to get to the best spots along the west shore without a long hike on foot can take the free hourly shuttle on Saturdays and Sundays only from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The water level is holding steady.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
San Chow of Westminster, 14.2 pound trout on nightcrawlers at the west shore
Gary Goemer of Irvine, 14.0 pound trout on a Power Mouse at the west shore
James Freeman of Hesperia, 12.3 pound trout on nightcrawlers at the docks
Cory Schmidtz of Rancho Santa Margarita, 11.1 pound trout on a Power Worm at the west shore
Josh Uyeda of Torrance, 11.1 pound trout on nightcrawlers at Trout Island
Dan Harris of Bellflower, 11.0 pound trout on a Fenwick Minnow at mid-lake
Ceasar Hernandez of Santa Ana, 11.0 pound trout on Power Bait at the flats
Jane Reilly of Huntington Beach, 9.1 pound trout on a Power Mouse at the west shore
Rod Casas of Tustin, 9.0 pound trout on Gulp! at the west shore
Kay Eddie of Anaheim, 8.6 pound trout on Power Bait at the flats
Aron Chau of Rosemead, 8.2 pound trout on Power Bait at Trout Island
Jake Brookman of Chino Hills, 5-trout limit totaling 21.1 pounds on Power Bait at Trout Island