Good Irvine Lake trouting topped by 12.12 pounder, bass begin staging for spawn

?????????????????????? Trout anglers found good action at Irvine Lake, with the stormy conditions of the weekend only a distant memory. Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop reported, "The water temperature is ranging from 60 to 64 degrees. Trout fishing is still really good, with deep trollers also starting to pick up some fish. The staging bass are in limbo after that passing storm, but they are now moving up again."??

?????????????????????? Trollers finally started to achieve some parity with their bait dunking brethren this week, with good catches for both techniques made at Trout Island, along the west shore and at Santiago Flats. Most rainbow trout on the stringers are in the 2 to 4-pound range, with some nicer fish from 7 to 12 pounds and a few brown trout and brook trout rounding things out.

?????????????????????? Trollers scored with CD03 and CD05 Rapalas in the firetiger color, along with XR08 X-Raps in hothead or ghost minnow. Top bait again this week was the Power Mouse, with the white/chartreuse/yellow color spectrum being the most productive, and a 14 to 16-inch leader being best.

?????????????????????? In the wake of last week's catch of a mammoth 14-4 largemouth, more anglers are chasing that species. Some fish are up on beds, and although skittish are providing some sight fishing opportunities. The majority of the bass being caught are still males in the 1 to 3-pound class, but some large females are entering the mix. Best lures include spinnerbaits, dropshot-rigged plastics and X-Rap XR10 and XR-12 jerkbaits.

?????????????????????? Some crappie are starting to show for anglers offering white Atomic tubes and Gulp! Minnows in chartreuse shad color, and a 2-pound slabside was checked in this week. The Kids Lagoon continues to provide good action for families with children age 12 and under.

?????????????????????? Upcoming events include the Sport Chalet tournament on April 5, details available at your local Sport Chalet store. Also coming up will be the "Night Bass Tournament" to be held on May 10. This event will be limited to 75 teams, with signups taken only at Angler's Marine or at the lake.??

Berkley Cup winners:

Ronson "Catmando" Smothers- 10.12

Vincent Virgen- 10.1

Bob Barr- 8.14

Eric Kaeble- 8.4

John Chapman- 8.0

Clinton Whistler- 7.14

Harvey Vargas- 7.1

Jaime Miyakoa- 4.12

Ken Lewis- 4.1

Jessie Lopez- 4.0

Other outstanding catches of the week included:

Gene Zidell of Granada Hills- 12.12 pound and 9.8 pound trout on a Power Nymph at the flats

Nico Tagaloa of Orange- 12.2 pound trout on a jig at the Lagoon

Jose Ponce of Corona, 11.6 pound trout on a Berkley Frenzy lure at mid-lake

Natalio Jiminez of Santa Ana, 11.07 pound trout on Power bait at the west shore

Henry Carrillo of Long Beach, 10.8 pound trout on nightcrawlers at Trout Island

Diego Martinez of Pomona, 10.6 pound trout on nightcrawlers at Trout Island

Carlos Ortiz of Orange, 6.4 pound brook trout on a Power Mouse at the flats

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Media contacts:

Daniela Gavaldon or Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop [714-649-9111]

Steve Carson at [email protected]