Irvine Lake holiday trout bite yields fish to 11.6

?????????????????????? Easter holiday anglers found lower than average crowds and very good trout action, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "I'd say the main lake was very good on Sunday", observed Getty. "The lake level is holding steady, and there are some spots back up in Santiago flats where the water is 61 to 64 degrees. Watch for good bass fishing back there."??????????????????????

Bait dunkers are scoring best with the Power Mouse in white and chartreuse colors fished on longer 18 to 20-inch leaders. Top locations for bait were Trout Island and the west shore. Trollers did best at mid-lake and Santiago Flats with Rapala J-05 and J-07's in brown trout and brook trout colors. The majority of the trout were rainbows in the 1 to 6-pound class, with plenty of nice 7 to 10-pounders mixed in.??????

Bass anglers are finding their quarry still staging for the spawn, but not quite there yet. The bite on 1 to 3 pound largemouth is pretty good, with most being caught on dropshot or Texas-rigged plastics back in Santiago Flats where the warmer 61 to 64 degree water temperatures can be found.

?????????????????????? Crappie are starting to bite well for anglers using Gulp! Minnows rigged dropshot-style or Atomic Tubes. Slabs to 2 pounds are being caught near Rocky Point and around submerged brush at the flats. A few large carp were also landed by anglers chasing that species.

?????????????????????? The Kids Lagoon kicked out good numbers of trout for families with children age 12 and under. Upcoming tournament events include the Sport Chalet Derby on April 5, and the Irvine Lake Masters on April 12.??

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:

Robert Knott of Anaheim, 12.8 pound carp on a Power Nymph at Sierra Cove

Randy Querry of Fountain Valley, 11.6 pound trout on an Acme Thunderbolt near the dam

Mischa Smith of Covina, 10.4 pound trout on Power Bait at Sierra Cove

Aaron Garcia of Orange, 10.2 pound trout on nightcrawlers at boat dock cove

Gary Hoogerbrugge of Yorba Linda, 10.2 pound trout on nightcrawlers at the flats

Mike Moya of North Hills, 9.4 pound trout on Gulp! at the flats

Spring Nghiem of Lake Forest, 9.14 pound trout on nightcrawlers near the ramp

Chris Koury of Long Beach, 9.12 and 6.2 pound trout on Power Bait at Woody's Cove

Brian Mauch of Fountain Valley, 9.0 pound trout on Power Bait at the west shore

Roy Faulkenbury of Corona, 8.8 pound trout trolling near the dam

Scott Nagata of Garden Grove, 8.4 pound trout on nightcrawlers at the west shore

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Media contacts:

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

Steve Carson at [email protected]