IRVINE LAKE REPORT

By Steve Carson

4/2/08

Irvine Lake trouters find fish to 11.2, crappie and bass getting active

?????????????????????? Mixed weather conditions did not halt the trout bite at Irvine Lake, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "It's been very good despite the pre-frontal conditions", observed Getty.

?????????????????????? Most trout filling the stringers are in the 1 to 6 pound category, but some nicer 7 to 11 pound class fish are still adding spice. Good trout catches were made at Trout Island, along the west shore, at the flats and in boat dock cove.

?????????????????????? Trollers have scored consistently on firetiger-color Rapala CD03's and CD05's. Bait dunkers are doing best with 12 to 15-inch leaders and a white/chartreuse Power Mouse, with plenty of fish also being fooled by Power Bait and nightcrawlers.

Bass anglers have found that the water temperatures dropped as much as 8 degrees with the passing fronts. Accordingly, the bass have moved back down to the 15 to 30 foot level, but are still biting well. Best offerings for largemouth have been dropshot-rigged plastics, jigs and Senkos fished at Santiago Flats and Rocky Point.

?????????????????????? Crappie fishing is also good, with slabsides being caught on white Atomic Teasers or Atomic Tubes tipped with a mealworm back in the flats. Only a few catfish and carp were reported this week, but spawning carp are very active.

?????????????????????? Families with children age 12 and under continue to find good trout action in the Kids lagoon. The water level is rising slightly.??

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included;

Tom Collins of Santa Ana, 11.6 pound trout on Power Bait at the west shore

Brittnee Christman of San Dimas, 11.2 pound trout on a lure at the south shore

Roy Eddy of Chino Hills, 10.4 pound trout on a Rapala at the dam

Nate Lewis of Long Beach, 10.0 pound trout on Power Bait at Sierra Cove

David Stanley of Culver City, 9.14 pound trout on an Owner Cultiva at Trout Island

Panos Nikolaov of Anaheim, 8.2 pound trout on a Power Worm at Trout Island

Mitch Steinberg of Northridge, 8.14 pound trout on a mini jig at Trout Island

Chris Edwards of Tustin, 7.6 pound trout on nightcrawlers at Trout Island