Good trout action was the story this week at Irvine Lake, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop "Things were pretty good overall, including some fish from 8 to 14 pounds", observed Getty. "The area around Santiago Flats has been best, and the red clay cliffs are also holding a lot of fish. Underwater visibility is around 4 feet."

Getty tipped, "With 3 straight days of 80-degree weather this week, the warmwater species like bass and crappie are really starting to move up into shallow water."

Bait dunkers outfished trollers this week by a ratio of about 80 percent to 20 percent.?? Best bait leader lengths were 12 to 16 inches, and top producing colors were Power Mouse and Power Bait constructions of white, chartreuse or yellow.?? Most troll fish hit on firetiger-color Rapala CD05's or chartreuse-color Rapala X-Rap XR06's.

Additional?? good locations included the west shoreline, trout Island and near the dam. Most trout on the stringers were in the 1 to 5 pound class, with enough trophy-class fish from 6 to 14 pounds to keep things exciting.

Crappie from hand size up to about three-quarters of a pound are starting to relate to shallow stickups and docks, and are hitting on white Atomic tubes tipped with a mealworm. ??A few catfish to 3 pounds are hitting nightcrawlers around running creeks, and a few bluegill are hitting mealworms in the shallows.

Bass anglers are finding fish up to 4 pound using both deep water tactics like dropshotting at 25 feet and also shallow tactics like reaction baits up shallow. Anglers are reminded that all bass species are strictly on a catch and release basis.

The Kids Lagoon yielded decent numbers of fish to families with children age 12 and under, and?? is scheduled to be restocked this week. Although the lake level is rising, it must rise at least 4 more feet before it hampers operation of the Lagoon.

The road to Trout Island is currently submerged, but the flats road is open. Muddy conditions may cause road closure for up to 24 hours after periods of heavy rain, please call ahead for up to the minute road conditions. ??????