Irvine Lake multi-species bite busts open

The month of April is proving as always that it is prime time for just about all of the many species of fish that inhabit Irvine Lake. Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop reported, "The trout fishing has been very good, we are seeing a lot of 3 pounders this week, along with some nicer fish. The crappie fishing is just wide open; it's been pretty much easy limits."

Getty added, "Just before our upcoming Western Outdoor News Tournament on April 18, we will be planting 10,000 pounds of trout, including rainbows, brook trout, brown trout, inland steelhead and even a few of those 20-plus pound monster trophy rainbows!"

Trout anglers are doing very well on Power Mouse, PowerBait and nightcrawlers, along with Atomic Tubes and Atomic Teasers. Best Power Mouse and PowerBait color combinations are white and chartreuse, while nightcrawlers should be cut in half and inflated. As the water clears, longer leaders from 14 to 28 inches are the way to go.

Anglers casting with Atomic Teasers are doing well with chartreuse, pink and orange colors. The clearing water has slowed the action for trollers, but switching to more natural colors in J5 or J7 Jointed Rapalas such as brown trout, plain silver, or brook trout is usually the solution under such conditions.

Crappie chasers are finding large numbers of their quarry suspended at 5 to 20 feet over submerged trees. Easy limits of slabsides are biting on white or yellow Atomic Tubes either with or without a trailer. Most crappie are males from ?? to 1 pound, as they stage up waiting for the larger females.

Bass anglers are getting excellent numbers of largemouth to 4 pounds, with a couple of bigger specimens to 7 pounds also brought in. Reports of skilled bass anglers releasing as many as 35 fish per day are coming in, with the fish hitting on spinnerbaits, jigs and plastics. The bass are holding at from zero to 20 feet, in just about every ???bassy' spot you can think of.

Little effort has been expended for the lake's resident catfish and carp populations, but no doubt the species are getting active and would respond to a well-presented bait.

The Kids Lagoon was planted with an extra double-load of trout for a special weekend event that is now over. All of the carryover fish are creating very good results for families with children age 12 and under. Continually rising water levels mean that the Kids lagoon will probably be flooded over within 2 weeks.

The lake level is rising steadily from 2 to 3 inches per week, with the surface temperature near the docks at 64 degrees. The flats road and the road to Woody's Cove remain open, but the road to Trout Island is under water.

Anglers should also note that for the big Western Outdoor News Tournament scheduled for April 18, ALL anglers must pre-register for the tournament. This can be done either online with WON itself, or via one of the entry forms available at the lake.

ANYONE NOT PRE-REGISTERED FOR THE WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS TOURNAMENT WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE LAKE ON APRIL 18.

At this time, all reservations for campsites and rental boats are taken for the April 18 date. Private boaters and shore anglers are still welcome to enter.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:

- Doug Broadback of Fullerton, 12-4 rainbow trout on a Thomas Buoyant at Sierra Cove
- Frank Duarte of Huntington Beach, 11-6 rainbow trout on a mini jig at Woody's Cove
- Fred Cayot of Covina, 11-6 rainbow trout on Power Bait at the west shore
- Brock Yonezawa and Chad Montoya, both 8-years old of Diamond Bar, teamed up on an 8-14 rainbow trout on Power Bait/nightcrawler combo at the west shore - Roman Molina of Orange, 7-14 rainbow trout on Power Bait near the docks
- Gary Johnstone of West Covina, 7-6 rainbow trout on nightcrawlers at the west shore