Changeable weather conditions affected the trout bite at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Going out just before the weather fronts arrive has been very good for trout", observed Getty. "The post-frontal action has been somewhat slower, but once things get settled it has been wide-open. We have been selling dozens of 'second-limit tickets' every day, and we are hoping that somebody will break the lake record for steelhead [10.6 pounds] any time now."

Productive locations for trouters include Trout Island, Woody's Cove, and Boat Dock Cove for shorecasters; the west shoreline and mid-lake for trollers; and Santiago Flats for boaters soaking bait.

Best Power Bait choices have been Chartreuse Garlic Gulp!, Salmon Peach Power Bait, Rainbow Gulp!, and Red Salmon Egg Power Bait. During rainy/muddy periods, nightcrawlers emerge as the top producer. Bait leader lengths should be 12 to 16 inches. Trollers have done well with firetiger or gold CD05 Countdown Rapalas, along with pink or clown-color Rapala X-Rap XR06's, and pink SC Shiners. Most trout have been in the 1 to 4-pound category, with increasing numbers of 5 to 12-pounders spicing up the stringers. Some exotics like brown trout and brook trout continue to show up, and anglers are reminded that the lake record for steelhead is "only" 10.6 pounds, and several steelies well in excess of that number were stocked recently.

Bass fishing is showing signs of breaking loose. A pair of pro-staffers from Anglers Marine practicing for an upcoming tournament tried to retain a low profile, but reportedly had an excellent 25-pound bag of 5 largemouth, to go along with "a lot" of very nice average-size fish. Virtually every stickup and rock was holding bass, with dropshot-rigged plastics being the best offering. A few larger individuals were also caught on jigs.

Very few of the recently-stocked hybrid striped bass [AKA sunshine bass or wipers] have been seen, but the rapidly warming lake temperatures may change that shortly. During rainy periods, channel catfish in the 2 to 10-pound range stack up at the mouths of creeks, and eagerly hit on nightcrawler or chicken liver baits.

The Kids Lagoon is still suffering from somewhat murky conditions, and is giving up only fair action for families with children age 12 and under. The surface temperature on the main lake is up to 60 degrees, and the lake level is rising slowly.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Ron Larsen of Seal Beach, 12-4 rainbow trout on nightcrawlers at Woody's Cove
Dan Wackerman of Seal Beach, 10-10 rainbow trout on Power Bait at Woody's Point
Adam Berry of Lomita, 9-12 rainbow trout on a Rapala at mid-lake
Harry Fonseca of Pico Rivera, 9-8 rainbow trout on a Mira Shad at Sierra Cove
Guillermo Soto of Tustin, 8-6 rainbow trout on nightcrawlers at Woody's Cove
11-year old Gavin Drych of Mission Viejo, 4-0 brown trout on Power Bait in the Lagoon
Shawn Briszuela of Canyon Country, 9-6 steelhead on Power Bait at Boat Dock Cove
Mark Claffy of Orange, 2-8 brook trout on a Rapala at the flats
Andy Mendoza of La Habra, 2-6 brook trout on a Kastmaster near the ramp
"Doug" from Anglers Marine Pro Staff, 6-1 largemouth bass [released], on a jig at the west shore