IRVINE LAKE TROUT AND BASS GOING OFF; CRAPPIE WAKING UP

Both trout and bass anglers had a lot to be happy about at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. The trout bite was really good all week, but slowed down a little on the weekend", observed Getty. "The bass anglers have really been hitting them hard; lots of bass are being caught. Several skilled anglers reported releasing over 40 bass for a day's effort. Most of the fish are pre-spawn males that are just starting to move up, but some larger females are also starting to show."

Bait dunkers did best with brightly-colored Power Bait, with Chartreuse Garlic Gulp! and Red Salmon Egg Power Bait among the top choices this week. Trolling results slowed with decreased visibility, but some fish were scored on firetiger-color Rapala CD05's.

Good numbers of fish were caught at the west shore, Trout Island and Woody's Cove. Most trout weighted 1 to 4 pounds, with a few trophy-size fish to 12-4 seen. Some steelhead and browns are being caught, and several big steelhead that exceed the current lake record of 10-6 were stocked last week, but have remained elusive.

Bass anglers are doing extremely well at the Red Clay Cliffs, Rocky Point, and in the submerged vegetation along the west shore, with some bassers releasing 40 or more fish per day. Typical largemouth are in the 2 to 3 pound class, with some better-grade fish to 8 pounds. Dropshot-rigged plastics and jigs are doing the trick at 15 to 20 feet. Anglers are reminded that all bass species are catch-and-release only at Irvine Lake.

The first stringers of crappie from hand-size up to about a pound are showing up for anglers fishing mini jigs along the fenceline. During rainstorms, channel catfish from 2 to 5 pounds stack up near the mouths of creeks and eagerly hit nightcrawlers and chicken livers. The Kids Lagoon is still muddy and yielding poor results for families with children age 12 and under.

Recent fast-moving rainstorms mean uncertain road conditions around the lake, although all roads around the lake were open as of Tuesday afternoon. Typically up to 48 hours of drying time is needed for lakeside roads after a storm. Call the Pro Shop [714-649-9111] for up-to-the minute road conditions.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included

Ron Larsen of Seal Beach, 12-4 rainbow trout on a nightcrawler at Woody's Cove
Dan Wackerman of Corona, 10-1- rainbow trout on Power Bait at Woody's Cove
Philip Albano of San Pedro, 9-6 rainbow trout on a Kastmaster at boat dock cove
Kim Frith of Santa Maria, 3-6 steelhead on Power Bait at boat dock cove
Lyn Cardiel of Santa Ana, 8-1 largemouth bass [released] on a jig at the west shore
Jose Granado of Fountain Valley, 6-1 largemouth bass [released] on nightcrawlers at boat dock cove
James Smiley of Lake Forest, 40 largemouth bass [all released], topped by a 3-8 on jigs at Rocky Point