Trolling remains the top technique for trouters at Irvine Lake, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The best spots for trollers were the west shore and Santiago Flats", observed Getty. "The troll bite is all day long, and gets even better in the afternoons. Bait fishing was decent in Boat Dock Cove."

Local guide Hubert Zimara of KFGS-Fishing added, "We limited in a few hours trolling the west shore and mid-lake areas, using both topline and leadcore line presentations at 4 colors down. Our fish ranged from 3 to 4.5 pounds."

Whitney Curry at the Pro Shop added, "The weather is beautiful today [Wednesday], and all the roads are open." The majority of the fish checked in this week were rainbows in the 2 to 5-pound range. A smattering of browns, brooks, and holdover steelhead were highlighted by a few fish into the double-digits. Productive trolling lures included firetiger-color Rapala Countdown CD03's, orange/gold X-Rap Shad XRS06's, and chartreuse/red Rapala Ultralight Shad ULS04's. Bait dunkers did well with a variety of Power Bait colors, and the addition of a nightcrawler enhanced the bait fishing success.

The few bass anglers who ventured out found relatively slow action on 2 to 3-pound largemouth. Best producers were dropshot-rigged plastics at Rocky Point and the Red Clay Cliffs. No hybrid striped bass were reported.

Families with children age 12 and under found improved action on 1 to 3-pound trout in the Kids Lagoon. Short leaders are still the ticket, with white PowerBait and white Power Trout Worms the best offerings. Surface temperature on the main lake is 53 degrees, with underwater clarity rated good at about 10 feet. December 17 and 18 will see the Irvine Lake "Christmas Trout Derby" with tons of cash and prizes, plus tagged fish in the Kids Lagoon through January 2, redeemable for Christmas presents.

The lake will be open regular hours on Christmas Eve; CLOSED on Christmas Day; and open regular hours on New Years Eve and New Years Day.

Follow Irvine Lake on Facebook, on the web at IrvineLake.net or call 714-649-9111 Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Joe Rodriguez of Chino, 11-8 rainbow trout on a nightcrawler at Boat Dock Cove
Seth Mostero of San Juan Capistrano, 3-1 largemouth bass [released] on a Huddleston at Rocky Point