Trout anglers at Irvine Lake this week did well using a variety of techniques, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Both trollers and bait dunkers are doing well", observed Getty. "All along the west shoreline and Santiago Flats have been the hotspots. We've also seen a little activity on the channel cats mixed in with the trout for anglers using nightcrawlers."

Getty added, "We are getting a special stocking load of brown trout, brook trout, and steelhead, just in time for the MLK holiday weekend. We have been seeing a small number of really nice 'holdover' steelhead from last year, but now everyone will have a shot at hooking one of these drag-burners. Most trout on the stringers this week have been quality-grade 2 to 5-pound rainbows, along with some better trophy rainbows up to 12 pounds, and a few brown trout."

Anglers soaking bait have done well with several colors of Power Bait, along with pink/white Mice Tails. Trollers stick with the reliable firetiger-color Rapala Countdown CD05 or Jointed J05, along with pink SC Shiners.

The New Year has also seen a new bait emerging as a favorite of the lake's Pro Team. The Gulp! Pinched Crawler in the "sinking" version allows some presentations that the "floating" version does not, according to Pro Team leader Marlon Meade.

"The Gulp! Pinched Crawler new sinking model has allowed a resurgence of the traditional 'old school' worm under a bobber technique", related Meade. "It's especially good when the lake is very clear like it has been in some spots lately. We have also done well just drifting it on 2-pound test with a number 5 split-shot and a size 10 fly hook, or dropshotting with a size 8 fly hook. Best color has been 'natural', but when the water gets stained, the chartreuse is more visible to the fish."

Bass anglers found good numbers of 2 to 5-pound largemouth at 15 to 40-feet. Standard winter presentations like jigs and Carolina-rigged plastics are working well. A surprising "new" bass rig is also working, although anglers are cautioned that the so-called "Alabama Rig" is not permitted at Irvine Lake. The slightly-modified [and legal] "Cali-Rig" with 3 hooks instead of 5 is the way to go, to fool bass that may be getting wise to the same old-same old. Families with children age 12 and under have seen good action in the Kids Lagoon on 1 to 3-pound trout. The key to success in the Lagoon has been very short 6-inch leaders and heavily-scented baits. Main lake surface temperature is 53 degrees, with the lake level dropping very slowly. Underwater clarity is highly variable depending on location, ranging from 1 to 10 feet.