Anglers headed for Irvine Lake on Saturday morning of this weekend [April 14] will need to be either pre-registered for the big Western Outdoor News Trout Opener event, or will need to register on-site at the WON tent after they pass through the gates. Registration is $45, and $30 for children 12 and under. Those arriving after 10:00 AM who do not wish to enter the competition can then purchase a regular gate-entry pass.

The legendary April multi-species bite at Irvine Lake was blazing at full force this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Trout fishing was very good this week, and lots of limits were checked in. We even saw some large family groups of 5 or 6 people all check in with limits. The flats and west shore have been the best areas for trout." Getty added, "The bass fishing is just off the hook; it is possible for a good angler to release 30 or 40 bass per day. Every legitimate bass fishing technique is working; dropshot, jigs, wacky-rigs, Senkos, you name it. We are looking forward to our big annual Catfish Season Opener on June 8."

Daniela Gavaldon at the Pro Shop also tipped, "After a period of heavy rain, the lakeside roads may be closed; requiring approximately 24 hours to dry out before re-opening. Call ahead to the Pro Shop [714-649-9111] for up to the minute road conditions." Most trout on the stringers were quality-grade 2 to 3-pounders, with a nice mixture of beautiful 4 to 8-pounders. A few brown trout, steelhead, and brook trout added spice to the trout action. Trout trollers scored with firetiger-color Rapala Countdown CD05's, red/chartreuse Rapala Ultralight Shad ULS04's, and hot pink Rapala X-Rap XR04's. Bass anglers found excellent numbers of 2 to 4-pound largemouth, and a decent number of 5 to 8-pounders biting on a variety of methods, and even a couple of double-digit bucketmouths were in the mix. Dropshotting has been tops for sheer numbers of bass, and swimbaits usually getting the nod for a larger average size. Bass can be located in all phases of the spawn, from pre to post, and in depths ranging from 1 to 35 feet. Anglers are reminded that all bass species are strictly catch and release at Irvine Lake.

Crappie action busted open with full force, and good catches of slabs were seen by anglers dropshotting with 2-inch Gulp! Minnows, or drifting with Atomic Tube/mealworm combos at 15-20 feet at Boat Dock Cove or Santiago Flats. Anglers are asked to release all female crappie that are still full of eggs. Plenty of bluegill are hitting nightcrawlers intended for trout, and 3-pound class channel catfish are waking up for mackerel/shrimp combos at the flats. Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of catfish and carp, but relatively few trout. Surface temperature in the main lake is 63-65 degrees, with the visibility rated at gin-clear. The lake level is receding about an inch per week.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Matt Spelman of San Pedro, 10-0 rainbow trout on PowerBait/nightcrawler at the flats
Amil Asuljic of Anaheim, 4-6 brown trout on a Thomas Buoyant at Woody's Cove
Whitney Curry of Silverado, 11-4 largemouth bass [released] on dropshot at the flats
Randy Amot of Newport Beach, 20-2 blue catfish [released] on a jig at the flats
5-year old Anthony Daquilla of Orange, 1-8 crappie at the flats