IRVINE LAKE TROUT AND BASS GOING OFF BIG TIME; 13-4 RAINBOW TOPS WON TOURNEY AND 28-2 BLUE CAT TOPS ALL CATCHES
ALL LAKESIDE ROADS NOW OPEN
The top of Saddleback Peak overlooking Irvine Lake was dusted with snow this weekend, lending the perfect atmosphere to a week that delivered mixed weather, but excellent fishing results. Both before and after Friday's powerful storm front moved through, the lake's trout and bass populations were extremely active.

Daniela Gavaldon at the Pro Shop noted, "The precipitation is all done for now, and all lakeside roads are now dry and open." The Western Outdoor News Trout Opener was a huge success, with several double-digit rainbows vying for top honors. When the smoke cleared, Jason Mullen's hefty 13-4 'bow was good for a fishing vacation to Alaska and ton of other goodies. Mullen caught his big trout on a perch-color Rapala Countdown CD07, and took about 10 minutes to land it on 4-pound test line.

The trout bite in general was very good, with the majority of the fish on the stringers ranging from 2 to 6 pounds, Irvine Lake Pro Team leader Marlon Meade tipped, "Right now the trout are being pushed out to 17-25 feet of water by all of the spawning largemouth. Keep your bait leaders in the longer side at 18 to 24-inches, and watch for the crappie to really turn on within the next 2 weeks."

Whitney Curry in the Pro Shop advised bass aficionados, "It is very possible to release 20 to 40 largemouth bass in the 2 to 4-pound class per day right now. Just throw a Senko or dropshot bait in 10 to 15 feet of water near any kind of stickups in the flats by the trees. The bigger bass from 8 to 10 pounds or more can be had by sight fishing."

The catfish are definitely starting to get active, with decent numbers of eating-size channel cats being overshadowed by a lunker 28-2 blue catfish by Chris "Trollmeister" Hagopian of Redondo Beach on mackerel. Plenty of incidental catches of crappie by trout trollers, lots of bluegill by trouters soaking nightcrawlers, and even a few wipers hitting on shrimp show that just about everything is biting right now.

Families with children age 12 and under found fair action in the Kids Lagoon. The surface temperature in the main lake is 57 degrees, with post-storm clarity rated as fair. The 2012 catfish season opener is slated for Friday, June 8.