FREE TROUT SEMINAR FEB28 AT SPORT CHALET IN BREA
Mixed weather conditions did not deter Irvine Lake's trout population from biting, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The fish kept biting really well during the stormy period on Tuesday", advised Getty. "Weather delayed the stocking truck slightly, so we will have a truckload of trout hit the water on Thursday, and then another truckload on Friday of this week. After it rains the lakeside roads may require up to 24 hours drying time. Be sure to call the Pro Shop [714-649-9111] for up to the minute road conditions. We even have a nice view of the temporarily snow-capped Saddleback right now!" Getty continued, "Irvine Lake's Pro-Team leader Marlon Meade will conduct a free trout fishing seminar at 6:30 PM on February 28 at the Sport Chalet store in Brea. Call 714-255-0132 for directions." Local guide Hubert Zimara of KFGS Guide Service tipped, "We easily caught our limit of 2 to 5-pound trout on a 4-hour trip. The water is still nice and chilly, so the trout are all over the lake. All of our fish were caught topline trolling with firetiger Rapala CD7's, pink Flickershads, and rainbow SC Shiners."

Most trout on the stringers were quality-grade 2 to 5-pound rainbows, with a spicy mixture of 5 to 9-pound 'bows, along with steelhead, browns, and Yosemite Reds keeping things exciting. Good catches were reported from Trout Island, the west shoreline, mid-lake, and Santiago Flats. Trout activity increases after lunchtime, with trollers mostly toplining and bait soaked at 5 to 15 feet best.

Bait dunkers did best on pink/white and chartreuse/orange Berkley Mice Tails, and chartreuse 1-inch Gulp! Pinched Crawlers. Trollers scored best on bright-color lures, especially pink or firetiger hues. Productive lure choices included Rapala Countdown CD07's and Shad Rap SR04's, Flickershads, SC Shiners, and Mira-Shads.

Bass anglers are finding their quarry moving around the lake due to the nice weather, with fish on both deep-water and transition patterns. Good numbers of 2 to 4-pound largemouth were holding on hard structure at 25 to 30 feet, and hitting on jigs or dropshot-rigged plastics. Some bass are also starting to move up into the shallows, and are showing some interest in swimbaits. A handful of channel catfish were also caught on deep-soaked baits.

Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of 1 to 3-pound trout, using corn PowerBait and chartreuse 1-inch Gulp! Pinched Crawlers. Surface temperature on the main lake is 55 degrees, with underwater visibility rated at 5 to 10 feet. The lake level is holding steady.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:

Erin Connolly of Lake Forest, 9-2 rainbow trout on Power Bait at Trout Island
Ken Yu of Chino Hills, 7-3 rainbow trout on a Mice Tail at Boat Dock Cove
Pat Brian of Beaumont, 6-10 rainbow trout on a Power Worm at the west shore
Dusty Faiello of Long Beach, 6-9 rainbow trout on an SC Shiner at mid-lake
Chris Baldridge of Fullerton, 6-7 rainbow trout on a Flickershad at mid-lake
4-year old Joshua Bellisime of Orange, 3-15 rainbow trout on a Flickershad at mid-lake
John Hose of Baldwin Park, 7-10 steelhead on a Mice Tail at Trout Island
Edgar Sandez of Corona, 7-5 steelhead on a nightcrawler at the west shore
Hubert Zimara of Silverado, 5-5 Yosemite Red trout on a Rapala at mid-lake
Whitney Curry of Long Beach, 4-3 largemouth bass [released] on a Huddleston at the west shore