WON event slated for Saturday
A special Western Outdoor News event will take place on Saturday morning this weekend at Irvine Lake, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "We would like to remind everyone that on Saturday morning, April 20, lake entry will require pre-registration in the WON Sierra Opener event", advised Getty. "For entry information, contact Bill Egan of Western Outdoor News at [email protected] or by calling 949-366-0030, ext. 40. The public may enter after 10 AM on that day."

Getty added, "We received another huge stocking of thousands of additional pounds of rainbow trout on Thursday of this week. These are really beautiful rainbows that are raised right on the Merced River in Calaveras County."

Trout fishing was already going at an excellent pace this week, continued Getty, "The trout bite is very good this week", observed Getty. "We are seeing the trout move down in the water column, but they are hitting well on PowerBait, trolled lures, plastics; everybody's catching them. There was even a 12-pound channel catfish caught on a trolled Rapala by a trout angler."

Good trout catches were reported from the west shore, Santiago Flats, and mid lake. Productive baits included chartreuse PowerBait and nightcrawlers. Trollers dragged brown trout-color Rapala Scatter Rap SCRCD07's and Jointed Rapala J07's.

Bass anglers did very well on numbers of 2 to 4-pound largemouth on structure oriented presentations like plastics, and sight-fishing presentations. Good locations included the Red Clay cliffs, Rocky Point, and along the west shore. Some larger bucketmouths were rumored to be chasing swimbaits, but bass chasers have been tight-lipped about specifics.

Warmer weather has perked up the bites for bluegill, as the 'gills go after nightcrawlers offered by trout anglers. The few anglers chasing catfish have done well, and the capture of a 12-pounder this week on a trolled Rapala indicates the whiskerfish may be ready to chew in earnest. Crappie are starting the spawn, so look for their numbers to improve rapidly.

Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of 1 to 3-pound trout in the Kids Lagoon on Mice Tails and Gulp! Pinched Crawlers. Surface temperature in the main lake is in the mid-60's, with underwater visibility rated as very clear. The lake level is rising a few inches per week, with the inlet pipe flowing. Trout planting will continue through at least mid-May.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine lake included:
Rick Chance of Irvine, 7-9 rainbow trout on a nightcrawler at the west shore
Rob Primm of Cerritos, 6-4 rainbow trout on a Flickershad at mid-lake
Don Spencer of Anaheim, 3-8 largemouth bass at the west shore
Ricky Oliver of Orange, 12-1 channel catfish on a Rapala near the dam