BASS FISHING ALSO GOING OFF BIG TIME
Very good numbers of trout were caught this week at Irvine Lake, even as another big stocking load of rainbows went into the lake on Thursday, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "We just unloaded another truckload of thousands of pounds of trout, just in time for the weekend", observed Getty. "You do need to be out there early, and start fishing all the usual trout baits at 15-20 feet or deeper." Getty added, "We have also been seeing really excellent bass fishing this week, although nothing much over 4 pounds has been checked in. Lots of bass are being caught at Rocky Point, the Red Clay Cliffs, and around the newly-submerged vegetation. Trout stockings will keep going in every week until mid-May. We are also really looking forward to our Catfish Season Opener on June 7, and we will make sure our opener is a success by putting in a bonus plant of 10,000 pounds of channel catfish the week of May 8, and another stocking of the same size the following week."

The week saw savvy trout anglers moving their presentations deeper. Bait anglers started out at 15 to 20 feet in the mornings, and dropping down to as much as 40-50 feet in the afternoons. PowerBait, Gulp! Pinched Crawlers, and nightcrawlers all accounted for many stringers full of fish.

Topline trollers needed to get it done early, because after about 9 AM, results were much better for lures trolled with leadcore line or downriggers. Local guide Hubert Zimara of KFGS Guide Service tipped, "Use 3 to 6 colors of leadcore line, and be sure slow down your trolling speed. If you don't have leadcore line, add a ?? ounce keel sinker about 4 feet ahead of your lure. Rapalas and Needlefish have been producing best for us."

Although trout are still getting the lion's share of attention, the bass action has been outstanding. Not a lot of bigger bucketmouths showing, but plenty of 2 to 4-pound largemouth are biting on a variety of different techniques, including dropshot-rigged plastics, dartheads, and sight fishing. Well-known pro Mike Folkestad spent a few hours on the lake with son Troy and granddaughter Natalie, and the trio released 18 nice bass and landed 2 trout, all on dropshot-rigged 4-inch Folkestad Special Robo Worms fished near Trout Point and Santiago Flats. "I really liked being out on the water, catching the fish, and driving the boat", remarked 11-year old Natalie, who obviously has deep family connections with fishing.

Local bass guide Don Spencer experienced very good bass action all week, especially with dropshot or darthead-rigged plastics. "We mostly fished the cliffs and Sierra Cove at 5 to 25 feet, and released as many as 35 bass per day", said Spencer.

The few anglers soaking mackerel for catfish were rewarded with whiskerfish ranging from 2 to 16 pounds, and bluegill were attacking nightcrawlers intended for trout. Surprising numbers of crappie were also latching on to trolling lures intended for trout. Large pods of whopper carp over 20 pounds were active in the back of the flats, but no anglers were successful in fooling the skittish fish.

Families with children age 12 and under found excellent action on 1 to 3-pound trout In the Kids Lagoon on Berkley Mice Tails and nightcrawlers. Surface temperature in the main lake is in the high 60's, and the lake level is rising slowly as the inlet pipe is still running. The big Catfish Season Opener is slated for Friday, June 7.

Anglers are advised that on May 3-4-5, boat races will be held at the lake. The Santiago Flats and the north side of Trout Island will be closed to fishing. On those dates, a shuttle boat will be available to transport shore anglers to and from some parts of the west shore, and anglers of all ages will be welcome to fish the Kids Lagoon and Boat Dock Cove. A $5 discount will apply. Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine lake included:

Tom Lamb of Oceanside, 7-14 rainbow trout on a nightcrawler at the west shore
George Archila of Irvine, 3-15 steelhead on PowerBait at the west shore
CJ Walker of Moorpark, 4-15 Yosemite Red on an SC Shiner at the west shore
11-year old Natalie Folkestad of Mission Viejo, 3-1 largemouth bass [released] on a Folkestad Special worm at Trout Point