The catfish action at Irvine Lake is going to get a huge shot in the arm, even though the beginning of night hours won't be until June 7, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "We will stock10,000 pounds of good-size channel cats will this week, and an additional 10,000 pounds will go in next week", observed Getty. "I would expect the catfish bite to go off the scale when that happens!"

Getty added, "Fishing results this past weekend were impacted heavily by the drag boat races; no fishing boats were allowed, and shore fishing was restricted to just a few areas. On Thursday and Friday before the races, trout fishing was good on deep-trolled lures and baits at 20 to 40-feet, and the bass fishing was also excellent."

Catfish anglers typically use flylined mackerel chunks or fillets to fool the kitties. A mid-size 1-inch by 3-inch piece of mackerel on a size 2 hook, and 8 or 10-pound line is the favored rig for catching a limit of eating-size channel cats. Anglers targeting the larger blue catfish should move up to a full fillet of mackerel, or even a whole mackerel head pinned on a 7/0 hook and 30 to 50-pound line. A big salmon-type net is also an important tool in landing the big catfish of 20 to 40 pounds or more.

The trick is to fish with the spinning reel's bail open so that the suspicious catfish can run off with the bait for 8 or 10 feet, while feeling no resistance before setting the hook. Productive depths can range from 10 to 40 feet. The fish really move around a lot, so if you don't get a bite within about 45 minutes, make some kind of move.

The final trout planting of the season went into the water this week, and good action on trout is expected to continue for several more weeks. Trout chasers who dropped their baits down to the 20-40 foot level scored using Power Bait, Berkley Mice Tails, and nightcrawlers. Trollers used 3 to 5 colors of leadcore line or downriggers to get offerings like bikini or cop car-color Luhr Jensen Needlefish down to the cooler depths.

Bass anglers are finding very good numbers of 2 to 4 pound largemouth using a variety of techniques. In the early AM, a topwater bite has developed on walking-type baits. Hard structure is also holding bass at 10 to 20 feet, which are responding to various plastics. Crappie anglers should drift with the afternoon wind on Santiago Flats at 15-20 feet. Bluegill and redear sunfish are hitting mealworms and waxworms in shallow brushy areas.

Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of 1 to 3-pound trout in the Kids Lagoon. Surface temperature on the main lake is 70 degrees and rising. Underwater visibility is rated at very clear, and the lake level is holding steady. Catfish season opener and commencement of night fishing on Thursday through Saturday nights will begin on Friday, June 7.