Trollers scored the lion's share of the trout this week at Irvine Lake, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Trolling at 15 to 30 feet with shad imitations like Needlefish or Rapalas is working pretty well", observed Getty. "Shore anglers are catching trout very early in the AM on Mice Tails, Pinched Crawlers, and Power Bait. Best areas were the west shore, near the dam, and Santiago Flats."

Crappie anglers continue to score limits using a couple of methods, reported Pro Team leader Marlon Meade. "Trollers are doing very well on the crappie using anything with a shad pattern trolled about 10 yards outside of the trees and off the cliffs", advised Meade. "Drifting with Atomic Tubes at 15 feet in the same areas is also working very well for slabs up to about a pound. The fish are mostly spawned out at this point."

Bass anglers are finding fish in both pre-spawn and post-spawn conditions. Some topwater action is available early, but the mostly 2 to 7 pound largemouth are spread out at 1 to 40-foot depths, and are hitting best on various plastics and jigs.

Anglers targeting catfish using mackerel baits found that action on a steep improvement ramp. One impressive 10-whiskerfish stringer weighed over 40 pounds, and was topped by a 10-1 channel cat. No hybrid stripers were reported this week, although at least one monster carp exceeding 26 pounds was weighed in.

May 21 will see Irvine Lake play host to the largest crappie tournament ever held in Southern California; the first annual "Crappie Classic". A pair of free crappie fishing seminars conducted by Irvine Lake Pro Team leader Marlon Meade should be a big help for prospective tournament competitors. The first seminar will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on May 12 at Fishermans Hardware, 2801 E. Anaheim St. in Long Beach [562-434-8311]. The second seminar will be held at 6:30 to 8:30 PM on May 19, at The Longfin, 2730 E. Chapman in Orange [704-538-8010].

Families with children age 12 and under are finding good action on 1 to 4-pound trout in the Kids Lagoon on Berkley Mice Tails and Gulp! Pinched Crawlers. Surface water temperature in the main lake is between 68 and 73 degrees, with the lake level remaining at peak maximum. Catfish season and evening hours will commence on June 10.