The calendar says July; and Irvine Lakes' famous multi-species bite just keeps going off like a firecracker, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "We have very good catfish action on eating-size fish all over the lake, and the trout are biting both deep-soaked baits and topline-trolled lures. Bass anglers can just choose their favorite techniques. Local guide Don Spencer has been releasing up to 40 bass per day in the 2 to 4-pound class."

Catfish anglers have checked in good catches for the west shore, Sierra Cove, and Santiago Flats. Best depths have been 5 to 15 feet, and the proximity of structure like trees or weeds has been the key. Top baits are mackerel and shrimp, with the sundown to 10 PM time period best.

Crappie anglers have been catching fish in both the afternoon and evening time periods, although massive amounts of shad fry mean that the fish are often nearly full. Drifting with the afternoon breezes at 15 to 20 feet, or setting out floating lantern after dark are the two preferred techniques. If copious amounts of bait are present, the fish may be filled up already, and it may be a good idea to relocate.

Bass anglers found their quarry responding very well to any number of different methods. Daytime anglers plied 10 to 30-foot depths with plastics and jigs for bass in the 2 to 4-pound range. Green pumpkin colors and trailers that kick a lot like the Berkley Chigger Craw were good choices. A half-hour before sundown kicked off a phenomenal topwater bite on better-grade largemouth to over 9 pounds. Noisy topwaters like Rapala Skitterpops were the best choice, but large schools of bait could overfeed a specific area, prompting the need to relocate.

Trouters found success on beautiful holdover rainbows averaging 3 pounds, using both shallow and deep water tactics. Flatline trolling the early AM scored fish with firetiger-color CD05 Rapala Countdowns, or J5 Jointed Rapalas. Low-light periods also saw some nice trout responding to nightcrawlers. Later in the day, 4 to 6 colors of leadcore line trailed by a cop car-color Luhr Jensen Needlefish was the ticket.

Lots of bluegill and redear are biting in the brushy shallows on mealworms or Gulp! Waxies. The feisty 'gills are ranging from hand size up to a full pound in weight. A handful of wipers [hybrid striped bass] from 4 to 6 pounds are being reported as incidental catches to the pursuit of other species.