A full stocking load of the beautiful "Yosemite Reds" trout have hit the water at Irvine Lake on Wednesday of this week, reported Daniela Gavaldon at the Pro Shop. "The first load of around 2,000 pounds went in today [Wednesday], and the second truckload of about 3,000 pounds will go in tomorrow [Thursday]. A very good percentage of them are in the 4 to 8-pound class. These fish have beautiful red meat like a salmon, and may be the best-fighting trout we have ever stocked at the lake!"

Meanwhile, the trout action had been good all week, reported Jimmy Getty. "The trout fishing has been good all week", observed Getty. "Trolling was the best bet, with the afternoon bite really taking off. Anyone who wanted bass or catfish was also able to get them too. Our 'Blind Bogey Bash' will take place on January 5, with additional prizes for the three heaviest Yosemite Reds weighed in" Irvine Lake Pro-Team leader Marlon Meade tipped, "The troll bite has really been happening after about 10 AM, with a lot of fish moving over to Santiago Flats. When a little breeze comes up and adds oxygen, it seems to 'set off' the bite. Best troll speed is 2 mph or less, and the lures can be flatlined, or put out on 2 colors of leadcore line."

Meade continued, "In the mornings, boaters are beaching their vessels along the west shore and fishing from the bank. Best leader length has been 12 to 18 inches, with PowerBait, Berkley Mice Tails, and Gulp! Pinched 'Crawlers in chartreuse being the hot ticket."

Only a few bass anglers ventured out this week, but good action on good-grade 3 to 9-pound largemouth was the reward for anglers fishing jigs and plastics on hard structure at 20 to 30 feet. Ditto very few catfish anglers were in evidence, but limits of 3 to 6-pound whiskerfish could be achieved by patiently soaking mackerel at 20 feet at the west shore. Stormy conditions also traditionally yield good numbers of catfish wherever creeks are running onto the lake. Most trout on the stringers were rainbows in the 2 to 4-pound range, with a sprinkling of brown trout and steelhead adding spice. Best trolling lures include firetiger or clown-color Rapala Ultralight Shad ULS04's, or hot pink X-Rap XR04's and XR06's. Families with children age 12 and under found fair action on 1 to 3-pound rainbows in the Kids Lagoon.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:

Arthur Grundbian of Northridge, 6-5 rainbow trout on a Flicker Shad at mid-lake
Nathan Rodriguez of Santa Clarita, 7-4 brown trout on a Thomas Buoyant at the cliffs
Diego Gamboa of Hacienda Heights, 4-15 brown trout on a Rapala at the flats
Barry Maynes of Villa Park, 9-7 largemouth bass [released] on a jig at Crawdad Point
Chris Hagopian of Redondo Beach, 6-1 channel catfish on mackerel at the west shore
Elaine Dickerhoof of Artesia, 1-14 crappie on a mini jig at the flats