IRVINE LAKE POLICY CHANGE: PRIVATE BOATS NO LONGER PERMITTED GOOD NUMBERS OF CATFISH, BASS, CARP LEAD CATCHES

A major policy change goes into effect on July 23 at Irvine Lake, as private boats, kayaks, and float tubes will no longer be allowed. “We regret any inconvenience this may cause to anglers, but our insurance carrier now requires us to allow only our own rental boats on the lake. Effective as of July 23, we will no longer allow float tubes, kayaks, canoes, or private boats of any kind”, said General Manager Dave Noyes.

The overall excellent fishing continued to keep anglers happy, reported Jimmy Getty at the pro shop. “The catfish bite was pretty good during the daylight hours on nightcrawlers”, observed Getty. “Once dusk arrived, it got even better on the usual catfish baits like shrimp, mackerel, and skipjack. Most productive depth for catfish was 5 to 15 feet, and the majority of the fish were prime ‘eating-size’ from 3-7 pounds, with a few larger ones mixed in. The catfish bite was so good on Friday, we had anglers buying double-limit, and even triple-limit permits.”

Getty added, “Whitney Curry at the pro shop has really been getting on the lake’s carp population lately, using fly-casting tackle with a 5-weight rod/reel and a Schnozzle Bug fly, which is very similar to a mossy green glo-bug pattern. Also, fast-moving storm fronts forecasted for early in the week may require up to 24 hours for lakeside roads to dry completely. Please call ahead to the pro shop [714-649-9111] for up to the minute road conditions.”

Bass anglers continue to do well on mostly 2-4 pound largemouth using a variety of tactics. Senkos or dropshot-rigged plastics on hard structure at 15-20 feet are the best daytime pattern, with reaction baits like topwaters, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits taking over as the fish move up shallow during the evening hours. Best areas for bass this week were Rocky Point and the Red Clay Cliffs.

Few crappie are being caught, but many are being seen under the lights at the boat dock. Most catfish anglers now purposely fish without lights shining on the water, which may be affecting the crappie catches negatively.

Families with children age 12 and under found fair numbers of 1-3 pound catfish in the Kids Lagoon on marshmallow/mealworm combos. Surface temperature on the main lake is 78-80 degrees. Underwater visibility is rated mixed; very clear in sheltered areas, and stained in wind-exposed areas. Both the main lake and Kids Lagoon will be stocked this week. The main lake is stocked every week all summer long.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Steve Hathaway of Anaheim, 9-14 channel catfish on shrimp at Sierra Cove
Whitney Curry of Silverado, 9-7 carp [released] on a Schnozzle Bug fly at the flats
James Getty of Silverado, 4-1 largemouth bass [released] on a jig at the Red Clay Cliffs
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