IRVINE LAKE BASS TO 9-1 ACTIVE, CATFISH TO 11-0 STEADY

REMINDER; PRIVATE WATERCRAFT NO LONGER PERMITTED

Catfish and bass anglers were both busy at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. “The catfish bite was very good on eating-size channels”, observed Getty. “Good catfish catches were made during the daytime, evening, and night-time hours. The bass were really active for anybody who targeted them.”

Getty added, “I would like to remind the public that due to a change in our insurance regulations, we can no longer permit private boats, canoes, kayaks, float tubes, or other privately-owned watercraft. Our 100-boat rental fleet is ready to go, and includes motorboats and party pontoons.”

Some savvy catfish anglers dusted off an old trick this week, employing a “slip bobber” to suspend their mackerel baits about 5 feet above the bottom, which worked phenomenally well at dusk. During the day, and at full dark, the traditional bait presentation on the bottom was still best. Most productive depths for catfish were 15-20 feet, with the dam and Rocky Point the standout destinations.

Bass anglers found the quarry eager to bite a variety of offerings. Early mornings saw a hot topwater bite near Boat dock cove and along the west shoreline, with some anglers reporting the release of up to 30 largemouth. Most were in the 2 to 4-pound class, but some larger bucketmouths to 9 pounds were caught. Reaction baits are working again during the evening hours, and daytime bassers get by using jigs and dropshot-rigged plastics. Some large carp to over 20 pounds are also being caught by anglers using specialty European techniques.

Families with children age 12 and under found decent numbers of stocker-size catfish in the Kids Lagoon on shrimp and nightcrawlers. The Kids Lagoon will be re-stocked this week, and the main lake is stocked every week. Surface temperature on the main lake is 78-80 degrees, with underwater visibility rated mixed. The lake level is dropping slowly.

Anglers should make plans now to attend the “Midsummer Night’s Dream” catfish tournament event on Saturday, August 15. Some 5,000 pounds of catfish will be planted, and the lake will be open until 2 AM that evening only. The event is also a “King of the Cats Qualifier”. This coming weekend will see the “Seize the Summer” event on August 1, sponsored by Berkley and Sport Chalet.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:

Andrew Rodriguez of Compton, 11-0 channel catfish [released] on a Brush Hog at Rocky Point
James Getty of Silverado, 9-1 largemouth bass [released] on a Berkley Craw at Rocky Point
Christian Gavaldon of Orange, 23-2 carp [released] on a boilie at Crappie Hideaway
Nick Sepulveda of Orange, 1-9 bluegill on a mini jig at the west shore

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