Irvine Lake exotics go off, 36.2 pound trout limit tops catches

Puffy clouds, bluebird skies and cool temperatures were on the weather docket for Wednesday at Irvine Lake, making for perfect trout fishing conditions. All roads around the lake were open, with some muddy patches requiring caution. Access to the lake itself via Santiago Canyon Road remains completely open. The lake level has risen some 5 feet from the rains.

The action overall is excellent for 2 to 5-pound rainbows, with surprising numbers of large brook trout, steelhead and 6 to 12-pound rainbows highlighting the limit stringers. Many of the very large trout being stocked are escaping due to anglers having their drags set too tight, or knots tied imperfectly. Best locations were boat dock cove, the west shore and Santiago Flats.

Bait continues to out-produce trolled lures this week. Top offering is the Power Mouse, constructed with either Power Bait or a Gulp! Salmon Egg, as the "head", and a half-nightcrawler or Power Trout Worm as the wriggling "tail". Decreased underwater visibility means that short leaders in the 6 to 8-inch range are in order.

No bass anglers are known to have ventured out this week, but a few incidental catfish in the 2 to 5-pound range were seen at the cleaning tables. Very good catches are being made in the Kids Lagoon for families with children age 12 and under.

Anglers are reminded that all private boats being launched are subject to zebra mussel inspection and decontamination with chlorine spray. The west shore shuttle service has been discontinued.????

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Marty Saucedo of Costa Mesa, 5-trout limit totaling 36.2 pounds, topped by a 12.8 pounder on Gulp! Trout Dough at the flats
Chris "Trollmeister" Hagopian of Redondo Beach, 7.8 pound steelhead on a Gulp! Power Mouse at the flats
Pablo Gomez of Veracruz, MX, 7.4 pound rainbow and 3.14 pound brook trout on Power Bait at the flats
Ricardo Zapata of Santa Ana, 7.4 pound rainbow on a Power Mouse at the docks
Carlos Ortiz of Anaheim, 7.6 pound rainbow on nightcrawlers at the west shore
Chris Rodarte of Norwalk, 6.6 pound brook trout on Power Bait near the docks
Rob Forest of Huntington Beach, 5.8 pound brook trout on nightcrawlers near the docks
Dennis Motschenbacher of Costa Mesa, 4.1 pound brook trout on a Power Mouse at Trout Island
Adam Malicki of Portola Hills, 3.12 pound brook trout on nightcrawlers at the west shore
Nick Matthews of Lakewood, 3.0 pound brook trout on a Rapala at Trout Island

Media contacts:
Daniela Gavaldon or Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop [714-649-9111]
Steve Carson at [email protected]