Irvine Lake catfish to 17.12 pounds, bonus stocking of big catfish to 20 pounds slated for Monday Trout opener set for October 31.

Catfish anglers found continuing good numbers at Irvine Lake this past week, with action ranging from decent to red-hot. "The Thursday night bite was especially good", observed Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "People were getting their limits of 2 to 5-pound channel cats in less than an hour. Some anglers were getting bit the instant their lines were out, they didn't even have time to set their rod in the holder. Friday night was also good, and some of the better-size fish from 8 to 17 pounds were caught then. The deep water bite is starting to happen, with big blue catfish hitting at 25 to 32 feet. We have also formally set our trout season opener for October 31."

General manager Dave Noyes also announced, "We will be stocking about 4,000 pounds of broodstock channel catfish in the 15 to 20-pound class on Monday of this week. We hope that everyone observes our voluntary catch-and-release program for catfish over 10 pounds, along with mandatory release of catfish over 20 pounds."

Best baits for catfish were mackerel and shrimp, with productive spots including the west shore, Santiago Flats and near the dam. Big catfish expert Ronson "Catmando" Smothers added, "larger cats are starting to bite, and the bite for pansize fish has gotten much better. I caught an 11-pounder by fishing away from the crowd, but experienced a slower bite than those at the flats. The bigger fish haven't started a heavy move toward the deep yet, but there are a few. Once the water temp drops below 80 degrees, the bite will heat up."

Bass are also on a wide-open bite, with large numbers of fish up to 3 pounds hitting on spinnerbaits and other reaction baits. Anglers hoping for heavier largemouth are catching fewer but larger bucketmouths to 4 pounds on swimbaits.

Crappie action is still good on mostly pansize fish on white Berkley Atomic Teasers under floating lanterns. Very good numbers of bluegill and redear are biting on mealworms and waxworms near the docks.

The Kids Lagoon is closed for maintenance until the trout opener. Thursday, Friday and Saturday night hours for catfish will continue until October 25.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included; Terry "Pontoon" Lairson of Huntington Beach, 17.12 pound blue catfish [released] on bonito at the flats

Douglas Santiago of Anaheim, 16.8 pound channel catfish on mackerel near the docks

Donovan Swann of Fontana, 15.2 pound blue catfish [released] on mackerel at the flats

Aaron Titleman of Tustin, Joey Arballo of Anaheim and Art Villa of El Modeno; 15-catfish limit totaling 49.2 pounds on mackerel and shrimp at the flats.

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