Catfish are still biting well at Irvine Lake, reported general manager Dave Noyes. "Plenty of stocker-size cats are being caught, along with some very nice size ones", observed Noyes. "Our final late-night catfishing session of the season will be this coming Saturday night, October 25. We will then be open from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday October 26, and will then be closed on October 27, 28, 29 and 30. Our annual trout season opener will take place on Friday, October 31 with 20,000 pounds of trout stocked."

Good numbers of 2 to 6-pound channel catfish have been the majority of the catch, with some nicer size channels and a few blues spicing up the stringers. Best catfish baits this week were mackerel, bonito, Gulp!, shrimp and DuMong's. Productive locations included Santiago Flats, the west shore and in particular in 25 to 40-foot depths near the dam.

Some crappie anglers were still pursuing their quarry, with good results found under floating lanterns on slabs in the 1-pound class. Best crappie lures were glow-color Berkley Atomic Teasers and white 2-inch Gulp! Minnows.

Good numbers of bass in the 1 to 4-pound range were caught at 15 to 18 feet during the day on dropshot-rigged plastics off points. Some evening strikes were still to be had for anglers throwing reaction baits and topwaters.

Plenty of bluegill and redear hit on mealworms and waxworms, and a few carp were hooked by European-style presentations.

The Irvine Lake trout season opener will take place on October 31, with some 20,000 pounds of trout being planted for opening day. Irvine Lake will be closed on October 27, 28, 29 and 30, in order to stock the trout and prepare the lake. The Kids Lagoon is currently closed for maintenance, and will be stocked with trout and re-opened for trout season.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:

Nick Vega of Garden Grove with a 15lb Channel Catfish taken from the dam on Mackerel and Catmando attractant. The fish was released.

Keith Hyun of Anaheim with a 20.10 Channel Catfish taken from the dam on Mackerel. The fish was released.

Elaine Dickernoff of Artesia with a 14.0 Blue Catfish taken from the dam on Bonita. The fish was released.

Phil Hildenebradt of Anaheim with a 12.1 Channel taken from the dam on bonita. Released.
Ronson "Catmando" Smothers of LA with an 8.14 and 10.10 Blue Catfish taken from the flats on Mackerel.

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