Not surprisingly, Irvine Lake's catfish population waited until the sun went down to go on the bite this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The catfish were mainly biting from about 8:30 PM on due to the daytime heat", observed Getty. "Best catches were made in 5 to 15 feet of water, mostly back in the flats. There are a lot of weeds growing in the shallower spots, so you need to find the open pockets. The lake will be open until 2 AM on Saturday night July 6 for our 'Independence Day Shootout' so folks can enjoy the best fishing during the coolest hours."

Getty added, "The bite has also been very good in the Kids Lagoon; among many good catches we had little 18-month old Kinsley Nguyen land a huge 15-pound carp with just a little help form her dad Robert, who is the Phenix Rods sales rep."

Most catfish on the stringers have been solid stocker-size channels from 2 to 6 pounds, with a few larger fish spicing it up. Good catfish catches were checked in from Boat Dock Cove, the west shore, and Santiago Flats. Favored baits included mackerel, bonito, skipjack, and pike mackerel.

Bass anglers are finding their quarry deep during daylight hours, with dropshot-rigged plastics fooling 2 to 4 pound largemouth on hard structure at 25 to 30 feet. Evening hours bring good numbers of fish up shallow, but heavy weed growth dictate weightless and weedless presentations like frogs and Ikas.

Crappie anglers are scoring some 1-pound average slabs on mealworm-tipped white Atomic Tubes in the afternoon drifting with the breeze, and also at night under floating lanterns. Finding schools of shad means the crappie are nearby. Trout chasers skilled in deep water techniques are still finding some nice 3 to 4-pound rainbows at 40 feet near the dam. Lots of small bluegill are biting mealworms near submerged brush.

Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of 2 to 4-pound catfish and hefty double-digit carp in the Kids Lagoon. Best baits in the Lagoon included mackerel and the marshmallow/mealworm combo.

Surface temperature on the main lake is 76 to 78 degrees, with the lake level dropping 4 to 10 inches per week, with the main launch ramp still in operation. Underwater visibility ranges from 15 to 20 feet in parts of the lake near the dam, to only 5 to 7 feet at the flats. A benefit bass tournament for the high-ranking Long Beach State College Bass Team will take place on July 20; see lake for details. The lake is open for night fishing until 11 PM on Thursdays, and until Midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Gail Johnson of Cerritos, 8-0 channel catfish on mackerel at the flats
Austin Earnest of Mission Viejo, 4-9 largemouth bass [released] on a Morgan Custom 'Gill at the flats
18-month old Kinsley Nguyen of Garden Grove, 15-0 carp on mackerel in the Kids Lagoon