Irvine Lake stocks 20,000 pounds of browns and rainbows for October 31 trout season opener

The most exciting event of the year at Irvine Lake occurs this weekend, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The Lake will be closed to the public Monday through Thursday [October 27-30] of this week, so that we can prep the facilities and plant some 20,000 pounds of trout", observed Getty. "The stocking will include some 10,000 pounds of rainbows, and 10,000 pounds of beautiful brown trout, which is also the largest single stocking of brown trout the lake has ever received. After the opener, we will re-stock the lake with another 5,000 pounds of trout every week."


Getty added, "As always, the trick to catching trout at Irvine Lake is to use ultra-light line. Favorite baits include PowerBait or nightcrawlers with a leader no heavier than 4-pound test, and when things get tough stay with 2-pound test bait leaders. Casting and trolling lures can go a little heavier, up to 6-pound test. Best spots for shorecasters will be the West Shore Road and Trout Island. Boaters should head for Santiago Flats, Sierra Cove, and along the dam restriction lines."


Meanwhile, the lake's summer species continued to bite at a brisk pace over the weekend. Good numbers of channel catfish up to 19 pounds responded to cut mackerel at depths of 20-30 feet. Excellent action on largemouth bass from 2 to 9 pounds was available for bassers tossing a variety of lures.


To top off the ending of catfish season, the lake conducted its annual "King of the Cars" tournament, with Paul Dalool, Jr. taking top honors with a 10-10 channel cat, and taking home a bagful of prizes in the competition that ran all night Saturday and into Sunday, from 9 PM to 6 AM.


The Kids Lagoon will not receive trout stocking for another 2 weeks. Surface temperature on the main lake was 68 degrees, with cold nights causing a steady decrease. The inlet pipe is scheduled to run intermittently after November 1. Boat launching is from the third ramp on the west shore. The lake will be closed to the public from Monday October 27 to Thursday October 30, and then opening at 6 AM on Friday October 31. Operating hours will be 7 days a week all winter long, starting at 6 AM; closing at 5 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 PM the rest of the week.


Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Chris Mukai of Diamond Bar, 19-1 channel catfish on mackerel at mid-lake
Mike Rollins of Tustin, 12-8 channel catfish on a crankbait at Rocky Point
Paul Dalool, Jr. of Orange, 10-10 channel catfish on mackerel at mid-lake
Mike Rollins of Tustin, 9-5 largemouth bass [released] on a crankbait at Rocky Point


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