Irvine Lake sees "lots" of quality grade rainbows and browns topped by 8-5 'bow

The usual excellent-grade trout found at Irvine Lake improved even more this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Fishing was very good overall', observed Getty. "We are seeing lots of really nice 4 and 5-pound class fish, including both rainbows and browns. It is still the best brown trout action that the lake has ever seen. The troll bite has improved a lot, and brown trout are still keying in on schools of baitfish."


Getty added, "The lake will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but open regular hours for the rest of the holiday weekend. We are really only closed two days per year; Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.


Most shorebound anglers headed for the west shore, and nightcrawlers were the easy victor in this week's bait popularity contest. Ultralight leaders in the 2-pound and 4-pound class were very important in getting a bite regardless of bait choice, and the reliable garlic PowerBait also fooled some fish. Good catches for bait dunkers were also reported from mid-lake, Sierra Cove, and Trout Island.


Trollers scored best by keeping things slow, from 0.9 to 1.9 mph. Best producing lures included firetiger-color Rapala countdown CD05's along with ScatterRap SCRCD07's in gold/fluorescent red. Anglers targeting brown trout went with baitfish-replicating colors like shad or gold ShadRap SR04's.


Bass anglers did best at Rocky Point and the Red Clay Cliffs. Dropshot-rigged plastics were the favored offering for 2 to 4-pound largemouth, although serious swimbait tossers keep showing up regularly while keeping their lips shut tight. Some reaction-bait fish are available near shallow vegetation also. A handful of channel catfish, bluegill, and redear sunfish inhaled nightcrawlers intended for trout.


Families with children age 12 and under found decent numbers of 1 to 3-pound trout on marshmallow/mealworm combos. Surface temperature on the main lake was 61 degrees and dropping, with underwater visibility rated mixed. The lake level is rising about 6 inches per week. A holiday "Turkey Shoot" event will take place on November 29. The lake will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, and open regular hours for the remainder of the holiday weekend.


Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Mark Bloomberg of Orange, 8-5 rainbow trout on PowerBait at Trout Island
Alex Garufis of Orange, 6-7 rainbow trout on nightcrawlers at the west shore
Fernando Diaz of Santa Ana, 5-7 rainbow trout on nightcrawlers at the west shore
6-year old Samantha Richardson of Long Beach, 3-8 rainbow trout on PowerBait at the west shore
Mike Meredith of San Diego, 4-5 brown trout on a Thomas Buoyant at mid-lake
Diego Martinez of Orange, 4-12 steelhead on nightcrawlers at the west shore
Chris Hagopian of Redondo Beach, 5-8 channel catfish on nightcrawlers at the flats


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