IRVINE LAKE RISES 7 FEET; 30-POUND BLUE CATFISH TOPS CATCHES

Storms can be a good thing for anglers at Irvine Lake, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The lake has come up a total of 7 vertical feet in the past 10 days", observed Getty. "The incoming water at several creek locations has gotten the catfish very active. Newly-flooded brush and vegetation is also great structure for bass. Surprisingly little stain is remaining on the water, but the usual trout tactics for impaired visibility are working; either brightly-colored trolling lures, or adding strong garlic scent to bait fished on very short 8-10 inch leaders. Anglers looking for brown trout are still doing best with baitfish imitating lures. "

Getty added, "The lake will be CLOSED on Christmas Day, and OPEN on New Year's Day. We will also be open until 4 PM on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve."

Good trout catches were reported from the west shore, Trout Island and mid-lake; with lots of beautiful brown trout in the mix. Shorecasters did well with white or garlic PowerBait on rainbows, and Rapalas or metal lures on brown trout. A handful of double-digit size trout were hooked but lost by anglers not correctly prepared.

Trolling was particularly good this week, with favored lures including firetiger-color Rapala Countdown CD05's, along with fluorescent red/gold ScatterRap SCRCD07's, and pink tiger color ShadRap SR04's. Slow-trolling is still the name of the game, with speeds of 0.9 to 1.9 mph most effective.

Anglers who specifically target catfish are doing very well wherever there is water running into the lake. Best technique is free-drifting baits under a slip bobber set at 15 feet, with mackerel the most popular choice. Most of the whiskerfish are running 3 to 10 pounds, but a few larger specimens are lurking, with a 30-pounder landed by Kyle Walker of Corona, and at least three more monsters hooked and lost.

Bass anglers are doing well on 2 to 4-pound largemouth using standard deepwater techniques at 15 to 25 feet on hard structure. A few secretive linker hunters are targeting larger bucketmouths to 11 pounds using deep-diving crankbaits and large swimbaits. Some plump bluegill are available to interested anglers soaking mealworms and waxworms.

Families with children age 12 and under found decent action in the Kids Lagoon on 1 to 3-pound trout and catfish. The Lagoon will be re-stocked with trout during the week of Christmas. Surface temperature on the main lake was 58 degrees, with underwater visibility rated mixed. The lake level is rising steadily.

Lake hours will be 6AM-4PM on Christmas Eve [Dec24]; CLOSED Christmas Day [Dec25]; 6AM-4PM New Years Eve [Dec31], and 6 AM-4PM on New Years Day [Jan1].

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Doug Bader of Orange, 4-6 rainbow trout on a Rapala at the west shore
Bo Chuon of Long Beach, 5-9 brown trout on a Thomas Buoyant at the west shore
Taylor Knowles of Orange, 4-8 brown trout on a Flickershad at mid lake
Robert Russo of Huntington Beach, 4-8 brown trout on a Kastmaster at the west shore
Don Spencer of Silverado, 11-1 largemouth bass [released] on a crankbait at the Red Clay cliffs
Kyle Walker of Corona, 30-8 blue catfish [released] on mackerel at Rocky Point
Chris Hagopian of Redondo Beach, 5-8 channel catfish on mackerel at the creek
Elaine Dickerhoof of Artesia, 1-8 bluegill on waxworms at the west shore
Dennis Nelson of Panorama City, 5-fish limit of brown trout ranging from 2-7 to 4-2, casting Rapalas from the west shoreline


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