IRVINE LAKE TOPPED BY 8-5 NEBRASKA TAILWALKER; BASS GETTING ACTIVE

Springtime is arriving at Irvine Lake, and with it some excellent mixed-species action, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Trout fishing was really good this week", observed Getty. "The early morning hours were generally better, and a particular hotspot was near the Red Clay Cliffs. The bass population is really waking up and moving around, and some bigger fish are being seen. The quantity of bass being caught is very good, with some anglers releasing over 20 fish in just a few hours. "

Getty added, "In addition to our continuing regular weekly stocks of browns and rainbows from Calaveras, we will be getting a truckload of the famous Nebraska Tailwalkers just before several of our upcoming tournament events in March and April; the Sport Chalet Tournament on March 14, the Berkley Cup Masters Qualifier event on March 28, and finally our huge Sierra in the City event on April 8."

Bass anglers are finding very good action on 2 to 4-pound largemouth, with the fish moving around in pre-spawn activity. Details were sketchy from the typically hush-hush bassers, but, using Ikas, Senkos, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and other classic spring patterns were producing near Rocky Point, the Red Clay Cliffs, and in back of the flats. The bass are so aggressive, anglers are reporting that they are attacking their trolled lures intended for trout.

Trout anglers also checked in good catches from the west shore and Trout Island. Bait dunkers scored with PowerBait, MiceTails, and nightcrawlers, with 2-pound leader being a key factor in getting bites on bait. Targeting brown trout meant casting or trolling with minnow imitations, with silver or gold Johnson splinters and shad-color Rapala Countdowns and ShadRaps the top choices.

Catfish anglers were watching the sky for enough rain to get the creeks flowing. If that does happen, expect very good numbers of 3 to 10-pound whiskerfish anyplace the water is flowing into the lake. Some plump bluegill to over a pound were hitting on mealworms or waxworms.

Families with children age 12 and under found excellent numbers of 1-3 pound trout in the Kids Lagoon on nightcrawlers under a bobber, or PowerBait on a short leader. Surface temperature on the main lake is 58-61 degrees with underwater visibility rated mixed. The lake level is rising slowly, with the inlet pipe in Sierra Cove currently running.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Allen Berthe of Lake Forest, 8-5 Nebraska Tailwalker on a MiceTail at Trout Island
Robert Perez of Orange, 8-1 steelhead on a Roostertail at the west shore
Daniel Rodriguez of Fullerton, 3-12 brown trout on PowerBait at the west shore
Rich Richardson of Long Beach, 4-8 largemouth bass [released] on a Rapala at mid-lake
Chris Hagopian of Redondo Beach, 7-0 channel catfish on mackerel at Rocky Point


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