IRVINE LAKE TROUT, BASS, CATFISH, BITE SIZZLES; 13-2 LARGEMOUTH LANDED

NEBRASKA TAILWALKER STOCKING SLATED FOR THIS WEEK; MARCH MADNESS $12 ADMISSION MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS!!

Everything broke loose at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The catfish bite is the best it has ever been this early in the season, and there were some huge stringers weighed in. Catfish specialist Lawrence Taylor had a 9-catfish stringer that totaled 49.25 pounds, topped by a 9-pounder ", observed Getty. "We have also had just phenomenal bass fishing, and a 13-2 was the biggest bass we have seen in awhile. The big largemouth was caught on a dropshot-rigged 6-inch margarita mutilator worm, in 10 feet of water at Santiago Flats, but angler Doug Jentzsch of Cypress, who was fishing with local guide Don Spencer. The big fish was landed on just 8-pound test line at 1:30 PM, and was released back into the lake. Trout action continued to be great all week too."

Getty added, "We are getting another stocking of the beautiful Nebraska Tailwalker rainbow trout this week, just in time for the Sport Chalet tournament event being held on March 14, and we will stock the Tailwalkers again just before our Berkley Cup tournament on March 28, and again before our Sierra in the City event on April 18. In honor of March Madness, lake admission will be just $12 on Mondays and Tuesdays for the entire month."

Bass anglers are finding excellent numbers of 2 to 4-pound largemouth, using just about any legitimate technique. Some larger bucketmouths were caught using swimbaits. The larger females are definitely available right now, with reports are coming in of anglers releasing 20 or more bass per day.

Catfish anglers found their quarry had moved up into as little as 5 feet of water, and exhibiting spawning behavior. Excellent catfish catches were garnered at Rocky point, Sierra Cove, and Santiago Flats by anglers using mackerel, shrimp, and freezer-burned yellowfin tuna was also named as a non-traditional but productive whiskerfish bait this week.

The trout mixture this week was again heavily in favor of brown trout, and anglers accordingly did bet with trolled and cat lures, along with nightcrawlers. Trollers primarily dragged shad-color Rapala Countdown CD05's and ShadRap SR04's at mid-lake, while top casting lures were 1/8 ounce gold Johnson Splinters along the west shore.

Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of 1-3 pound trout in the Kids Lagoon this week. The lake level is rising slowly, and the inlet pipe at Sierra Cove is running. Bass guide Don Spencer can be contacted at Donfishon.com. The lake will be stocked with Calaveras rainbows and browns this week, along with Nebraska Tailwalker rainbows.


Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake this week included:
Doug Jentzsch of Cypress, 13-2 largemouth bass [released] on dropshot worm at the flats
Lawrence Taylor of Inglewood, 9-4 channel catfish, on chicken liver at the flats
Eric Gutierrez of Temecula, 13-8 blue catfish [released] nightcrawlers at Sierra Cove
Mr. Aguilera of Orange, 4-0 brown trout on nightcrawlers at the west shore
Lawrence Taylor of Inglewood, 9-catfish stringer totaling 49.25 pounds on chicken liver at the flats
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