IRVINE LAKE TROUT, BASS, AND CATFISH ALL BITING WELL

The multi-species action raged on at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Any species of fish you want to go after has been biting well", observed Getty. "The trout just keep on biting, but are dropping slightly lower in the water column. Bass fishing is still just 'off the hook', and just about any legitimate bass technique is working. Some impressive stringers of channel catfish to 14 pounds were also checked in this week."

Getty added, "The shad are in the middle of their spawn, and huge schools of the baitfish are being seen all over, including right up front in Boat Dock Cove. Just about every species of fish in the lake is actively chasing those shad schools around, we even had a 4-pound flathead catfish checked in this week."

Trout anglers found two major areas of fish and depth ranges. Near Boat Dock Cove and the cliffs, holding at 3-10 feet. In Sierra Cove and near the dam, the trout were suspended at 15-30 feet. In both locations, drifting with Berkley Mice Tails or nightcrawlers on 2-pund test leaders has been the most productive tactic.

Bass anglers had a plethora of opportunities to catch excellent numbers of 2-4 pound largemouth. Numbers of fish were available for anglers using chatterbaits and jerkbaits, while anglers interested in 5-pound and larger bucketmouths were mostly sight-fishing on bedding females.

Only a handful of anglers put forth effort towards catfish, but some impressive stringers were checked in, including at least two 5-fish limits of channel cats that were pushing 30 pounds. Some of the individual whiskerfish were in the 10-15 pound range. Mackerel and shrimp fished in only 1-8 feet of water near weedlines where the cats were spawning was the ticket. Families with children age 12 and under found fair numbers of 1-3 pound trout in the Kids Lagoon on PowerBait. The Lagoon will receive a fresh stocking this week, and has plenty of water. Surface temperature on the main lake is 67-71 degrees, with underwater visibility rated at 8-10 feet. The lake level is rising slowly, and the inlet pipe in Sierra Cove is running.

The lake will receive be stocked with thousands of pounds of rainbow and brown trout from Calaveras this week, and will receive a stock of Nebraska Tailwalkers next week, just before the "Sierra in the City" event which will take place on April 18. Irvine Lake Pro-Team leader Marlon Meade will host a free trout fishing seminar from 6:30-8:00 PM on April 16, at Sav-On Tackle, 9917 Orr & Day Road in Santa Fe Springs. Call 562-864-2911 for more information.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:

Frank Chavez of South Gate, 7-7 Nebraska Tailwalker on nightcrawlers at the west shore
Russell Shao of Corona, 7-6 Nebraska Tailwalker at the west shore
Mike Obi of South Pasadena, 7-5 brown trout on a Kastmaster at the west shore
Brittany Hammond of Riverside, 4-3 brown trout on nightcrawlers at Boat Dock Cove
Dominic Sanchez of Santa Fe Springs, 6-12 rainbow trout on a Mice Tail at the west shore
Sergio Fainsztein of Costa Mesa, 5-12 largemouth bass [released] on dropshot at the flats
Joey Arballo of El Modena, 14-12 channel catfish on mackerel at Rocky Point

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