IRVINE LAKE BIG FISH PARADE INCLUDES 11-8 BROWN, 13-0 TAILWALKER, 10-1 BASS, AND 11-4 CATFISH

Nebraska Tailwalker plant slated for this week Sierra In The City tournament event is Saturday, April 18 April Madness continues; $12 admission on Mondays and Tuesdays


Anglers heading to Irvine Lake this week had numerous opportunities for big fish of several species, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "We had big fish coming in all over the place" observed Getty. "There were a bunch of big Tailwalkers and rainbows, along with the biggest brown in several years. Local guide Don Spencer took client Pat Farino fishing for the first time, and her very first fish ever, was a 10-1 largemouth bass. Besides all the lunkers, we had a whole bunch of 5 and 6-pounders come to the scales.

Getty added, "We will be stocking another big batch of Nebraska Tailwalkers this week, just in time for our big "Sierra in the City" event on Saturday, April 18. To celebrate 'April Madness', lake admission will be discounted to just $12 on Mondays and Tuesdays only for the month of April.

Trout anglers found the fish sliding deeper in the water column, with deep-soaked PowerBait and nightcrawlers, along with Rapalas or Needlefish trolled on 3 to 5 colors of leadcore line being the ticket. Good catches were notched at the west shore, mid-lake, and near the dam.

Bass chasers had very good results on 2 to 4-pound largemouth, with a few larger bucketmouths around to keep it interesting. A variety of plastics fished fairly shallow were the best bet for bass. Only a handful of catfish anglers ventured out, but some excellent stringers of whiskerfish in the 3 to 11 pound class were checked in by anglers using mackerel in the shallows near weed beds.

This weekend saw Irvine Lake's "Masters" tournament of champions won by Team 57 member Steve Duncan, who tricked his winning 7-1 rainbow with a wacky-rigged double PowerWorm dipped in BiteOn combination he calls the "Duncan Chunkin'". The victor took home a Master's jacket, $1357 in cash, a one-year unlimited lake pass, and lots of fishing tackle.

Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of trout on PowerBait in the Kids Lagoon, including a 9-5 whopper caught by a 10-year old. Surface temperature on the main lake is 68-73 degrees, with underwater visibility ranging from 3-4 feet in some spots, and up to 8-10 feet in others. The intake pipe in Sierra Cove is running, and both launch ramps are operating and in good condition. For anglers planning ahead, the first night-time catfish session of the year will take place on Friday, June 6.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:

Dean Lusk of Lake Forest, 13-0 Nebraska Tailwalker on a mini jig at the west shore

David Rochin of Fullerton, 10-14 Nebraska Tailwalker on an LGE Minnow at Sierra Cove

Sarah Ross of Murietta, 8-5 Nebraska Tailwalker on a Thomas Buoyant at the west shore

Jaime Robles of Orange, 11-8 brown trout on a mini jig at the west shore Dusty Faiello of Long Beach, 5-8 brown trout on a Mice tail at the west shore

Stevvie Duncan of Lake Elsinore, 11-4 rainbow trout on PowerWorms at Sierra Cove

Tuan Grimaldo of Long Beach, 9-8 rainbow trout on PowerBait at the west shore

10-year old "Phoenix" of Moorpark, 9-5 rainbow trout on PowerBait in the Kids Lagoon

Steve Duncan of Lake Elsinore, 7-1 rainbow trout on PowerWorms at Sierra Cove [Masters Winner]

John Montgomery of Costa Mesa, 1-7 Sierra Snow trout on PowerBait at the west shore

Fernando Diaz of Santa Ana, 3-2 steelhead on nightcrawlers at the west shore

Pat Farino of Orange, 10-1 largemouth bass [released] on dropshot at the flats

Kelli McManus of San Pedro, 8-9 carp on nightcrawlers at the west shore

Nick Vega of Garden Grove, 11-4 channel catfish on mackerel at Boat Dock Cove

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