IRVINE LAKE SEES TROUT STILL BITING WELL; 50-POUND STRINGER TOPS CATCHE

CATFISH NIGHT-OPENER SLATED FOR JUNE 5; 10,000 POUNDS OF TROPHY 6-15 POUND CHANNEL CATS TO BE STOCKED

Trout anglers continued to score at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. “The cloud cover and drizzle over the weekend kept the trout right up on top and in shallow water”, observed Getty. “We had one of the best 10-trout stringers of the year that weighed over 50 pounds total by Wes Wright and Alan Rudd of Anaheim, while Tony Williams of Bite-On scored 3 huge Nebraska Tailwalkers weighing 8-15, 7-10, and 6-8, in only 10 feet of water.”

Getty added: “We will have out first night-time catfishing session on Friday, June 6. Some 10,000 pounds of trophy 6-15 pound channel cats will be stocked just a few days before that. Another 15,000 pounds of the trophy whiskerfish will be dispersed throughout the summer, in addition to our regular weekly stocking of eating-size channel cats. Of course, there are already thousands of resident catfish swimming around in Irvine Lake right now, and they are already biting at a good pace. During the little rainstorm we had over the weekend, they were biting especially well.” The lake also hosted a “Friends of Rollo” children’s event at the Kids Lagoon, with Sergio Fainsztein and the team from Angler Chronicles radio/TV heading up the instructional assistance. Good numbers of 1-3 pound channel catfish and trout were caught, mostly on nightcrawlers. Overall winners of the Friends of Rollo kid’s derby were: 1. Samantha Richardson; Michael Richardson; Mya Wasserman.

When the sun shines, the trout will be dropping down in the water column as May progresses. Soaking baits at 10-30 feet near the dam and at mid-lake will be the most popular method. Deep trolling with leadcore line or downriggers may be even better, but at least during the early part of the month, any heavy cloud cover or cooling winds mean the trout will come back closer to the surface.

Bass anglers found continuing good numbers of 2-4 pound largemouth on a variety of reaction baits, and enough bucketmouths to 10 pounds to keep things very interesting. About 70-percent of the bass population is now in post-spawn. Catfish anglers found good action during the rainstorm on nightcrawlers, and steady action near rocky Point on mackerel otherwise. Crappie anglers are keeping tight-lipped about exactly where and with what they have been successful. Surface temperature on the main lake was 72-74 degrees, with underwater visibility rated mixed depending on wind conditions. Both the main launch ramp at the west shore and the Trout Island launch ramp are in full operation.

OUTSTANDING CATCHES OF THE WEEK AT IRVINE LAKE INCLUDED:

Tony Williams of Anaheim, 8-15 Nebraska Tailwalker on nightcrawlers at Boat Dock Cove

Rich Richardson of Long Beach, 2-0 brown trout on nightcrawlers at Boat Dock Cove

Alan Rudd of Anaheim, 6-0 rainbow trout on a lure at mid-lake

3-year old Levi Wright of Anaheim, 4-9 rainbow trout at mid-lake on his Buzz Lightyear rod and reel

Wes Wright of Anaheim, 8-0 steelhead on FireBait at mid-lake

Jack Retzer of Orange, 10-0 largmouth bass [released] on dropshot at Rocky Point

Aaron Titleman of San Fernando, 4-9 channel catfish on nightcrawlers at Rocky Point

Wes Wright and Alan Rudd of Anaheim, 10-trout combined stringer totaling 50 pounds at mid-lake

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