IRVINE LAKE BASS ACTION STILL SIZZLING, TROUT MAINTAINING, AND BIG CATFISH STIRRING BOTH LAUNCH RAMPS IN FULL OPERATION; LAKE LEVEL HOLDING STEADY

It was multi-species heaven again this week at Irvine Lake, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro-Shop. “Everything is biting; bass, trout, catfish, bluegill, and even carp”, observed Getty. “The bass are in the post-spawn stage, and are just wide-open. The overcast stormy weather we had helped keep the trout in relatively shallow water, and the eating-size catfish were on a feeding binge anywhere there was runoff flowing into the lake.”

Getty added, “During the rainstorm, lake regular Nick Vega was soaking a large chunk of mackerel on heavy tackle when a huge blue catfish hit his bait. He battled the best for about 10 minutes before it got hung up in a tree, and he estimated it at close to 50 pounds. One of our resident experts using specialty European carp techniques also hooked a monster estimated at close to 40 pounds, but lost it after a long fight.”

Trouters found their quarry in surprisingly shallow water in the early mornings, and during overcast periods. Otherwise, dropping down to the 15-25 foot level yielded best results. Bait dunkers went with PowerBait, nightcrawlers, or MiceTails. Trollers scored with shad-color Rapala ShadRap SR04’s flatlined, or cop-car color Luhr Jensen Needlefish behind 2 to 4 colors of leadcore line.

Bass anglers found excellent numbers of 2 to 4-pound largemouth, primarily on reaction baits. Some larger 5 to 9 pound bucketmouths were fooled by swimbaits of various sizes. Anglers are reminded that all bass species are strictly catch and release at Irvine Lake.

Catfish anglers did very well during the storms by soaking baits where water was running into the lake. Otherwise, best results were found with mackerel fished at 15-20 feet near Rocky Point. Plenty of plump bluegill and redear sunfish to over a pound were hitting on mealworms and waxworms fished near submerged vegetation.

Families with children age 12 and under found decent action on 1-3 pound catfish and a few leftover trout in the Kids Lagoon. Surface temperature on the main lake was 68-70 degrees. The inlet pipe in Sierra Cove is running, and the lake level is holding steady. Underwater visibility is rated mixed, with some areas very clear, and others stained due to runoff. The first night-time catfish session will be Friday, June 5, with thousands of pounds of 6-15 pound catfish stocked just prior to that date. This week’s catfish stocking will be prime eating-size whiskerfish. Both launch ramps are in full operation.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Anthony Magno of Mission Viejo, 5-7 Nebraska Tailwalker on nightcrawlers at Boat Dock Cove
Charles Acquistapace of Orange, 8-1 largemouth bass [released] on a swimbait at Rocky Point
Chris Hagopian of Redondo Beach, 5-8 channel catfish on mackerel at Rocky Point
Rick Munoz of Tustin, 15-0 carp [released] on shrimp in the Lagoon

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