IRVINE LAKE BASS AND CATS CHEWING WELL; TROUT STILL ACTIVE CATFISH NIGHT OPENER SLATED FOR JUNE 5

Overcast weather kept the trout numbers high at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro-Shop. “The trout bite was very good on nightcrawlers out on the West Shore Road during the periods when it was overcast and rainy”, observed Getty. “Bass fishing continues to be as good as it gets, with fish hitting on almost everything. There is also a huge threadfin shad hatch going on, and the fish are going crazy chasing after millions of baby shad.”

Getty added, “Also when the rain was falling and the creeks were running, the catfish bite was excellent wherever the water was flowing into the lake. Even the carp are very active right now, we had Tony Williams of angler Chronicle s television catch a huge 20-plus pound carp on MacBites while targeting catfish during filming of an episode of the show. We are getting very excited looking forward to the first night-fishing session on Friday, June 5.” Trout anglers did very well during morning hours using nightcrawlers from the bank at the west shore. Trollers scored toplining Rapalas during the AM, and on Luhr Jensen Needlefish behind 2 to 4 colors of leadcore line in the PM.

Best spots for bass anglers included Sierra Cove, Rocky Point, and the back of the flats. Productive lures included a variety of plastics and reaction baits. Most of the largemouth were in the 2 -4 pound class, but a surprising number of 5-10 pound bucketmouths were caught on finesse baits instead of the usual large swimbaits.

As always, rainstorm runoff sparked the catfish into a feeding frenzy wherever water was running into the lake; during other periods the whiskerfish were holding at 10-20 foot depths and hitting best on mackerel. Rocky Point, sierra Cove, and mid-lake were rated the best catfish locations. Plump bluegill and redear sunfish were hitting on mealworms and waxworms near submerged vegetation, and carp were active in several parts of the lake. Families with children age 12 and under found decent numbers of carp and 1-3 pound catfish in the Kids Lagoon. Both the Lagoon and the main lake will be stocked with eating-size channel catfish this coming week. Surface temperature on the main lake is 69-70 degrees, with underwater visibility rated mixed depending on wind and runoff in various areas. The inlet pipe in Sierra Cove is on, with the lake level holding steady. Both the west shore and Trout Island launch ramps are in full operation.

The first night-time fishing session will be on Friday, June 5. After that, the lake hours will be: Friday and Saturdays- 6 AM-Midnight; Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays- 6 AM-4 PM; Thursdays- 6 AM-11 PM; Tuesdays- closed.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Ben Hiinojosa of Anaheim, 7-5 rainbow trout on nightcrawlers at Sierra Cove
Marty Sauceda of Newport Beach, 8-0 channel catfish on mackerel at the flats
Tony Williams of Costa Mesa, 20-1 carp [released] on Bite-On at mid-lake
Ben Hiinojosa of Anaheim, 10-1 largemouth bass [released] on dropshot at Sierra Cove
Matt Taylor of Lake Forest, 8-12 largemouth bass [released] on a PowerWorm at the flats
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