IRVINE LAKE CATFISH OPENER SIZZLES; 35-1 BLUE CAT LEADS BIG FISH PARADE BASS HITTING BUZZBAITS IN THE EVENINGS Lots and lots of big catfish were the story at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. “The catfish bite was wide-open on Friday”, observed Getty. “It didn’t matter if you were using mackerel, shrimp, or a hot dog. We had a huge bonus stocking of 6 to 15 pound broodstock catfish, with lots of channels from 6 to 10 pounds, and a good number of blues to 15 pounds. Although our night hours have started for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, plenty of catfish are also being caught during daylight hours.”

Getty added, “We also had our $100 tagged fish, “The General” get caught by Lorenzo Martin of Santa Ana. Anglers are reminded that the bigger blue cats over 15 pounds must be released. For releasing a fish over 15 pounds, the angler will receive a free re-entry pass to Irvine Lake. Lucky anglers releasing whoppers over 40 pounds will also receive a free boat and motor rental.”

Top producing catfish baits included mackerel, shrimp, and skipjack, with a surprising number of fish also hitting on plain nightcrawlers. Strong scents like Berkley Gulp! also helped a lot. Good catches were checked in from Santiago flats, Sierra Cove, and mid-lake. Bank anglers scored best along the west shore road.

Bass anglers found good numbers of 2-4 pound largemouth on chatterbaits at dusk, and black buzzbaits after dark. A handful of 2-5 pound trout and steelhead were caught by trollers dragging cop-car color Luhr Jensen Needlefish behind 4 colors of leadcore line, along with some incidental trout that hit nightcrawlers intended for catfish. Plenty of plump bluegill and redear sunfish were available on meal worms and wax worms. Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of 3-8 pound catfish in the Kids Lagoon on mackerel and shrimp. The Lagoon will be re-stocked this week. Surface temperature on the main lake is 68-73 degrees, with underwater clarity varying from gin clear to stained, depending on wind. The inlet pipe in Sierra Cove is running, and the lake level is dropping a few inches per week. Both the main west shore ramp and the Trout Island ramp have good boat launch conditions.

The lake will be restocked with thousands of pounds of prime “eating-size” 2 to 9 pound catfish every week all summer long. Summer operating hours are: Thursdays- 6 AM-11 PM; Fridays and Saturdays- 6 AM-Midnight; Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays- 6 AM-4 PM; Tuesdays- CLOSED. Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:

Octavio Vergara of Orange, 35-1 blue catfish [released] on mackerel at Sierra Cove
Alejandro Rodriguez of Compton, 18-7 blue catfish [released] on mackerel at Santiago Flats
Eric Hagan of Orange, 17-0 blue catfish [released] on mackerel at mid-lake
Lorenzo Martin of Santa Ana, 13-1 channel catfish [The General] on mackerel at Boat Dock Cove
Isaac Espinoza of Orange, 10-7 channel catfish on mackerel at Boat Dock Cove
Travis Bradley of Irvine, 10-3 channel catfish on mackerel at Boat Dock Cove
James Getty of Silverado, 5-1 largemouth bass [released] on a Nezumma Rat at Rocky Point
Steve Anna of Trabuco Canyon, 5-0 steelhead on nightcrawlers at Boat Dock Cove

Follow Irvine Lake on Facebook, on the web at IrvineLake.net or call 714-649-9111