VineAssist
06-02-2013, 12:17 PM
Living in Southern California there are very limited night time fishing opportunities available to us! Luckily every summer, starting around the first week of June, Irvine Lake opens up to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. While this is mainly designated for the lakes Catfish fishery a bunch of guys have figured out that night time is the right time come summer at Irvine Lake.
Irvine Lake is a bass fisherman’s dream with about every type of cover you can think of. The lake is highly under rated in bass fishing circles until recently and this is in large part due to the night time fishing opportunities during the summer. During the summer at the lake you can catch them on a plethora of different baits ranging from the smallest of finesse style baits all the way up to GIANT swim baits. These are the following techniques that have proven to be the best at putting not only quantity numbers of fish in the boat but also quality!
Texas rigging large plastic worms has long been a proven technique at putting quality Largemouth in the boat! At Irvine Lake when most guys talk about large plastic worms they are talking about the 10in or 12in Power Worm, 14in Upton Worms’s style baits. These large plastic worms are rigged on a 4/0 to 7/0 J-Hook and Texas rigged with anywhere from a 1/8 to 1/4oz bullet weight (lead or tungsten) and fished around all kinds of structure. One would expect to catch very few fish on this type of technique however this technique can catch all sizes of fish! When this bite is on it is very hard to beat it and an angler can go through a couple of packs of plastic worms in a night. At a night time bass tournament a big name Shimano angler used this technique to boat a 12lb GIANT that easily won the big fish award and the tournament for that angler.
Buzz baits are also a deadly night time lure here at Irvine Lake. Pick up a ½ buzz bait and cover a ton of water and you are sure to get a couple of fish around the lake. There is probably nothing more exciting in bass fishing than hearing or seeing a fish crash on a surface presentation! Some of the strikes you will here during the night time hours will make your heart skip a few beats. Keeping it simple when it comes to buzz bait selection at night is key. Most anglers who fish Irvine like the Hart Buzz baits in ½ to ¾ oz. in either Black or Chartreuse. Adding a stinger hook is a good idea when the weeds are down and or the fish or short striking.
The cat came out of the bag a few years ago that a very small number of guys that fish Irvine Lake where having great success on swim baits through the year. Irvine Lake stocks 5,000lbs of Trout through the winter months (November-May) on top of their 20,000lb Opening stocking. If you think that these fish do not get keyed in on the Trout well get ready to pick up the big rods. Hands down one of the best swim baits on the market is the Triple Trout and that bait is one of the most effective baits for night time fishing at Irvine Lake. Fishing these baits all over the lake can not only put a GIANT in the boat but when fished right can also put numbers of fish in the boat as well. On one very memorable night lake manager Jimmy Getty and Berkley Sales Rep Chris Marso got a wide open bite on the said bait in Sierra Cove landing up to 20 Largemouth up to 6lbs. Knowing that the creator Scott Whitmere, Whit Curry and Dan of Bass-a-hoics were also on the lake the duo called them in on the bite and they proceeded to catch 13-15 Bass. Don’t be surprised if you hook a GIANT on this technique as well as fish up to 11lbs have been checked in on this technique.
The jig and pig has long been a stable when fishing for quality and quantity of Largemouth Bass. Irvine Lake boosts a very healthy crawdad population and it should come as no surprise that the fish key in on these tasty high in protein morsels. Fishing a 3/8oz to ¾ oz. jig has been a very productive technique at Irvine Lake and will probably always will be. Adding a bulky trailer such as a Berkley Chigger Craw or a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver will help displace more water and attract more fish to your bait. Local angler and lake guide Don Spencer swears by the jig and catch a ton of quality fish on the said bait each year. Adding scent such as Berkley Bass Scent, Hot Sauce or Bite On Garlic will help garner more bites on this slow moving bait.
Most importantly having fun and experimenting is paramount to having success on the water. There are so many techniques that will work when fishing at the lake at night it is impossible to list or talk about them all. If you ever need any help the staff at Irvine Lake is very knowledgeable and will point in the right direction. Also the lake is very active on Facebook and fishing forums such as Fishing Network and will answer questions on their as well.
By:
Jimmy Getty
If you are interested in booking a guide trip with Donny Spencer he can be reached at:
www.donfishon.com
Irvine Lake is a bass fisherman’s dream with about every type of cover you can think of. The lake is highly under rated in bass fishing circles until recently and this is in large part due to the night time fishing opportunities during the summer. During the summer at the lake you can catch them on a plethora of different baits ranging from the smallest of finesse style baits all the way up to GIANT swim baits. These are the following techniques that have proven to be the best at putting not only quantity numbers of fish in the boat but also quality!
Texas rigging large plastic worms has long been a proven technique at putting quality Largemouth in the boat! At Irvine Lake when most guys talk about large plastic worms they are talking about the 10in or 12in Power Worm, 14in Upton Worms’s style baits. These large plastic worms are rigged on a 4/0 to 7/0 J-Hook and Texas rigged with anywhere from a 1/8 to 1/4oz bullet weight (lead or tungsten) and fished around all kinds of structure. One would expect to catch very few fish on this type of technique however this technique can catch all sizes of fish! When this bite is on it is very hard to beat it and an angler can go through a couple of packs of plastic worms in a night. At a night time bass tournament a big name Shimano angler used this technique to boat a 12lb GIANT that easily won the big fish award and the tournament for that angler.
Buzz baits are also a deadly night time lure here at Irvine Lake. Pick up a ½ buzz bait and cover a ton of water and you are sure to get a couple of fish around the lake. There is probably nothing more exciting in bass fishing than hearing or seeing a fish crash on a surface presentation! Some of the strikes you will here during the night time hours will make your heart skip a few beats. Keeping it simple when it comes to buzz bait selection at night is key. Most anglers who fish Irvine like the Hart Buzz baits in ½ to ¾ oz. in either Black or Chartreuse. Adding a stinger hook is a good idea when the weeds are down and or the fish or short striking.
The cat came out of the bag a few years ago that a very small number of guys that fish Irvine Lake where having great success on swim baits through the year. Irvine Lake stocks 5,000lbs of Trout through the winter months (November-May) on top of their 20,000lb Opening stocking. If you think that these fish do not get keyed in on the Trout well get ready to pick up the big rods. Hands down one of the best swim baits on the market is the Triple Trout and that bait is one of the most effective baits for night time fishing at Irvine Lake. Fishing these baits all over the lake can not only put a GIANT in the boat but when fished right can also put numbers of fish in the boat as well. On one very memorable night lake manager Jimmy Getty and Berkley Sales Rep Chris Marso got a wide open bite on the said bait in Sierra Cove landing up to 20 Largemouth up to 6lbs. Knowing that the creator Scott Whitmere, Whit Curry and Dan of Bass-a-hoics were also on the lake the duo called them in on the bite and they proceeded to catch 13-15 Bass. Don’t be surprised if you hook a GIANT on this technique as well as fish up to 11lbs have been checked in on this technique.
The jig and pig has long been a stable when fishing for quality and quantity of Largemouth Bass. Irvine Lake boosts a very healthy crawdad population and it should come as no surprise that the fish key in on these tasty high in protein morsels. Fishing a 3/8oz to ¾ oz. jig has been a very productive technique at Irvine Lake and will probably always will be. Adding a bulky trailer such as a Berkley Chigger Craw or a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver will help displace more water and attract more fish to your bait. Local angler and lake guide Don Spencer swears by the jig and catch a ton of quality fish on the said bait each year. Adding scent such as Berkley Bass Scent, Hot Sauce or Bite On Garlic will help garner more bites on this slow moving bait.
Most importantly having fun and experimenting is paramount to having success on the water. There are so many techniques that will work when fishing at the lake at night it is impossible to list or talk about them all. If you ever need any help the staff at Irvine Lake is very knowledgeable and will point in the right direction. Also the lake is very active on Facebook and fishing forums such as Fishing Network and will answer questions on their as well.
By:
Jimmy Getty
If you are interested in booking a guide trip with Donny Spencer he can be reached at:
www.donfishon.com