who's fished cats out of here before?

[SunWhiskers]

hello

new angler to the area (from az) and would like to learn to fish cats out of some of the local areas

i have read a bit about the lake and some of the experiences everyone has had here so far and i have a few questions.
if anyone could answer one or more that would be much appreciated

- i need new gear. was planning on getting a 7' baitcasting rod with a ~8-15lb line. was going to use slip sinker rig w/ mackerel
does this look good?

- is an ~8-15lb line sufficient for the lake?

- am i missing anything? :p

thank you .. i am also excited for the big stock coming in on the 5th of june!

[etucker1959]

hello

new angler to the area (from az) and would like to learn to fish cats out of some of the local areas

i have read a bit about the lake and some of the experiences everyone has had here so far and i have a few questions.
if anyone could answer one or more that would be much appreciated

- i need new gear. was planning on getting a 7' baitcasting rod with a ~8-15lb line. was going to use slip sinker rig w/ mackerel
does this look good?

- is an ~8-15lb line sufficient for the lake?

- am i missing anything? :p

thank you .. i am also excited for the big stock coming in on the 5th of june!
First of all, "I'm assuming your fishing from a boat." Most but not all of the really good catches all come from a boat. (if you need a boat we will talk) lol Have you ever heard that expression, "When in Roma do as the Romans do!!!" If you believe in that, most of the better fisherman fish with spinning reels with the bails open with no weight. (from a boat of course) The two best baits by far are shrimp and Mackerel!!!! Most people add some kind of scents to their bait. That's a brief introduction, I'll let others chime in for their opinions. If you need some more advice, (just ask) "I'm probably going myself to the opener in the Morning!!!!" I already have my own game plan based upon my experience of the last 2 openers. If you wondering how well we did, 30 5-10 lbs 2 years ago. (they allowed C&R then) and last year was good too!!!!!

[hotramen]

Use a boat.

2/0 or 3/0 circle hooks with fly lined bait no weights. I use pike mackerel soaked in attractant. 15 lb test is good.

Some anglers use 30 - 50 lb, 5/0 or 6/0 hooks, and whole mackerel. These are the guys targeting the lunkers and they will target structures.

Keep in mind water levels are down and have been declining for the past several years.

[SunWhiskers]

Thanks for the responses.


Use a boat.

2/0 or 3/0 circle hooks with fly lined bait no weights. I use pike mackerel soaked in attractant. 15 lb test is good.

Keep in mind water levels are down and have been declining for the past several years.
I was curious about this (sounds a bit like out in Phx too). Are there better places to fish cats elsewhere? I thought about trying my luck at the ducts, or going to SARL. Both aren't too far but I don't know the right fishing holes around here yet ;)

[etucker1959]

Thanks for the responses.


I was curious about this (sounds a bit like out in Phx too). Are there better places to fish cats elsewhere? I thought about trying my luck at the ducts, or going to SARL. Both aren't too far but I don't know the right fishing holes around here yet ;)
Some of the local Regional Parks can offer some great catfishing at times!!!!

[SunWhiskers]

oh and do they sell mackerel at the bait shop?
otherwise going to prep a few things before i go this weekend and next :)

[Rooster]

oh and do they sell mackerel at the bait shop?
otherwise going to prep a few things before i go this weekend and next :)

They sell it all at the bait shop. Mackerel - Shrimp - As well as scents - Is all in stock !

Good luck out there! Should be a blast!

[VineVideos]

All of these responses are great. And FYI.... (I produce television shows for FOX), we are currently filming and producing an episode of Angler Chronicles
called "Catfishin' 101" to air June 14 at 9:30 A.M. on FOX Sports West (same channel as the Angels and Ducks).
It is all about how to catch catfish (both Blue and Channel) at Irvine Lake. I know you will find it very informative.

Next week Irvine Lake will be stocking 10,000 pounds of quality size cats. The catfish opener is slated for June 5. Visit www.irvinelake.net for details including summer hours.

I will post more info here on FNN and on the Irvine Lake Facebook as the date gets closer. Thanks for your interest.

Danny Jackson

[SunWhiskers]

we are currently filming and producing an episode of Angler Chronicles
called "Catfishin' 101" to air June 14 at 9:30 A.M. on FOX Sports West

best news i've heard all day!

[dhntr48]

Castaic has big cats saw a guy on the bank with a fish that was 50 or 60 pounds and two others 25 to 30 pounds . Try every muddy cove and mud lines off the points are good too . In June I would target cats in my bass boat and have 30 fish days. My best was 10 pounds there . Kern Counties lake Isabella Has good Cat fishing and you can fish 24 hours . Had some there at 13 pounds . Cats eat it all ,I would bring Bacon , worms ,cheese , shrimp , Mack . They were my favorite spots !

[muskyman]

I prefer 25lb berkely big game, I like 7 1/2 foot flippin sticks, and reels like a curado 300 or calcutta 400 size. And get some good quality hooks and bigger hooks for bigger fish if that's what your after, otherwise generally speaking, smaller sized baits for smaller fish. And the bite gets alot better around sept oct too. Good luck dude

[VineAssist]

Check out this summer issue of the Fish Taco Chronicles there is a article inside called Catfishing 101 by a lake manager whom has been working at the lake for 16+years. Its a free magazine and is available at most tackle stores.
Lots of good posts. Fly line your baits, scents such as Bite On Cajun and make sure you bring a BIG net just in case you hook a giant.

[SunWhiskers]

no one is putting weights on their line eh? well darn, i just got some new 1/2oz eggs
if anyone's out tomorrow morning, you might just catch me on the shore!

[Indo-angler]

Sometimes they eat other stuff!

Got this one last year fishing for trout in the flats... 12 1/2# on 3# Maxima Ultragreen and Berkely pinch crawler

[Quatermain]

Sometimes they eat other stuff!

Got this one last year fishing for trout in the flats... 12 1/2# on 3# Maxima Ultragreen and Berkely pinch crawler

I never fished growing up, but my kids have taken an interest.

I want to take my kids fishing this weekend. Since my one son mentioned catfish, I was thinking of the opener at Irvine Lake. Has anyone tried the kids lagoon there? We would be fishing from the shore wherever we fish. Irvine is a bit of a drive from our home in the San Fernando Valley, but I'm up for it for their benefit.

Any tips? Quite honestly I don't care what we catch. I just want them to catch a fish and be happy.

[esteban1t]

I never fished growing up, but my kids have taken an interest.

I want to take my kids fishing this weekend. Since my one son mentioned catfish, I was thinking of the opener at Irvine Lake. Has anyone tried the kids lagoon there? We would be fishing from the shore wherever we fish. Irvine is a bit of a drive from our home in the San Fernando Valley, but I'm up for it for their benefit.

Any tips? Quite honestly I don't care what we catch. I just want them to catch a fish and be happy.

2/0-4/0 J hook, 10-15 pound line
Marshmallow plus shrimp and a sliding sinker
inflated worm or worm with marshmallow with sliding sinker
fly lined shrimp or piece of mackerel
cast the line near any grass or deep areas of the lagoon

[Quatermain]

Thanks, let you know how it goes!

[SunWhiskers]

Skunked out both weekends. You'd think I'd have caught something during the catfish opener.
A guy down the bank about 40 feet from me caught a nice channel around 7am... using nightcrawlers w/ cajun bite (go figure this was what I was using for bait last week.. this week was shrimp heads)

Not sure what I'm refining next week.. I'll get my catfish eventually

[volcomape]

I was skunked last weekend as well.

JC