Where the heck are the fish at Irvine Lake ? Bass - Fresh Water - Catfish

[volcomape]

Ok so before you start telling me its a called fishing not catching for a reason, I am completely aware of that.
I was always very hesitant on going to Irvine Lake because to tell you the truth I never heard many good things about it. That being said this information was coming from weekend warriors that might give it a shot twice year.

This is the deal I grew up fishing at Lake Mission Viejo , The Sierras and a reservoir in Orange.
I live in Orange and recently purchased a Bass Boat.
I have went fishing every Sunday for the last six weeks at Irvine w/ not a lot of success. I only caught no fish once and have never caught more than two.
I fish mainly for bass using Plastic worms,lizards , night crawlers, flipping hogs.
I have had the most success at the red clay cliffs and the point to the very left of Sierra Cove but have covered all regions.

I am interested to see if anyone will share w/ me any spots for Bass or Catfish. I have only been targeting Bass thus far.
I am not looking for your secret spots just good areas to target at Irvine Lake. Be it at the flats , dam , boat dock and what type of tackle was being used.
Also am looking for the depth of water people have had success at .
Also looking for times you have had the most success. I have caught all my fish before 9:30 am and then it just shuts off.

Thanks for checking out this thread - I will see you guys on the water.

JC

[Stormcrow]

Rather than looking directly for bass, invest some time at Irvine looking for cover on structure....Look for rock piles with a bit of access to deep water. (what is considered deep for Irvine anyway.) Find some rock with some wood on it. Irvine is a mudhole. Find the rock, you will find the fish.

Not sure about catfish, but Ill bet you can catch catfish anywhere on that lake.

Good luck.

[gogreeenz4]

46396

we found a couple...... Cranks in the flats, Jigs on rocky points and a few a rig fish here and there... flukes also! PM if you need more direction!

Irvine can be one tricky place! I seriously hated and i mean hated it a few months back but once you start finding the swing of things its actually a really good fishery!

[gogreeenz4]

wait wait wati!! I think me and my buddy jake ran into you out there in the back right corner near the damn?? I got the red tracker 190!

[volcomape]

Great Info - Thanks

[volcomape]

Makes me feel better other guys are hit and miss.
I'll find them .... Like you said you know there there.
JC

[volcomape]

I am not sure man -Maybe - Theirs a lot of boats out there. I have a Stratos 176.

JC

[gogreeenz4]

Dark Chatter bait seems to be doing decent... I leave you with that!

[chompot]

They are there. Generally speaking it isn't a hard lake at all to fish. If you drop shot 15 to 20 feet right not you should not have a problem catching more than two fish. Try and fish uphill if possible.

gogreeenz4 I am glad you opened up to giving the lake more of a shot. You weren't too stoked on it a couple months ago. If you see me in my camo ranger, say hi. I should be back there in a couple weeks. Havasu this weekend and fishing a different lake next weekend.

46397

[Stinkbait]

Dark Chatter bait seems to be doing decent... I leave you with that!

Yes, chatterbait.
I have seen all you guys before. I'm the regular solo rental guy with 8 rods in the boat typically.

The shad are spawning, or have spawned, so keep that in your hat next time you go. You could literally put a shad bait on a dropshot setup and catch fish everywhere if you don't have the right tackle others have mentioned above.

Don Spencer did a show for the lake recently and it is posted in a previous thread. Pretty spot on and will put you in the know accurately.

[smokehound]

Switch up your presentation- try rigging a zoom fluke weightless with a finesse hook or dropshot hook- hook it through the belly in the center (through the two 'flaps'), and cast it out, then let it fall on slack line. GENTLY pull upwards, slowly, and give it a few 'pops', then let it sink back down. Ive been doing this lately and it's KILLING them.

[BentRod]

I am not sure man -Maybe - Theirs a lot of boats out there. I have a Stratos 176.

JC

Were you out with the wife on sat. ? Saw you at the launch at end of the day. I was in a blue and grey Nitro. Sat. was kind of tough, how did you do?

[VineVideos]

Hey JC,

I had an epic day last Thursday. And the weekend was no different. The lake stocked thousands of pounds of quality channel catfish last Wednesday. These stockings will continue although I don't know the dates
yet.

I produced an episode of Angler Chronicles on Irvine Lake a few weeks ago called "Bassin' 101 with Don Spencer. He probably knows the lake better than anyone. Here is a full commercial free copy of that episode:

https://vimeo.com/124176944

I am working on a catfishing episode that will air next Sunday, June 14, on FOX Sports West. It is one we produced mainly during this last week and shows the huge stocking last Wednesday as well as
great catfishing over this last weekend. It is called "Catfishin' 101" and is all about rigging and techniques fishing catfish at Irvine Lake. This last weekend was outstanding fishing for cats.

You asked about spots. They change as these catfish do tend to keep on the move. The best spots we found were right out in front of the west shore launch ramp across from the main boat dock.
Another good spot was right out in front of trout island. A pattern the stocker fish tend to take is moving up into the flats. Not sure if they have done that yet or not. But if you are not bit within 30 or 40
minutes it is always a good idea to move even if only a short distance.

In this new episode you will see that we only flyline our baits for catfish. No sinkers. You probably already know that, JC. We have been using mainly the MackBaits from Bite-ON as well as getting some skipjack and
bonito from local Asian markets and marinating in Bite-ON Cajun scent. You will see in this new show on FOX how Don likes to cut these big chunks while targeting the very big blue and channel catfish.

But the "stockers" we have been putting into the lake are far from "dinks." Most are in the 5 to 10 pound range. You will see all of this in the new show. I will be posting the trailer for the show
within the next 24 hours so keep an eye out here on FNN as well as the Irvine Lake FaceBook.

Here are three more clips I produced in the last few days that you might enjoy including Opening Day and last Wednesday's stocking video.

https://vimeo.com/129969954
https://vimeo.com/129850507
https://vimeo.com/129734124

There are more stockings due real soon but again, I don't know the dates. There are a lot of hold over fish in the lake as well. Right now they tend to hang out in
deeper water as one of the posters pointed out. West Shore and Rocky Point are good. Try positioning your boat in around 40 feet of water and casting toward the shore.
Then work your bait slowly back toward the boat. You will see this technique that Don Spencer likes to use in our next show on June 14. I will also be posting this show to
FNN and FB as soon as it has aired on FOX Sports.

Tight lines and hope to see you some day at Irvine Lake. You are obviously an avid fisherman and I would love to meet you. I have been fishing in Orange County both
fresh and saltwater for more than 60 years !! Feel free to PM me or call my cell at (714) 296-6661.

Danny Jackson
Angler Chronicles Television
FOX Sports West

[gogreeenz4]

Zoom super Fluke Jr on a 3/0 hook fly lined or a zoom tiny fluke on the drop shot will get eatin all day long.....

[volcomape]

Thank you very much Danny

JC