VineAssist
06-15-2015, 07:36 AM
IRVINE LAKE REPORT
By Steve Carson
6/14/15
IRVINE LAKE CATFISH STILL CHEWING WELL; 13-1 POUNDER TOPS CATCHES
BASS ANGLERS SEE FISH MOVING INTO SUMMER PATTERN
The heavy stocking for last week’s catfish season opener at Irvine Lake kept things humming along, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. “Fishing was very good all week long as the fish spread out around the lake.” observed Getty. “The catfish really bit well on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening.”
Getty added, “The topwater bite on the bass is just off the charts. Anglers are reporting up to 5-20 fish on this explosive style of fishing.”
The catfish have really started biting well as we are just starting up our summer season. The bite has been good in the morning hours but hit overdrive once the sun goes down, as we are open on Thursday-Saturday for night time fishing. Best baits have been the Bite On Macbites, Bite On Shrimp, Mackerel, Shrimp and Chicken Livers. Adding scents such as Bite On Cajun and Berkley Catfish Dip in the Blood flavor further enhances offerings. Best spots on the lake for the Catfish have been the West Shore, Santiago Flats, Boat Dock areas and mid lake. Lots of prime eating size fish in the 2-7lb class where checked in at the shop with a handful of fish in the 10lb class. Lucky Nguyen of Garden Grove checked in the biggest Channel Catfish of the week with a 13-1lb Channel Catfish caught near the fence line at Trout Island on Mackerel.
Bass fishing has just been explosive pun intended as the fish continue to blow up on top water lures such as the River to Sea Whopper Plopper, Poppers, Buzzbaits, and walk the dog style baits all over the lake. The early AM hours and later PM hours have been the best for the topwater bite while during the day bass anglers fishing plastics, jigs and rip baits are doing great as well. Local guide Donny Spencer of Pomona caught and released a 9.5lb Largemouth Bass while fishing a prototype 4in Triple Trout in the Santiago Flats.
Bluegill have joined the fray in the summertime bite as the feisty panfish are starting to show up around submerged vegetation. Anglers wishing to fish for these scrappy fighters are encouraged to bring light line as the fish have been a line shy. The best baits for the Panfish have been mealworms, waxworms, little pieces of nightcrawlers and small mini jigs fished under a bobber. Sierra Cove and the Santiago Flats have seen the lion share of the Panfish action.
Trout continue to bite for anglers wishing to target them. The fish are definitely in the deeper water so drifting nightcrawlers or Power bait has been the best method for the bait fisherman. Trollers are still catching fish while dragging 4-6 color of leadcore line with a Needlefish or Rapala attached to the end. Little Samantha Richardson of Long Beach checked in a 4-8lb Brown Trout while fishing Mackerel.
Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of catfish in the Kid’s Lagoon on mackerel and M&M combos. Surface temperature on the main lake is 74-76 degrees, with the lake level slowly dropping. The lake is stocked with thousands of pounds of channel catfish every week, and 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:
Lucky Nguyen of Garden Grove a 13-1lb Channel Catfish taken from the Trout Island Fence line on Mackerel
Samantha Richardson of Long Beach with a 4-8lb Brown Trout taken on a chunk of Mackerel
Samantha Richardson of Long Beach with a 2-0lb Common Carp taken on a nightcrawler
Donny Spencer of Pomona with a 9-5lb Largemouth Bass (released) taken on a Prototype 4in Triple Trout in Shad Pattern in the Santiago Flats.
Follow Irvine Lake on Facebook, on the web at IrvineLake.net or call 714-649-9111
By Steve Carson
6/14/15
IRVINE LAKE CATFISH STILL CHEWING WELL; 13-1 POUNDER TOPS CATCHES
BASS ANGLERS SEE FISH MOVING INTO SUMMER PATTERN
The heavy stocking for last week’s catfish season opener at Irvine Lake kept things humming along, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. “Fishing was very good all week long as the fish spread out around the lake.” observed Getty. “The catfish really bit well on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening.”
Getty added, “The topwater bite on the bass is just off the charts. Anglers are reporting up to 5-20 fish on this explosive style of fishing.”
The catfish have really started biting well as we are just starting up our summer season. The bite has been good in the morning hours but hit overdrive once the sun goes down, as we are open on Thursday-Saturday for night time fishing. Best baits have been the Bite On Macbites, Bite On Shrimp, Mackerel, Shrimp and Chicken Livers. Adding scents such as Bite On Cajun and Berkley Catfish Dip in the Blood flavor further enhances offerings. Best spots on the lake for the Catfish have been the West Shore, Santiago Flats, Boat Dock areas and mid lake. Lots of prime eating size fish in the 2-7lb class where checked in at the shop with a handful of fish in the 10lb class. Lucky Nguyen of Garden Grove checked in the biggest Channel Catfish of the week with a 13-1lb Channel Catfish caught near the fence line at Trout Island on Mackerel.
Bass fishing has just been explosive pun intended as the fish continue to blow up on top water lures such as the River to Sea Whopper Plopper, Poppers, Buzzbaits, and walk the dog style baits all over the lake. The early AM hours and later PM hours have been the best for the topwater bite while during the day bass anglers fishing plastics, jigs and rip baits are doing great as well. Local guide Donny Spencer of Pomona caught and released a 9.5lb Largemouth Bass while fishing a prototype 4in Triple Trout in the Santiago Flats.
Bluegill have joined the fray in the summertime bite as the feisty panfish are starting to show up around submerged vegetation. Anglers wishing to fish for these scrappy fighters are encouraged to bring light line as the fish have been a line shy. The best baits for the Panfish have been mealworms, waxworms, little pieces of nightcrawlers and small mini jigs fished under a bobber. Sierra Cove and the Santiago Flats have seen the lion share of the Panfish action.
Trout continue to bite for anglers wishing to target them. The fish are definitely in the deeper water so drifting nightcrawlers or Power bait has been the best method for the bait fisherman. Trollers are still catching fish while dragging 4-6 color of leadcore line with a Needlefish or Rapala attached to the end. Little Samantha Richardson of Long Beach checked in a 4-8lb Brown Trout while fishing Mackerel.
Families with children age 12 and under found good numbers of catfish in the Kid’s Lagoon on mackerel and M&M combos. Surface temperature on the main lake is 74-76 degrees, with the lake level slowly dropping. The lake is stocked with thousands of pounds of channel catfish every week, and 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:
Lucky Nguyen of Garden Grove a 13-1lb Channel Catfish taken from the Trout Island Fence line on Mackerel
Samantha Richardson of Long Beach with a 4-8lb Brown Trout taken on a chunk of Mackerel
Samantha Richardson of Long Beach with a 2-0lb Common Carp taken on a nightcrawler
Donny Spencer of Pomona with a 9-5lb Largemouth Bass (released) taken on a Prototype 4in Triple Trout in Shad Pattern in the Santiago Flats.
Follow Irvine Lake on Facebook, on the web at IrvineLake.net or call 714-649-9111