Irvine Lake Website

The water continues to pour in at Irvine Lake, sparking an excellent bite on the lakes' substantial largemouth bass population, observed Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The bass fishing is unbelievable", reported Getty. "The fish are not on the beds just yet, but they are moving up to from 1 to 20 feet of water. The fish are just about everywhere, and I have seen bass up to 5.5 pounds caught and released. Just about any major bass fishing technique is working, with Berkley Finesse Worms in oxblood, green magic and purple weenie colors being especially good."

Local bass-fishing expert Brandon Burton had a good day of bass fishing, releasing 9 largemouth to 2.5 pounds off the red clay cliffs. He was splitshotting 4.5-inch Robo Worms in the oxblood color in 2 to 5 feet of water. "The method I used is called dead-slow' tipped Burton. "I only moved my bait a few inches every minute."

A huge 8.12 pound steelhead was landed by 8-year old Donna Ingle of Placentia while using a nightcrawlers doused in Garlic Berkley Trout Dip. The big steelie is one of the largest ever taken from Irvine, and is easily the largest ever caught by a member of the younger set. Donna fished the west shore road with her parents, and used a custom-built rod made by her cousin of Bentfishing Rods.

Meanwhile, trout fishing held steady as the buoys in Sierra Cove prohibits anglers from getting close to the rushing water coming out of the pipe. Once the water level covers the pipe, the restriction lines will be moved to allow anglers to get closer to where the fish are stacked up.

Trout trollers have been doing best this week, with Rapalas at mid-lake a hot choice. Bait anglers are congregated at the west shore and along the restriction lines At Sierra Cove. The new Gulp! Trout Dough is still in short supply at area sporting goods stores, but anglers who have been able to acquire it have scored very well. Leaders in the 16 to 18-inch range are best.

The carp are currently spawning and thrashing throughout the lake, with huge fish from 16 to 30 pounds being reported by anglers targeting trout and bass. Specialty European carp techniques have been proven to be highly effective on Irvine's carp, although few of that discipline's practitioners have been out so far this season.

Crappie are also starting to show, with some excellent catches reported for anglers drifting the flats. White mini jigs tipped with a mealworm have been the best choice for crappie.

Due to a malfunctioning water pump, trout stocking in the Kid's Lagoon will be suspended until repairs can be completed. Anglers are reminded that all bass fishing is strictly catch and release at Irvine Lake.

This weekend will see a bonus stocking of trout to 15 pounds in conjunction with the big Sport Chalet Trout Tournament. The bottom road along the west shore is starting to see some flooding, but the upper road remains dry and drivable.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
8-year old Donna Ingle of Placentia, 8.12 pound steelhead on nightcrawlers dunked in Garlic Trout Dip at the west shore
Kelly Nolan and Dan Gurt of Fullerton, limits of trout totaling 33.5 pounds on Power Bait at the Sierra Cove buoys
Eric Chung of San Diego, limit of trout totaling 18.0 pounds on Power Bait at the west shore
Madison and Brunz Burr of Encino, 8 trout totaling 21.3 pounds on nightcrawlers at the west shore
Gary Klower of Huntington Beach, 2 trout weighing 5.0 pounds each on Rapalas at mid-lake

Media contacts:
Dave Noyes or Jimmy Getty at the Irvine Lake Pro Shop
[714-649-9111]
Steve Carson at scarson@sunset.net