Overall trout action was good at Irvine Lake this weekend, although the big batch of recently-planted steelhead were mostly elusive. Plenty of trout limits were weighed in with the majority being very nice fish between 2 and 5 pounds. Decent numbers of 6 and 7 pounders added to the weight totals, and a number of the drag-ripping steelhead were hooked but not necessarily landed. Some gusty winds in the afternoon hampered success.
The hot ticket to a limit of rainbows was definitely the new Gulp! Trout Dough, either alone of in combination with a half-nightcrawler. The white-color Gulp! Dough has been the most productive, and some anglers are also doing well with a Power Mouse using a white Gulp! Salmon Egg. Best shore fishing location is Trout Island.
Trollers are doing best along the west shore and in the flats. Dragging brown trout or brook trout-color J05 and J07 Jointed Rapalas is the top choice for trollers.
Bass anglers continue to whack away at 2 to 4-pound largemouth along the red clay cliffs with jigs and dropshot baits. Crappie anglers are finding their quarry in areas of newly-submerged vegetation on white mini jigs tipped with a mealworm. The catfish anglers venturing out are finding good number of 2 to 5-pound whiskerfish on mackerel or nightcrawlers.
The massive water pumping intake operation is done for now, and the lake level is currently high and holding steady. The west shore road is closed to vehicle traffic, but pedestrians who feel like a brisk hike can find their way to good fishing locations. The Kids Lagoon is decommissioned until further notice.
A crappie fishing seminar will take place from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM on May 19 at the Catch-Out Pond. Presenters will be Irvine Lake Pro-Team members Marlon Meade and Dave Young. Topics covered will include drift fishing, vertical jigging, bobber fishing and night-time tactics. The seminar is free with paid fishing admission, or $10 for the seminar only. Reservations are required; please call 714-649-9111
Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Curt Ford of Orange, 8.14 pound trout on a Rapala at mid-lake
Milos Bruucak of Anaheim, 6.7 pound trout on Gulp! Trout Dough at Trout Island
Dylan Schwappach of Brea, 6.14 pound trout on nightcrawlers at the flats
Matt Zaragosa of Riverside, 6.12 pound trout on Gulp! Trout Dough at the west shore
Hailey Zaragoas of Riverside, 5.06 pound trout on Power Bait at the west shore
Scott Trimble of Rancho Cucamonga, 4.2 pound steelhead on a Power Worm at the west shore
Nan Sullivan of Lake Forest, 5-trout limit totaling 20.6 pounds of Gulp! Trout Dough at Sierra Cove
Report Date:
The incoming water is done pumping at Irvine Lake, and the lake level is high and holding steady for the time being. A special stocking of big steelhead to 8 pounds is slated for this week, promising to yield line-ripping action on the "silver bullets" over the weekend. Access to the west shore road for shore fishing is now blocked by the flooding just beyond the rental boat dock, and the now stable water level has spread the fish......
Report Date:
The rising water story at Irvine Lake was eclipsed by the best trout action of year for both quantity and......