The traditional best month of the year for Irvine Lake's blue catfish population kept up with its reputation this week. Plenty of channel cats from 2 to 6-pounds are filling the stringers, but the bigger blues are definitely active as autumn arrives, and October is prime time for the monster-size blues to over 80 pounds that inhabit Irvine's depths. Best baits are mackerel, bonito, and skipjack, with Santiago Flats getting the lion's share of attention, although channel cats can be found in Boat Dock Cove and along the west shore. Bass anglers are finding their quarry following two different major patterns. One group of fish are moving deeper, and are hitting on jigs and plastics at 20 to 40 feet at the Red Clay Cliffs and Rocky Point. Carolina-rigged Berkley Chigger Craws remain one of the top offerings for mostly 2 to 5-pounders. The second group of largemouth are orienting themselves in shallow water, and appear to be looking for the trout that will be planted in about 4 weeks. These shallow bass are not easy to catch, and are most vulnerable at dusk with a little breeze on the water.
Some crappie are visible with electronics suspended in tight schools at 40 feet. Very few bluegill, redear, or hybrid stripers have been reported this week. The Kids Lagoon is good for families with children age 12 and under, with 1 to 3-pound channel catfish biting on the marshmallow/mealworm combo. Surface water temperature in the main lake is 74 degrees and dropping, with the water level receding slowly. For anglers planning ahead, Irvine Lake's 2010-11 Trout Season Opener will be on Friday, November 5, with over 20,000 pounds of trout stocked. A special limited-entry "VIP Fishing Day" will take place on Thursday, November 4; contact the Pro Shop [714-649-9111] for information on a great opportunity to beat the opening day crowds.
Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
1) 7-year old Nathan Simpson of Long Beach, 18-4 blue catfish [released] on mackerel at the flats.
2) Elaine Dickerhoof of Artesia, 18-4 blue catfish [released] on mackerel at the flats.
3) Don Didion of Long Beach, 16-8 blue catfish [released] on mackerel at the flats.
4) Tony Williams of Lynwood, 13-6 blue catfish [released] on mackerel at the flats.
5) Dave Bordere of Irvine, 11-8 and 11-2 channel catfish on mackerel at the flats.
6) Jimmy Getty of Silverado, 5-1 largemouth bass [released], on plastics at Trout Island.
7) Rusty Gygax of Los Angeles, 34-1 double limit [10] of channel catfish, on mackerel at the creek.
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Catfish results were mixed this week at Irvine Lake, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop, "It was hit or miss on catfish this week; if you were on them it was easy limits, but if you missed them it was slow", observed Getty. "The cats are moving deeper this week, and are at around 15 to 20 feet, and still holding near rocky or brushy structure. The daytime bite goes until about noon, and the nighttime bite goes......
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Anglers heading for Irvine Lake this week focused mainly on catfish or bass, and mostly caught plenty of both, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. Most of the catfish on the stringers are prime eating-size channels in the 2 to 6-pound class, with a few larger-grade channels and blues to 13 pounds keeping things exciting. Favored baits are mackerel, shrimp, bonito, barracuda, DuMong's and Gulp! Good whiskerfish catches were reported from Boat Dock Cove, Santiago Flats, and Trout......
