Silverado, CA- Due to overcrowding, the special planting of 5,000 pounds big broodstock blue catfish into Irvine Lake will be coming in early! The stocking truck should arrive around noon on Thursday, May 31, and at least 75 of these fish are well in excess of 25 pounds, the rest are in the 20-pound class. Remember, release is mandatory on these fish, as is the release of all catfish and sturgeon over 20 pounds in Irvine Lake. The lucky anglers will receive a free admission pass to the lake. Irvine Lake's regular catfish season opener is scheduled for FRIDAY night, June 8, and the lake will be open until 2:00 AM for catfish anglers on Friday and Saturday nights for the balance of the summer. For more information, call the Irvine Lake Pro Shop at 714-649-9111.
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The last trout plants of the season have gone in the water, but catfish are now on the menu at Irvine Lake, according to general manager Dave Noyes. "We were fortunately able to acquire 5,000 pounds of broodstock blue catfish for our opening weekend of catfish season, and about half of these fish will weigh right about 20 pounds apiece. ???The other half were put in a special pond a year ago, when they all weighed well over 20 pounds each.......
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Summer's proximity and warming water temperatures are pushing Irvine Lake's trout population deeper, according to Tony Martinez at the Irvine Lake Pro Shop. "The trollers using leadcore are doing well", observed Martinez. "The regulars are still catching their trout limits on bait, but it's a little slow for others." Top trolling setup was a downrigger or leadcore line with 3 to 7 colors out, followed by a Rapala. Favored Rapalas included firetiger-color CD03 and CD05's, along with brown trout or brook......