Plenty of good-size catfish were caught during Friday night's evening bite, but Saturday night was much slower, likely due to the lingering effects of the V-Drive Regatta speedboat races during the day, observed Nick Sepulveda at the Irvine Lake Pro Shop. "Lots of real nice channel and blue cats up to about 18 pounds are being caught", reported Sepulveda. "The big ones are still not quite ready to go."
Daytime anglers are tallying good stringers of 2 to 6-pound channel catfish on nightcrawlers in the area near the docks. Night-time anglers are finding plenty of the eating-size channels, along with decent numbers of larger blues over 10 pounds on Catmando and DuMong's at Santiago flats and along the west shore.
Night-time is also the right time for crappie using a floating lantern. Excellent numbers of slabs to more than 2 pounds are biting on mini-jigs in just about any color.
Lots of bluegill are being caught along the shoreline on mealworms and waxworms. Bass anglers were able to scratch a few 2 to 4-pound largemouth on dropshot baits at the red clay cliffs. Trout action was slow for leadcore line trollers.
Anglers are reminded that release is mandatory on all catfish and sturgeon in excess of 20 pounds. Lucky anglers who release a trophy will receive a free admission pass to the lake. Anglers who release a monster in excess of 50 pounds will also receive a certificate for a free motor boat rental. Catches must be brought to the boat dock for verification by Lake Staff.
The popular Kid's Lagoon will re-open late this week, with an initial planting of 250 pounds of 2 to 7-pound channel cats. The Lagoon is reserved for families with children age 12 and under. Irvine Lake is open until 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights, and is closed on Tuesdays for the rest of the summer season.
Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Buddy Young of Corona, 17 and 14-pound catfish [released] on chicken livers at Santiago Flats
Steve Johnson of Oceanside, 12.2, 10.8, 10.4 and 10.14 pound catfish on Catmando at the flats
Fred and Bobby Boyce of Los Angeles, 10-catfish limit totaling 36 pounds, topped by a 10.87 pounder on mackerel at the west shore
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A huge stocking of oversize blue catfish to nearly 40 pounds has anglers chomping at the bit this week at Irvine Lake. Friday June 8 will see the formal opening of catfish season, with the lake remaining open until 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights for the remainder of the summer season. The night-time hours will give anglers the best shot at hooking one of the lunker cats. "We had to get these fish into the lake earlier......
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The 14th annual Chico "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" children's event at Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park was a huge success once again. The final tally showed somewhere around 3,000 children having a go at catching their first fish. Many fish were indeed caught by the kids, but thousands remain in Horseshoe Lake to offer a fun opportunity for area children over the summer months. Some 10,000 pounds of channel catfish were planted the day before in the little......
