Irvine Lake Fishing Report
by Steve Carson
12-23-2010
714-649-9111
Website
The recent wild weather caused Irvine Lake to close completely on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week; but the lake is open as of today [Thursday] for shore fishing only. For anglers planning ahead; on New Year's Eve [Dec. 31], the lake will close at 5:00 PM, and on New Year's Day [Jan. 1], the regular Saturday hours of 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM will be in effect.
Before the storms hit, most of the trout were quality-grade rainbows in the 2 to 7-pound class. A nice assortment of larger rainbows to 12 pounds, along with some colorful exotics are spicing up the stringers. Productive spots included the west shore, Boat Dock Cove, Santiago Flats, and mid-lake. Trollers scored their fish toplining with firetiger-color Rapala Countdown CD05's and hot-pink Rapala X-Rap XR04's. Bait dunkers are advised to use the standard stained-water tactic of shortening up their leaders to around 6 inches, and making sure that all baits are heavily doused with Gulp! Alive Garlic Spray, or other strong scents.
Although bass anglers found only modest numbers of 2 to 3 pound largemouth, large numbers of bass are starting to show on the electronics while suspended on points. This classic winter pattern should manifest itself in better catches over the next few weeks. A few incidental catfish were caught by anglers fishing for trout. A handful of trout trollers also ran across concentrations of 1 to 2-pound class crappie at the flats. Families with children age 12 and had found very good action on 1 to 3-pound trout in the Kids Lagoon. Again the recommendation is for very short 6 to 8-inch leaders, along with very bright Power Bait colors and liberal application of garlic sprays. Follow Irvine Lake on Facebook, on the web at www.IrvineLake.net or call 714-649-9111.
Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
1) Tim Blackshear of Rancho Cucamonga, 12-6 rainbow trout on a mini jig at Woody's Cove.
2) Ricardo Zepeda of Balboa, 11-10 rainbow trout on a jig near the docks.
3) Tim McElroy of Bellflower, 10-2 rainbow trout on a Rapala at mid-lake.
4) Brian Carter of Orange, 10-0 rainbow trout on Power Bait at the flats.
5) Miles Peterson of Gunnison, CO, 8-10 rainbow trout on a Tasmanian Devil at mid-lake.
6) Angelina Daquilla of Carlsbad, 8-6 rainbow trout on a Rapala at mid-lake.
7) Bill Anderson of Orange, 2-10 brown trout on a Rapala at Boat Dock Cove.
8) Anthony Aguilera of West Covina, 2-0 brown trout on an SC Shiner at the cliffs.
9) Jimmy Getty of Silverado, 3-2 largemouth bass [released] on a triple trout at the cliffs.
10) Mark Suarez of Orange, 8-0 channel catfish on Power Bait at the flats.
11) Nathan Niculae of Yorba Linda, 1-15 crappie on a Thomas Buoyant at the flats.
13) John Price of Mission Viejo, 5-trout limit totaling 27-10, topped by and 8-8 rainbow, on X-Raps at mid-lake.
Although bass anglers found only modest numbers of 2 to 3 pound largemouth, large numbers of bass are starting to show on the electronics while suspended on points. This classic winter pattern should manifest itself in better catches over the next few weeks. A few incidental catfish were caught by anglers fishing for trout. A handful of trout trollers also ran across concentrations of 1 to 2-pound class crappie at the flats. Families with children age 12 and had found very good action on 1 to 3-pound trout in the Kids Lagoon. Again the recommendation is for very short 6 to 8-inch leaders, along with very bright Power Bait colors and liberal application of garlic sprays. Follow Irvine Lake on Facebook, on the web at www.IrvineLake.net or call 714-649-9111.
Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
1) Tim Blackshear of Rancho Cucamonga, 12-6 rainbow trout on a mini jig at Woody's Cove.
2) Ricardo Zepeda of Balboa, 11-10 rainbow trout on a jig near the docks.
3) Tim McElroy of Bellflower, 10-2 rainbow trout on a Rapala at mid-lake.
4) Brian Carter of Orange, 10-0 rainbow trout on Power Bait at the flats.
5) Miles Peterson of Gunnison, CO, 8-10 rainbow trout on a Tasmanian Devil at mid-lake.
6) Angelina Daquilla of Carlsbad, 8-6 rainbow trout on a Rapala at mid-lake.
7) Bill Anderson of Orange, 2-10 brown trout on a Rapala at Boat Dock Cove.
8) Anthony Aguilera of West Covina, 2-0 brown trout on an SC Shiner at the cliffs.
9) Jimmy Getty of Silverado, 3-2 largemouth bass [released] on a triple trout at the cliffs.
10) Mark Suarez of Orange, 8-0 channel catfish on Power Bait at the flats.
11) Nathan Niculae of Yorba Linda, 1-15 crappie on a Thomas Buoyant at the flats.
13) John Price of Mission Viejo, 5-trout limit totaling 27-10, topped by and 8-8 rainbow, on X-Raps at mid-lake.
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