Irvine Lake Fish Report week of 3-16-2011
by Steve Carson
3-16-2011
714-649-9111
Website
Anglers chasing trout on Irvine Lake this week had two distinct choices, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Trolling is the best bet in the AM", observed Getty. "Once the sun gets high, move over to bait fishing. Use a 12 to 18-inch leader made of 2-pound test with bait, gradually casting out further as the day progresses."
Getty added, Best spots for bait fishing included Woody's Cove, and Boat Dock Cove, and trollers did best along the west shore, Santiago Flats and Sierra Cove."
Most trout on the stringers were quality-grade rainbows in the 2 to 5-pound range, with a few exotics like steelhead and browns, along with some bigger rainbows to 14 pounds keeping things interesting. Favored baits for trout were Power Bait Mice Tails in pink/white and glow colors, regular Power Bait in garlic flavor, and Gulp! Pinched Crawlers in natural color. Most popular trolling lures were the reliable firetiger-color Rapala CD3's and CD5's, along with hot pink Rapala X-Rap XR06's.
Another exciting development is the development of the spring crappie bite. Irvine Lake Pro-Team member Brian Ray scored a very nice limit of crappie near Trout Island. "We got a bunch of really nice crappie to 1.5 pounds", related Ray. "We were flatline trolling at slow speeds, with 4-pound line and a silver-color SC Shiner. The lures were running at the 6 to 8-foot level, and the fish were in tightly concentrated groups."
Bass anglers saw moderate numbers of 2 to 4-pound largemouth caught. A few fish ar starting to be seen on beds, but the majority are still at 15 to 30-foot depths, with jigs and crankbaits doing best.
A few catfish to 9 pounds are hitting gently for patient anglers offering mackerel near creek mouths.
Families with children age 12 and younger are doing well on 1 to 3-pound rainbow trout in the Kids Lagoon on Mice Tails and Power Bait. Surface temperatures on the main lake are ranging from 58 to 63 degrees, and the lake is brim full. 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: Mike Ramos of Downey, 14-2 rainbow trout on Power Bait at the flats Kevin Benning of Trabuco Canyon, 10-3 rainbow trout on a Rapala at mid-lake
Ashley Lewis of Orange, 6-6 steelhead on an SC Shiner at Trout Island
Marty Sauceda of Costa Mesa, 9-0 channel catfish on mackerel at the flats
Most trout on the stringers were quality-grade rainbows in the 2 to 5-pound range, with a few exotics like steelhead and browns, along with some bigger rainbows to 14 pounds keeping things interesting. Favored baits for trout were Power Bait Mice Tails in pink/white and glow colors, regular Power Bait in garlic flavor, and Gulp! Pinched Crawlers in natural color. Most popular trolling lures were the reliable firetiger-color Rapala CD3's and CD5's, along with hot pink Rapala X-Rap XR06's.
Another exciting development is the development of the spring crappie bite. Irvine Lake Pro-Team member Brian Ray scored a very nice limit of crappie near Trout Island. "We got a bunch of really nice crappie to 1.5 pounds", related Ray. "We were flatline trolling at slow speeds, with 4-pound line and a silver-color SC Shiner. The lures were running at the 6 to 8-foot level, and the fish were in tightly concentrated groups."
Bass anglers saw moderate numbers of 2 to 4-pound largemouth caught. A few fish ar starting to be seen on beds, but the majority are still at 15 to 30-foot depths, with jigs and crankbaits doing best.
A few catfish to 9 pounds are hitting gently for patient anglers offering mackerel near creek mouths.
Families with children age 12 and younger are doing well on 1 to 3-pound rainbow trout in the Kids Lagoon on Mice Tails and Power Bait. Surface temperatures on the main lake are ranging from 58 to 63 degrees, and the lake is brim full. 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: Mike Ramos of Downey, 14-2 rainbow trout on Power Bait at the flats Kevin Benning of Trabuco Canyon, 10-3 rainbow trout on a Rapala at mid-lake
Ashley Lewis of Orange, 6-6 steelhead on an SC Shiner at Trout Island
Marty Sauceda of Costa Mesa, 9-0 channel catfish on mackerel at the flats
More Reports
3-9-2011Trout anglers at Irvine Lake tallied trout to 12 pounds this week using a variety of techniques, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "Shore anglers are doing best in the early mornings, and should cast out further as the morning goes on", observed Getty. "Trollers are doing well pretty much all day long, but it really gets going in the afternoons." Bait dunkers are getting their fish on several different baits, with the hottest being Gulp! Pinched Crawlers and Power...... Read More
Irvine Lake trouters score rainbows to 14-4
Irvine LakeThe inclement weather that blew through over the weekend at Irvine Lake gave trollers the edge during the lake's now legendary "pre-frontal" period, reported Pro-Team leader Marlon Meade. "One of our Pro-Team members Ken Lewis had a monster stringer of trout that totaled 26-1, using a firetiger-color Rapala CD05. Lewis had 7 and 6-pounders as his 'kicker' fish. Saturday's fishing was absolutely wide-open, with very few anglers on the lake." Meade continued, "Lots of good solid catches are also being made...... Read More