Irvine Lake trout and crappie active; 12-0 rainbow largest of week
by Steve Carson
4-27-2011
714-649-9111
Website
Both trout and crappie aficionados had plenty to smile about at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The trout fishing perked back up this week, probably due to the cooler than average temperatures", observed Getty. "The trolling picked up along the west shore and near the dam, and the bait fishing stayed good at Woody's Cove and the flats."
Irvine Lake Pro Team leader Marlon Meade has been hammering on the lake's crappie population this week. "The crappie spawn is happening right now, and it's pretty much limit-style action", remarked Meade. "The fish are in 10 to 14 feet of water, back up in Santiago Flats. Results are much better when the sun is shining, and drifting after 1:00 PM is the hot ticket right now. Hottest lure has been a 2-inch pearl white Gulp! Minnow, rigged on a 1/16 ounce jighead."
Trout trollers did well with firetiger-color Rapala CD05's, brook trout-color Jointed Rapala J05's, and chartreuse/red head Rapala XR04 X-Raps, and some anglers are dragging them on 2 or 3 colors of leadcore line. Bait dunkers scored with Berkley Mice Tails, Gulp! Pinched Crawlers, and Power Bait. Most trout on the stringers ranged from 2 to 5 pounds, with a few larger specimens to 12 pounds keeping things interesting.
Bass anglers found the action on their quarry slowed slightly, but skilled bassers were still releasing 7 to 10 largemouth per day, mostly in the 1 to 4-pound class. Jigs and plastics at 10 to 15 feet were the top enticers for bass.
A few wipers were seen boiling up on shad this week, but none were successfully landed. Catfish chasers found decent numbers of 2 to 4-pound whiskerfish at the mouths of creeks, using various cut baits.
Families with children age 12 and under found very good numbers of 1 to 5-pound rainbow trout on Mice Tails and Power Bait. Surface temperatures on the main lake ranged from 68 to 72 degrees, with underwater visibility averaging 3 to 4 feet. The water level is rising slightly, as boards are in place at the dam. Upcoming events include the largest-ever crappie tournament in Southern California on May 21, and the opening of catfish season on June 10.
Irvine Lake Pro Team leader Marlon Meade has been hammering on the lake's crappie population this week. "The crappie spawn is happening right now, and it's pretty much limit-style action", remarked Meade. "The fish are in 10 to 14 feet of water, back up in Santiago Flats. Results are much better when the sun is shining, and drifting after 1:00 PM is the hot ticket right now. Hottest lure has been a 2-inch pearl white Gulp! Minnow, rigged on a 1/16 ounce jighead."
Trout trollers did well with firetiger-color Rapala CD05's, brook trout-color Jointed Rapala J05's, and chartreuse/red head Rapala XR04 X-Raps, and some anglers are dragging them on 2 or 3 colors of leadcore line. Bait dunkers scored with Berkley Mice Tails, Gulp! Pinched Crawlers, and Power Bait. Most trout on the stringers ranged from 2 to 5 pounds, with a few larger specimens to 12 pounds keeping things interesting.
Bass anglers found the action on their quarry slowed slightly, but skilled bassers were still releasing 7 to 10 largemouth per day, mostly in the 1 to 4-pound class. Jigs and plastics at 10 to 15 feet were the top enticers for bass.
A few wipers were seen boiling up on shad this week, but none were successfully landed. Catfish chasers found decent numbers of 2 to 4-pound whiskerfish at the mouths of creeks, using various cut baits.
Families with children age 12 and under found very good numbers of 1 to 5-pound rainbow trout on Mice Tails and Power Bait. Surface temperatures on the main lake ranged from 68 to 72 degrees, with underwater visibility averaging 3 to 4 feet. The water level is rising slightly, as boards are in place at the dam. Upcoming events include the largest-ever crappie tournament in Southern California on May 21, and the opening of catfish season on June 10.
More Reports
4-21-2011On the American River, salmon fishing will be allowed from Nimbus Dam to the Hazel Avenue bridge, from July 16 through Dec. 31. The Klamath River will be open for fall-run Chinook salmon from Aug. 15 through Dec. 31, with a daily bag limit of three Chinook salmon, of which no more than two may be more than 22 inches in length. Open to spring-run Chinook salmon fishing from Jan. 1 to Aug. 14, with a daily bag and possession...... Read More
4-20-2011
The annual late April crappie explosion at Irvine Lake is going off right on time, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The crappie bite has busted wide open", gushed Getty. "There were lots of nice fish being caught, especially at Santiago Flats, Sierra Cove, and along the west shore. Best lures are white or yellow Atomic Tubes. The little 1/32 ounce jigs were best because the fish are mostly shallow, and there are even some sight fish available." Trout anglers...... Read More
The annual late April crappie explosion at Irvine Lake is going off right on time, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The crappie bite has busted wide open", gushed Getty. "There were lots of nice fish being caught, especially at Santiago Flats, Sierra Cove, and along the west shore. Best lures are white or yellow Atomic Tubes. The little 1/32 ounce jigs were best because the fish are mostly shallow, and there are even some sight fish available." Trout anglers...... Read More