Irvine Lake catfish go out with a bang; Trout Opener is Friday Nov. 4!
by Steve Carson
10-30-2011
714-649-9111
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Irvine Lake will be closed to the public for 4 days this week, from Monday Oct. 31 to Thursday Nov. 3, to stock the lake with some 20,000 pounds of trout, and prepare for the 2011 Trout Season Opener on Friday, Nov. 4.
The majority of the stocking will consist of rainbow trout in the 2 to 3-pound class from popular Calaveras Trout Farms, along with 3,000 pounds of brook trout and brown trout in the 5 to 8-pound range. Also included in the stocking total will be 5,000 pounds of larger-grade rainbows from 8 to 15 pounds. Irvine Lake general manager Dave Noyes gushed, "Due to the cold water conditions at Calaveras all year, these are the best looking trout we have seen in decades!"
Noyes added, "This will also be the second year in a row that high-water levels were maintained all summer long, allowing the previous season's trout to 'carry over' through the summer. This results in trout that are virtually indistinguishable from wild fish. Some of the trout will have even carried-over for 2 years, and will no doubt be absolutely ferocious."
Meanwhile, the catfish bite was going ballistic all week at the lake. "This has been one of the best weeks for double-digit catfish in the past year", remarked Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The change of seasons is definitely upon us, and the catfish are fattening up for the winter months to come, and our large number of 'holdover' trout have started to bite again. We have been experiencing very chilly evenings and mornings, so I would advise the opening day trout anglers to dress in layers until the sun comes out."
Interestingly, the change of seasons has also signaled the largemouth bass population that a big influx of trout is due in the lake very soon. Bass anglers have found a good number of 4 to 8-pound largemouth waiting in anticipation and hitting on swimbaits in the general vicinity of where the trout are to be stocked.
Surface temperatures in the main lake are ranging from 67 to 71 degrees. The water level is holding steady at about 8 feet below full pool. Underwater visibility is rated clear at 5 to 7 feet.
Beginning with the Nov. 4 season opener, winter operating hours will be 7 days a week, 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The Pro Shop and snack bar will open at 5:30 AM for help with rigging and awesome breakfast burritos.
The majority of the stocking will consist of rainbow trout in the 2 to 3-pound class from popular Calaveras Trout Farms, along with 3,000 pounds of brook trout and brown trout in the 5 to 8-pound range. Also included in the stocking total will be 5,000 pounds of larger-grade rainbows from 8 to 15 pounds. Irvine Lake general manager Dave Noyes gushed, "Due to the cold water conditions at Calaveras all year, these are the best looking trout we have seen in decades!"
Noyes added, "This will also be the second year in a row that high-water levels were maintained all summer long, allowing the previous season's trout to 'carry over' through the summer. This results in trout that are virtually indistinguishable from wild fish. Some of the trout will have even carried-over for 2 years, and will no doubt be absolutely ferocious."
Meanwhile, the catfish bite was going ballistic all week at the lake. "This has been one of the best weeks for double-digit catfish in the past year", remarked Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The change of seasons is definitely upon us, and the catfish are fattening up for the winter months to come, and our large number of 'holdover' trout have started to bite again. We have been experiencing very chilly evenings and mornings, so I would advise the opening day trout anglers to dress in layers until the sun comes out."
Interestingly, the change of seasons has also signaled the largemouth bass population that a big influx of trout is due in the lake very soon. Bass anglers have found a good number of 4 to 8-pound largemouth waiting in anticipation and hitting on swimbaits in the general vicinity of where the trout are to be stocked.
Surface temperatures in the main lake are ranging from 67 to 71 degrees. The water level is holding steady at about 8 feet below full pool. Underwater visibility is rated clear at 5 to 7 feet.
Beginning with the Nov. 4 season opener, winter operating hours will be 7 days a week, 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The Pro Shop and snack bar will open at 5:30 AM for help with rigging and awesome breakfast burritos.
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