Irvine Lake trout opener sizzles; 11-6 rainbow tops catches
Here's this week's Irvine Lake fishing report, written by veteran angler Steve Carson:
The opening of trout season was a tremendous success at Irvine Lake this past weekend, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop: "It was the best opening day we have had in many years. We checked in hundreds of limits over the three-day weekend. Just about all of the trout were quality-size 2- to 7-pounders, with lots of browns and steelhead mixed in, and a few of the bigger rainbows too."
Although the "easy limit" action found on Friday backed off somewhat over the busy weekend, fishing rebounded to a sizzling pace on Monday. "The bite in Woody's Cove just keeps on going," Getty said Wednesday. "It's also exceptionally good in the back of the flats by the creek, and along the west shore. Trollers are doing the best of all, pretty much all over the lake."
The lake was planted with about 20,000 pounds of trout just prior to the opener, and will be planted again this week on Thursday, and every week thereafter for the rest of the season with at least 5,000 additional pounds. This year's trout assortment from Calaveras Trout Farms will include about 80% rainbows, 10% browns and 10% steelhead, with very few fish less than 2 pounds.
No doubt the hottest action came from Woody's Cove, with masses of eagerly biting trout easily visible just under the surface. Good catches were also registered from near the docks, along the west shoreline and at Trout Island.
The Kids Lagoon is in full operation for families with children age 12 and younger. Plenty of 1- to 3-pound trout are being caught on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Surface temperature in the main lake is 64 degrees.
The lake is now open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Outstanding catches of the week included:
-- Chris Mason of Irvine, 11-6 rainbow trout on a crankbait at mid-lake.
-- Bill Ross of Huntington Beach, 10-5 rainbow trout on a Rapala at mid-lake.
-- Jake Khan and James Sar of Huntington Beach, 10-trout limit totaling 40-5, topped by an 8-9 rainbow, on mini jigs at Woody's Cove.
-- Steve Akana of Sherman Oaks, 8-8 rainbow trout on a mini jig at Woody's Cove.
-- Tyler Hoem of Oceanside, 8-6 rainbow trout on a nightcrawler at Woody's Cove.
-- Tim Blacksher of Ontario, 5-2 brown trout and 7-1 rainbow trout on a Bite-On jig at Woody's Cove.
-- Ken Arnold of Placentia, 4-0 brown trout on Power Bait at Woody's Cove.
-- Mike Freeman of Garden Grove, 4-4 steelhead on Power Bait at Woodys Cove.
Photo: Stephanie Reschke of Ladero Ranch checked in with this 7.12-pound rainbow caught on a panther martin off the west shore. Credit: Irvine Lake
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