Irvine Lake trout opener coming up on October 31, with 20,000 pound stocking slated

Irvine Lake - Silverado, CA


by Steve Carson
10-28-2008

The Irvine Lake catfishing season finished up this week, with anticipation running high for the trout season opener this coming Friday October 31. "We are planting 20,000 pounds of trout for the opener", reported general manager Dave Noyes. "Most will be rainbows in the 1 to 5-pound range, along with some book trout, brown trout, and steelhead. The lake will be closed October 27, 28, 29 and 30 in preparation for the opener."

Anglers intent on making a dent in Irvine's trout population are advised to use ultra-light line. In most cases nothing heavier than 4-pound test. When the fish are acting reluctant, dropping down to 2-pound test makes a real difference in the catch rate.

By far the favorite baits for trouters are Power Bait and Gulp! Trout Dough, in chartreuse, yellow, rainbow and white colors. Another top producer is the "Power Mouse", which is made with a floating Gulp! Salmon Egg as the "head", and a 2-inch piece of Power Trout Worm as the "tail". In most cases, bait leaders should be about 10 to 14 inches long.

Trollers will take their share of trout on opening weekend. Small Rapalas are the top choice for this work, with the Rapala Countdown CD3 and CD5 in firetiger or brown trout colors being perennial trout killers.

Anglers without a boat can do well at Trout Island, all along the west shore and near the docks. Trollers can try the dam buoy line, Rocky Point, Santiago Flats and outside of the west shoreline.

Good numbers of catfish were caught this past week, and anglers interested in catching the whiskerfish should still find them in a biting mood until late November. Cut mackerel fished near Santiago Flats is a good bet for cats in the 2 to 10-pound class.

The Kids Lagoon will also be stocked with trout, and is the perfect place for families with children age 12 and younger. Thousands of pounds of trout will be stocked in the lake weekly throughout the season. The lake will be open 7 days a week, with fishing hours from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Pro Shop and snack bar will open at 5:30 AM.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included;
Nick Vega of Garden Grove: Channel catfish, 12 lbs. on mackerel at the dam.
Donovan Swann of Fontana: catfish, 10.9 lbs. on mackerel at Santiago Flats.

Media contacts:
Daniela Gavaldon or Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop [714-649-9111]
Steve Carson at [email protected]


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