Lake Irvine Catfish Derby - California Fishing

vagabond · 09-21-2006, 08:43 PM

Well fellas at Lake Irvine last week they handed out flyers announcing that this weekend 22nd-24th would be the last of the Catfish plants for them before they start Trout season. So to wrap it up they are having a Catfish tournament/derby all weekend, I am sorry but I missplaced the flyer with all the specifics but if I recall there will be prizes and money given to the 1st-3rd largets Cats caught. For more info and specifics I would give em a call at
(714) 649-9113.

And just a bit of a heads up while I was there last Saturday only a couple Cats were caught during the day, most of the catching is at night. And the water on the lake has receded greatly "I kayaked around the whole lake and didn't break a sweat" and a large portion of the lake to the far right past the dock does not allow boats as it is only about a 1ft deep. And it still seems Macs, livers, and shrimp is the weapon of choice... and a few still swear by Catmando.

Good luck to whoever heads out there!

Miguel · 09-21-2006, 09:15 PM

Did you also hear about that one guy "CATMANDO" catching a 60 lb blue cat it looked pretty big to me. Check it out

Ronson "Catmando" Smothers with a 60-pound catfish caught on 9/15

vagabond · 09-21-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miguel

Did you also hear about that one guy "CATMANDO" catching a 60 lb blue cat it looked pretty big to me. Check it out

Ronson "Catmando" Smothers with a 60-pound catfish caught on 9/15

Yeah I saw the picts of that, geezuz what a fish! If I reeled that up to my boat I'd have second thoughts about tangling with it hand to hand...
My first thoughts would be that line from JAWS "WE NEED A BIGGER BOAT".

FishSlayer · 09-22-2006, 01:23 AM

We need to schedule a trout fishing get together at Irvine this season...(I allways get excited for trout season at "The Swine" and then I go and hate it, I suck at Irvine!)

Wahoo! · 09-22-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishSlayer

We need to schedule a trout fishing get together at Irvine this season...(I allways get excited for trout season at "The Swine" and then I go and hate it, I suck at Irvine!)

We'll take my boat out there this year and see what we can come up with! I'm feeling the same way though. I would love to think that this year will be great, but I've thought the same thing for the last 2 years and been disappointed each time with them.

vagabond · 10-12-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishSlayer

We need to schedule a trout fishing get together at Irvine this season...(I allways get excited for trout season at "The Swine" and then I go and hate it, I suck at Irvine!)

I'd be game for some trout fishing, I am only 10 min from Lake Irvine or Laguna Niguel so if any of you guys would like to meet up just shoot me a message.

I have never had much luck at Irvine either except for cats, but Laguna I have picked up a little of everything. I mostly go to Irvine just because it is so close to me, and it's a nice little lake to Kayak around in.

Oh yeah if you do plan to Kayak Irvine you need full waders up to your chest... unless your Kayak keeps you completely out of the water with an enclosed cockpit "no scupper holes". Whole thing has to do with Irvine being a drinking water resevoir.

Fish_Sauce · 10-13-2006, 12:19 AM

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. this could be fun, I might do this one. let me go to the asian market and see what sting bait I can mix/combine with

tompayne · 10-14-2006, 11:11 AM

I think that Catmando guy is BS. Sure everyone claims his baits are Heaven on a hook, but I havent caught squat on em. Yet every weekend he seems to be in the fishing news catching big cats out of Irvine. I don't know how he does it but I'm skeptical. I'd like to see him fish, but his private charter/lessons to fish are insane. If I remember correctly his guided stuff is the same price as a two day SW trip. I'd rather pay that for part of a cabin fee somewhere in the pines and fish coldwater lakes/streams then Irvine Lake

Beresford13861 · 10-14-2006, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompayne

I think that Catmando guy is BS. Sure everyone claims his baits are Heaven on a hook, but I havent caught squat on em. Yet every weekend he seems to be in the fishing news catching big cats out of Irvine. I don't know how he does it but I'm skeptical. I'd like to see him fish, but his private charter/lessons to fish are insane. If I remember correctly his guided stuff is the same price as a two day SW trip. I'd rather pay that for part of a cabin fee somewhere in the pines and fish coldwater lakes/streams then Irvine Lake

id second that...but i have caught some trout there beforE!