Irvine Lake is a reservoir in California, near Orange County.
Irvine Lake is a reservoir in Orange County, California.
No reliable acreage is listed for Irvine Lake, so begin with visible cover and the first clear change in depth.
Fish listed for Irvine Lake include Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish, Rainbow Trout, and Threadfin Shad.
When black crappie are the target on Irvine Lake, fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops.
For bluegill on Irvine Lake, use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets.
The first largemouth bass pass on Irvine Lake should work a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover.
Start the channel catfish search on Irvine Lake by trying to fish cut bait or a nightcrawler on the bottom along a channel edge or warm flat.
Other targets listed here include Rainbow Trout, and Common Carp; give each one its own bait and depth instead of trying to catch everything with the same rig; check the coolest inflow, then look for a second bite before leaving.
Start where two things meet: weeds and open water, rock and mud, a point and a drop, or clear water and dirty water; fish that edge at more than one depth before leaving it; fish the first useful drop, then watch for food before choosing lure depth.
Shallow water is worth a careful look in spring and again during fall; bright summer days favor shade, weeds, or deeper breaks; under ice, a small depth change can be more useful than a long move; fish a small bottom change, then change retrieve speed before changing lures.
A light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control; use the same depth on the next similar feature; make one pass close to bottom.
Record the wind, water color, depth where fish were holding, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; cast across the break instead of along it, then try a natural color before a loud pattern.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.