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Irvine Lake set to stock steelhead
February 28, 2002
By DAVE STREGE, The Orange County Register
In an attempt to establish a reputation for "exotic fishing," Irvine Lake plans to stock steelhead trout from Whitewater Trout Company to complement the plants of brook, brown and rainbow trout at the lake.
Additionally, the lake has renamed Santiago Flats, where several years of dredging has left a deep area covering about 150 acres. Lake officials are calling it Spring Lake, though it will remain connected to the regular lake.
Lake consultant Ronnie Kovach said three springs were discovered in that area and are keeping the water temperature around 54 to 56 degrees. The hope is for year-round trout fishing.
Typically, the water gets too low and too warm for trout to survive the summer months, so it remains to be seen if the springs can keep the trout cool enough.
To introduce Spring Lake to anglers, Irvine Lake plans a special trout stocking and promotion for March 16-17.
A float-tube only tournament is scheduled for March 16.
It is free with a paid admission to the lake, but anglers must pre-register at a Sport Chalet store. Spring Lake will be buoyed off for float-tubers.
The next day, all anglers, whether they are in boats or on shore, in kayaks or in float tubes, can compete in a "Free for All" tournament. It, too, is free with paid admission, but anglers must pre-register at Sport Chalet.
Fishing will be from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. both days with weigh-ins in the picnic area at 3 p.m.
Anglers are to weigh in their biggest trout. Prizes totaling up to $10,000 will be awarded.
Irvine Lake general manager Dave Noyes said 10,000 pounds of trout will be stocked in Spring Lake before the event. He said 2,000 pounds of brook trout, 2,000 pounds of brown trout, 2,000 pounds of steelhead trout and 4,000 pounds of rainbows will be planted.
As for the lake level, Irvine Lake is on the rise.
Mother Nature hasn't cooperated this winter by filling the reservoir, so Serrano and Irvine Ranch water districts were forced to stock up for its customers by purchasing water.
Water started pouring into Sierra Cove last Friday via the pipeline from Lake Matthews. The faucet will remain on until April 31. It was coming in at a rate of 50 cubic feet per second Wednesday. Soon, that rate will double.
The lake level will rise by nearly 20 vertical feet, flood much of the bay in front of the tackle shop, drown the west shore and, quite possibly, take out part of the Saddleback Motorsports Park in Woody's Cove.
When May 1 comes and the water is turned off, the lake will begin its slow draw down.
One problem the lake has faced this winter is an unusual algae problem. Dirty water has made for tough fishing. Noyes said the algae came in with the water from Matthews.
The incoming water is much cleaner than before because the water is being taken from the bottom valves of the out-take tower at Lake Matthews rather than from the top valves, Noyes said.
February 28, 2002
By DAVE STREGE, The Orange County Register
In an attempt to establish a reputation for "exotic fishing," Irvine Lake plans to stock steelhead trout from Whitewater Trout Company to complement the plants of brook, brown and rainbow trout at the lake.
Additionally, the lake has renamed Santiago Flats, where several years of dredging has left a deep area covering about 150 acres. Lake officials are calling it Spring Lake, though it will remain connected to the regular lake.
Lake consultant Ronnie Kovach said three springs were discovered in that area and are keeping the water temperature around 54 to 56 degrees. The hope is for year-round trout fishing.
Typically, the water gets too low and too warm for trout to survive the summer months, so it remains to be seen if the springs can keep the trout cool enough.
To introduce Spring Lake to anglers, Irvine Lake plans a special trout stocking and promotion for March 16-17.
A float-tube only tournament is scheduled for March 16.
It is free with a paid admission to the lake, but anglers must pre-register at a Sport Chalet store. Spring Lake will be buoyed off for float-tubers.
The next day, all anglers, whether they are in boats or on shore, in kayaks or in float tubes, can compete in a "Free for All" tournament. It, too, is free with paid admission, but anglers must pre-register at Sport Chalet.
Fishing will be from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. both days with weigh-ins in the picnic area at 3 p.m.
Anglers are to weigh in their biggest trout. Prizes totaling up to $10,000 will be awarded.
Irvine Lake general manager Dave Noyes said 10,000 pounds of trout will be stocked in Spring Lake before the event. He said 2,000 pounds of brook trout, 2,000 pounds of brown trout, 2,000 pounds of steelhead trout and 4,000 pounds of rainbows will be planted.
As for the lake level, Irvine Lake is on the rise.
Mother Nature hasn't cooperated this winter by filling the reservoir, so Serrano and Irvine Ranch water districts were forced to stock up for its customers by purchasing water.
Water started pouring into Sierra Cove last Friday via the pipeline from Lake Matthews. The faucet will remain on until April 31. It was coming in at a rate of 50 cubic feet per second Wednesday. Soon, that rate will double.
The lake level will rise by nearly 20 vertical feet, flood much of the bay in front of the tackle shop, drown the west shore and, quite possibly, take out part of the Saddleback Motorsports Park in Woody's Cove.
When May 1 comes and the water is turned off, the lake will begin its slow draw down.
One problem the lake has faced this winter is an unusual algae problem. Dirty water has made for tough fishing. Noyes said the algae came in with the water from Matthews.
The incoming water is much cleaner than before because the water is being taken from the bottom valves of the out-take tower at Lake Matthews rather than from the top valves, Noyes said.
