Monster 14-4 largemouth tops parade of big trout to 12.8 pounds at Irvine Lake

A huge 14-4 Florida-strain largemouth bass nearly set a new lake record at Irvine Lake, and is the heaviest bass weighed at the lake in nearly a decade. Irvine Lake Pro Shop employee Nick Sepulveda nailed the monster Bucketmouth himself on Sunday.

"I got bites on 2 consecutive casts", reported Sepulveda. "In 30 feet of water near the dam, I was dropshotting with a pumpkin-color 4-inch Berkley Power Worm. The first fish was a 5.5 pounder, and the second was the 14-4. The worm was rigged with a Gamakatsu hook and just 6-pound test Berkley line." [**Ed. note- the IGFA world record for largemouth bass in the 6-pound line category is 16-9].

Trout anglers were not to be outdone on the big fish scene this week, and a whopping 5-trout limit totaling 42.8 pounds by Carlos Ortiz of Buena Park include fish weighing 12.6, 9.4, 8.1, 6.6 and 6.12 pounds. Most fish filling the stringers were ranging from 2 to 7 pounds, with lots of 7 to 9 pounders adding spice.

Bait dunkers still outfished trollers this week, with a white/pink Power Mouse being the top offering on leaders in the 14 to 16-inch category. Best locations were Trout Island and near the docks. Pro Staffer Mick Morlan quipped, "I was driving down Trout Highway the other morning, and it looked like a popcorn machine was going off with all the bite indicators [bobbers] going off!"

Bass anglers are finding improved action with warming water temperatures, and anglers are releasing a dozen or more fish per day with jigs in 15 to 20 feet of water. Spawning carp are extremely active, and should be vulnerable to anglers skilled in specialty European carp techniques.

Good action has also been seen in the Kids Lagoon for families with children age 12 and under. Anglers are reminded that this weekend's "Berkley Cup" derby will mark the final qualifying event for the "Irvine Masters" tournament.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Nick Sepulveda of Silverado, 14.4 pound largemouth bass [released] on a Power Worm near the dam
Marlin Fowles of Huntington Beach, 12.8 pound trout on nightcrawlers at Trout Island
Carlos Ortiz of Buena Park, 5-trout limit totaling 42.8 pounds, topped by 12.6 and 9.8 pounders on Kastmasters at Trout Island
Ricardo Cepeda of Santa Ana, 11.8 pound rainbow and 5.12 pound brown trout on a Thomas Buoyant near the docks
Pete Rutherford of Corona, 11.12 pound trout on a TD Shiner at mid-lake
Alan Hull of Carson, 11.0 pound trout ON Power Bait at Trout Island
Nick Foster of Coto De Caza, 10.8 pound trout on a marshmallow at Woody's Cove
Dan Evans of Norco, 10.2 pound trout on a Rapala at the flats
John Antolin of Placentia, 10.2 pound trout on a Power Worm near the docks
Cole Hiramatsu of Orange, 10.1 pound trout on a mini jig at the flats
Jose Blanco of Westminster, 10.0 and 9.2 pound trout on Kastmasters near the docks

Media contacts:
Daniela Gavaldon or Jimmy Getty at the Pro shop [714-649-9111]
Steve Carson at scarson@sunset.net