Anglers hooked for annual Trout Fishing Derby at Irvine Lake

There was something fishy about the competition this particular Saturday morning.

Anglers lined the shore of Irvine Lake for the fourth annual Trout Fishing Derby, hoping to reel in bragging rights.

The derby, organized by Third District Supervisor Don Wanger, who helped get Irvine Lake reopened to public fishing in 2019, started with sunrise on Saturday and awards were handed out at 1 p.m.

More than 4,000 pounds of trout were added to the lake on Friday ahead of the derby, part of OC Park’s regular winter stocking of lakes in its system. The weekly stocking of trout at the lake will continue through February; other county parks with fishing lakes are rotated. At other times of the year, the lakes are stocked with catfish.

There is no fishing license required for Irvine Lake, but there is a five-fish limit and bass caught in the lake must be released, same with catfish that are 24 inches or longer. Anglers may also find carp, bluegill, crappie and sturgeon in the lake that can be accessed off Santiago Canyon Road in Silverado.

A California Fishing License is required for those older than 16 planning to drop a line in the other county-run lakes, which include the Carbon Canyon, Clark, Laguna Niguel, Mile Square, Tri-City and Yorba regional parks. Find more information at ocparks.com.