By Paul Lebowitz

March 21, 2008

Irvine Lake Trout Experience draws a 143 kayak contingent, finds big trout

IRVINE LAKE – Plastic Navy’s kayak fishing competitors took to the sweet water for the first time on Saturday, March 15. The salt was missing and Irvine Lake’s fat trout stood in for the typical saltwater bass, but otherwise the 143 competitors found the action at the Irvine Lake Trout Experience true to form. This thing wasn’t over until the final gun sounded at 1 pm.

Gilbert Hernandez emerged at the top of the heap, but not until sweating out a furious last-minute bite that saw a couple of huge kicker fish brought to the scales.

“I caught all my fish right away on the flats,” said the American Eagle, Unigoop, and Old Harbor Outfitters sponsored angler. The High Desert resident didn’t quite duplicate his pre-fishing results (fat trout of 9 and 5 lbs landed the prior day), but trolling a rainbow trout Rapala CountDown was still enough to capture the flag. Team Pinnacle’s captain weighed a 10.70-lb 3-trout tournament limit highlighted by a 5.25-lb rainbow.

Hernandez saw most anglers were headed to the west shore, so he figured there’d be little pressure on the Santiago Flats. “It’s a big area,” Hernandez said, one that unbeknownst to Hernandez had just been stocked with 6,000 lbs of fresh trout.

One of the last-minute giants brought to the scale – an 8.40-lb ‘bow caught at the Red Bluffs just after noon - belonged to Robert Yakemonis. It was good enough for the Global Fish Mounts jackpot and paced the Plastic Navy regular to a 2nd place 9.80-lb finish.

“I just got lucky. I was trolling, turned and got hit. There’s no real mystery,” Yakemonis said. He was fishing a Rapala CountDown 7 brown trout in 18 feet of water.

Will Bowen placed 3rd on the strength of a 7.45-lb rainbow caught during the early going. Bowen was trolling a red and gold Thomas Buoyant just off Woody’s Point.

Two-time saltwater big-fish kayak champ Andy Allen, known for yellowtail and white seabass in the 50-lb range, was treated to a special prize for weighing in the smallest fish of the day, a rainbow that pegged the scale at just over half a pound. Teasing aside, the good-natured Allen stood to win one of the Blind Bogeys if his number came up, so it was wise to weigh in every fish. As it turned out, three other anglers came closest to the randomly determined bag weights good for a cash prize. 

Many anglers were on hand when a beautiful 11.80-lb rainbow came to the scale fresh from the water just before the final gun. The fish was disqualified when several witnesses confirmed it was caught from shore. Plastic Navy rules stipulate all fish must be caught from human-powered vessels such as kayaks, canoes, and float tubes.

“Most of you saw the large trout we weighed. There were many discrepancies with the big fish. Unfortunately it was not caught within the rules and was disqualified,” Plastic Navy tournament director Drew Clark told the crowd at the awards ceremony. The disqualification was the first in Plastic Navy tournament history. 

Clark was thrilled with the turnout – “A freshwater record!” he crowed gleefully – and profusely thanked the competitors and sponsors who made the event a success. Berkley came up big-time, with Trilene Maxx and pre-rigged Atomic Teasers for all entrants. Spot awarded a slick Satellite Messenger; Lowrance offered a couple of new handheld VHF radios, and Irvine Lake stepped up with a bunch of nice Daiwa trout combos. A pair of lucky anglers took home certificates good for stylish Costa del Mar sunglasses, Sport Chalet handed out great gift cards, and WON gave away a pile of subscriptions. Hogan’s Bait and Tackle and Hook 1 Kayak Fishing Gear piled on more great raffle prizes.

PLASTIC NAVY’S FIRST FRESHWATER CHAMP – Plastic Navy choose Irvine Lake for its first kayak fishing contest on sweet water. The fish bit early and late, leading to a closely contested finish. When it was over, Gilbert Hernandez’s 10.70-lb 3-trout tournament limit topped the field.

THE ‘VINE’S’ BIG TROUT SHOW – Plastic Navy selected Irvine Lake for its big fish, and weren’t disappointed. Robert Yakemonis’ Global Fish Mounts jackpot weighed in at 9.80 lbs, edging out this 7.45-lb ‘bow caught by 3rd place finisher Will Bowen.

SPOTS OF ANOTHER KIND – Plastic Navy veteran competitor John Cook shows off one of Irvine’s more celebrated denizens, a brown trout.

BLIND BOGEY FACE-OFF – Every entrant in Plastic Navy’s blind-bogey jackpots stands to win cash. If your number comes closest to one of the randomly determined bag weights, you’ll go home with some extra green in your pocket. But the real fun comes when there’s a tie. Better practice your rock-paper-scissors skills, ‘cause the winner takes all.