Large numbers of Veterans Day weekend anglers knocked the previously hot trout action at Irvine Lake down a notch. "Saturday was good, but Sunday was below par due to all the Veterans Day pressure", observed Nick Sepulveda at the Pro Shop. "The water level is coming up fast, and we are now launching on Trout Island. The restriction buoys are set about 30 yards out from the running pipe in Sierra Cove." General manager Dave Noyes added, "The lake will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but the stocking for the holiday weekend will feature a bonus planting of 10 to 20-pound trophy rainbows. After that, another allocation of the bigger fish will be put into the lake every week for the rest of the season."

The largest average-size fish were concentrated along the west shore, but good numbers of slightly smaller fish were also seen at Santiago Flats and in Sierra Cove. Top producing baits were nightcrawlers or a Power Mouse made with a Gulp! Salmon Egg/Power Trout Worm combination. Trollers saw generally slow results.

Excellent numbers of 2 to 4-pound catfish are still being caught incidentally on nightcrawlers and Power Bait by trout anglers. Fair numbers of 2 to 3-pound largemouth bass are being caught on jigs near the red clay cliffs by the very few anglers who make the effort. Very good trout action is also being seen in the Kids Lagoon for families with children age 12 and under.

Outstanding catches of the week at Irvine Lake included:
Alexis Vasquez of El Modena, 5-trout limit totaling 22.1 pounds topped by a 7.10 pounder on nightcrawlers at the west shore
John Varela of Whittier, 7.10 pound trout on Power Eggs at the west shore
Dennis Wyberger of Wildomar, 6.1 pound trout on nightcrawlers at the west shore
Chris Edwards of Orange, 5.0 pound brook trout on nightcrawlers at the west shore