Lake Mathews

[Byron]

Has anybody ever been able to fish Lake Mathews. I heard that they have invited some bass clubs to round up fish for re-stocking of Elsinore a couple years ago for example. About 20 years ago we would sneak in and it was damn near a fish every cast. I'll bet it holds some big fish.

[DVBASS]

That is a topic that is not open for discussion.

[Byron]

Understood!!!

[Big Ed]

Some members of our club have fished it for re stocking purposes only with the approval and permission from the DFG and MWD. It is off limits 24/7 as you know and you might be suprised to know the fishing was just allright. It wasnt bad but not what you might expect for a water like that. That was back in Sept '02.

[tunaman]

That is a topic that is not open for discussion.

Why? Someone recently mentioned that it could be in play, if enough people got behind the idea. Please enlighten me? I'm too new to understand the history and issues.

Roger

[DVBASS]

I too have had the pleasure of fishing Lake X. My days were quite impressive, if not shocking. It has the most incredible reaction bite I have ever experienced. Between the stripers and largemouth, my arms ached for 3 days. Swimbaits, spinnerbaits, cranks, it did not matter.

As an employee of MWD, It has ben explained to me that several endangered species of plants, birds, and reptiles reside there. As a result the lake has never been open to the public.

I have not ever heard of of any plans to open it to the public. I believe that is just someones wishfull thinking.

[mark poulson]

I heard that, when it was impounded, the MWD offered to make it pubic if some govt. agency would step up and put in facilities, but no one did, so they let it drop.

I drove by there and it looked awsome. Drool, drool.

[DVBASS]

I would be the first to vote in favor of opening it to the public. The MWD would have to initiate some serious improvements for launching boats, and of course parking facilities. I seriously doubt that it ever opens.

[mark poulson]

I think it will be hard to get any local govt. agency to come up with the funding.
I wonder if a private party, like a fishing association, could do it?
The actual ramp part is probably the least of the expenses.
But, judging by the "temporary" facilities at DVL, maybe it could be swung.

[tunaman]

I would certainly expect that most, if not all, of the improvements funding could be provided by the party who won the concession rights? I would envision that it would be similar to DVL, in the boating requirements, but its proximity and accessibility are ideal, there appears to be plenty of space for parking and facilities, and it is a large-enough body of water to accommodate plenty of boat traffic.

[Big Ed]

I also work for a local water agency and i can tell you first hand the restrictions that are already coming down from the EPA and DHS are not in favor of any more possible polutants that could endanger our water supply here in this land we live in.

The Gov't cares nothing about fishing and very little about recreation. Arnold wants to take away and cut expenses so the liklyhood is not favorable. Even if a private agency took the Bull by the horns it would still cost the Gov't some dinero. On a positive note they are refilling Lake Perris now and they also may be re stocking it soon.

[tunaman]

Well, that's mis-guided and naive alarmist ideals, in my opinion (not yours, but those who feel that way), given the chain of supply from which this water is derived. From Powell to Mead to Mohave to Havasu, and all along the Colorado river in between, there are no regulations or oversight for boating polutants, body contact, etc... as far as I know, the water is not filtered or purified before filing into these waterways (Perris, Diamond Valley, Skinner, etc.), so I'm curious to know how exactly these waters are supposed to be so pristine and unspoiled that they are immutable? Doesn't make much sense to me, but of course I could be the naive one as I don't have a background in water management.

We have a real problem, in that the population here in the Southland continues to grow yet the resources do not, similar to our situation with our freeway systems. Opening this type of resource up could help, and could also generate some additional income for the local and state economy. After all, I believe the resource ultimately belongs to you and I, doesn't it?

[mark poulson]

Tunaman, you make too much sense!

[tunaman]

So I've been told...