Matilija Lake

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 4:48 am

Does anyone know if Matilija Lake is legal to fish? I have read several reports saying yes and no.

elfish16 · Post by **elfish16** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:36 am

from what I've seen people fish it all the time and are blatant about it. I don't think there is any issues at all. My buddy float tubes it and does well and never has been in trouble.

Bassin · Post by **Bassin** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:10 pm

Wow I haven't heard about that lake in a long time. Thought they tore down that dam? I grew up in Camarillo and use to sneak down to that lake and fish it back in the 80's. I have the best bass experience from there. It was during a bad (or really good ) rainy season, the lake was way up. We wore waders and camouflage clothing, because you would get kicked out. We mostly fished for trout back then. My buddy had just caught a little planter and put it on a stringer and staked it into the ground by his feet. We were standing in water maybe a foot deep. When he yells out that a giant bass just came up and ate the trout, stringer and all! He was going crazy, we all couldn't believe it. He caught another little planter trout and as he brought it up by this submerged bush close to us that big bass came out and ate it, with the little panther Martin spinner he was using, it hook it and he landed a 15 lb 'r!! It was insane. Sure wish there was cell phones back then, maybe I would still have a picture of that special day.

S. Bailey · Post by **S. Bailey** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 4:15 pm

I used to fish it sometimes but would get kicked out by a guy named moses. He was the caretaker. If he doesnt live there anymore you should be good. If he does , he will come down on a mountain bike and kick you out . Was a great lake until it was drained and refilled. Used to have huge fish in there with native trout from a creek that feeds it. Good luck !!

elfish16 · Post by **elfish16** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 4:59 pm

Yeah, the giants aren't there anymore...its all smaller fish...biggest around 6lbs

kane-o · Post by **kane-o** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:19 pm

is that near sespie hot springs ?

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 7:51 pm

Thanks everyone. I'm going to assume it okay to fish. My buddy has been bugging me to fish it. Should I call fish and game to make sure?

MikeR · Post by **MikeR** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:45 am

Don't assume. A friend of mine was ticketed years ago for tresspassing while he was fishing there, it used to be posted. Apparently the fishing then was worth the ticket. I'd double check just to be sure.

Mike

Oldschool · Post by **Oldschool** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:02 am

Matillija was open to public fishing for decades, mostly shore trout anglers.
Fished several times with a14' aluminum boat Bach in 60's and 70's, northern strain LMB up to 9 lbs. This is a very small lake, maybe 25 acres at full pool.
The dam was condemned, the lake drain, the silt removed and refilled.
I believe there is an ongoing fight to remove the dam and the lake may not be open to the public, check first.
Tom