Casitas-Front Page Ventura County Star-Saturday-Long

[Keith R]

Bounty of bass at Lake Casitas Anglers in fewer boats report better catches


A warning to fishermen who can't get on Lake Casitas because of the partial boat ban: You might not want to read this story.

You might not want to hear about how the fishing is so great right now that fishermen are pulling in record numbers of bass.

You might not want to know that casting at one of the county's best bass lakes these days is like fishing a private lake.

No, this is not good news for the hundreds of folks whose boats aren't allowed on the water.

Ever since officials closed the lake to outside boats in March in hopes of figuring out a way to keep the ecology- and infrastructure-damaging quagga mussel at bay, the lake has had a different feel to it.

For the lucky ones who have boats stored at the lake or who rent one of the boats there, the past few weeks have been a bountiful bliss.

"We've been tearing it up," said Mike Neumann, who stored his boat at the lake at the first whisper of potentially banning outside boats. "This is one of the best years we've had in 25 years, no doubt."

He and his neighbor, Edward Earnest, and another friend figured they have caught 450 pounds of fish, most of that released, on Neumann's boat this year.

"We are tickled pink," he said on recent weekday as his was one of the very few boats on the water. "This is what fishing is all about."

Outside boats were banned from the lake so that officials could work on a way to protect the lake from any possible mussel infestation. The mussels can attach themselves to boat hulls and infest lakes, causing untold damage and costing millions of dollars in maintenance. Starting today, a process will begin to allow outside boats back onto the lake.

Before the outside boat ban, there were lots of boats on the lake competing for the best fishing spot; about 26,000 boats launch during normal years. Now, Neumann and crew can be the first to fish countless spots in one morning without having to worry if others have already cast their lures there.

"I've been fishing at this lake since it opened and fishing bass for 30 years, and you can easily tell how different it is," said Gary Wolfe, owner of Lake Casitas Boat Rentals. "It's just more bites and a better quality of fish."

It doesn't hurt that this is the best time of year for catching the fat bass, either, when the baitfish shad are plentiful and the bass are spawning, making them more aggressive and accessible.

"I can go to my first 10 favorite spots and I'm the first one there," said Brian Evans, a 20-year-old who took a job that would fit his fishing lifestyle. "There is a lot more opportunity because places aren't having so much pressure on them."

Adam Casey only meant to go fishing for a few hours but ended up staying out for 12 recently because his pole kept bending with promise of a new bite.

"It's a good day when you lose count," he said.

Many say having fewer fishermen is making the fish a little less hesitant to bite at a hook. Others say giving the fish a break will let populations rebound.

"They ought to shut it every three to five years to let the fish spawn and do their thing," Earnest said.

That, of course, is coming from guys who have their boats on the lake and can get to the great fishing. Those same guys say they have lots of friends these days, always asking when they are headed back out onto the "private lake."

Parks Department Officer Brent Doan estimated there are about a tenth of the boats on the lake these days, when there would normally be up to 400 boats on the weekend.

The quiet lake isn't just good for the fishing; some say it's good for the soul.

"Having no powerboats on the lake is wonderful," said Mike Lawler, who comes to the lake often with his wife to dip their canoe and rowboat oars into the water.

Though there still are some gas-powered boats on the water, it feels different, he said.

He thinks the wildlife viewing is better, when you can glide up to herons stabbing fish in the water without the leggy birds being spooked by the hum of an engine.

But the calm won't last much longer.

Today, the park will start looking at some of the 650 boats on the waiting list to be inspected.

They will undergo a 10-day quarantine so they can get back on the lake and use it exclusively.

If boats are used on other lakes, they would have to go through the quarantine-process again.

But if the folks who have been on the lake for the past few weeks are any indication, the wait is worth it.

[Kevin]

I call BS! I've talked to friends who know this lake and say the bite this year has been tough. Between the wind and cold fronts, the bite never really took off.

[Rick G]

I am with Kevin. Maybe Eric from Eric's tackle will give us the real dope. Rick G.

[Morris]

thats all you guys do is brag on your selfs

[Ron T.]

I was told by a very good sorce the bite has been stupid . Especially for the guys dipping live shad . I personaly dont know , just what I was told . Several teeners reported and lots of dinks. I guess us outsiders will find out on the 20th . I dont see it lasting after we all get back out and the pond gets back to what we all remember . Gonna be a busy place for a while .

[Kwin]

ANY lake where they are using shad will have a stoopid bite. Ridiculous.

[mike at robo]

I have a boat at the lake and it has not been like that story said. if you have shad its a different story , most of the fish we do get have been small , maybe i just suck but do not belive the hype!

[Ron T.]

Well , there is another good sorce but with a differant story . I guess we will just have to see for ourselves . I really dont care either way . I miss the place and am looking forward to this summer without any lice. I will be geting my inspection at 8:30 am tomorrow . Dryer than a pop corn fart !

[Kelly Ripa]

and they aren't stupid unless you are fishing bait. It always seemed to be cold or something weather wise for the last 4 Saturdays...I have been catching fish but I wouldn't rate the lake as better because of the lack of pressure. I don't mind that the folks that are dipping shad are doing well but what I do Mind is some young gun running his boat down the otherside of a cove I'm fishing getting to the back of the cove spook'n everything and then running the bank all the way up my side until I could have put his eye out with my ripbait so he can net shad. When challanged over the fact that he had just laid waste to any chances I had of catching a fish in the area he just drove his boat over.... and... thank you very much ( I think that's what I said you'll have to ask NunYo ) I recived a Hey Man don't talk disrespectful to me....EXCUSE ME SONNY I'M A LITTLE DEAF....and your more than an idiot! Do I screw you out of your fishing spot by running my motor over your fish? Who is being disrespectful here? How much bait did they need? John and I watched them net in several areas. How many Shad do two guys need for a day?...Oh I'm on to these dudes and...I'm pretty sure Mr. Game Warden is going to be intrested in the rest of this story so I won't elaborate. Long story short I hope everyone who wants to fish the lake can do so...It is very strange to fish all day and not be on "used" water and it is very quiet..... but fish'n is fish'n and on Casitas Mike Neumann is having his best year in 25 years of fishing....I'm still scratching the fish so it makes each outing fun without being stupid or perdictable....then again I can't figure why I'd kill shad so I can release bass....Not a live bait guy but I've seen the fish they are getting with them and I cannot duplicate the results with artificials but then I'm just a purist when it comes to my catch and release.

Rip

[mark poulson]

Fishing pressure from tourneys can make a huge difference, no doubt, but I don't think the fish in Casitas got stupid in two months.
Most of them have been caught before, or spooked by boats and anglers.
Give it a couple of years of no pressure, and then maybe a new crop of keeper fish will be there without hook holes.
I hope Casitas is open to change, and adopts the Cachuma model of inspect, power wash, and tag for boats. They have as much to lose as Casitas from a mussel infestation, and they've come up with a practical, workable plan.
And there's talk of eventually having dip tanks, so you can back you boat and trailer in, and soak everything. That would work even for wake boats with bladders, since they could inflate and deflate the bladder in the tank to purge the mussels.
The power washer, the dip tanks, none of this is rocket science.
It's all been suggested here before, by anglers.
Common sense.
But it seems like common sense is the most uncommon thing nowadays.

[Kelly Ripa]

how statewide the stupidity is headed! When you go for an inspection at a lake it is now life is a box O' chocolates when it comes to what is inspected and how thorough the smiling man with the rubber gloves is going to be at the gates of say Casitas Vs. Clearlake .

The way I see it there was less stress on the spawn which allowed for a more successful spawn. Run fry run! I hope the class of 08 fry understand they owe us big time and eat our hooks for many years to come!...They didn't stop fish'n like Casitas fish for me what so ever and I suppose that's because I'm quilty of piddle'n a good portion of my day away pick'n out backlash's and look'n at my meter ....I like to dink around now days. I seem to be on a different hunt on the water lately.

Great Post Mark!

Rip



Remember what the Dormouse said. Feed your head!

[mark poulson]

*NM*

[Ron T.]

Left house at 6:15 and returned at 10:30 . 181.00 miles , 50.00 for lock system and 72.00 bucks in Diesel and Im in after 10 days . Need Therapy ? Better be spotless guys , I had a little oil residue in batt. comp. and they were a little reluctant . They are checking with a flashlight in hard to reach areas so check your ride twice . Good luck to you all .

[Fishingnut]

FLEW right thru ranger staff was on the boat and DFG was outside checking tire rims, spare tire, lower unit, trailer bunks. I was done in 5 mins. NO PROBLEM Ranger staff said it was the cleanest boat yet. Just be CLEAN and DRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!Longest was doing the paper work.

[hippie]

you guys are crazy. you should not go through that much craqp to fish. especially when we all know dv is the trophy lake but soon mwd will have drawn it down so far that we won't be able to launch sweet make the drive to havasu donate my cash to the locals

[npangler]

I think everybody should write to ZBARLOW@ventura countystar
to let him know what they think I did because I think his story
does our cause a great injustice. DO IT !!!!!!! they're trying to make
it sound like things are great at the lake because we havent been
there I say BS.