Uncharacteristic Lake Casitas...

[elfish16]

has anyone gone out and realized how crappy the big bass fishing is at Casitas. I am not talking about the 6-7lbers but I mean the 10lb + fish?!?!

What shocks me is that my dad Larry Elshere is one of the most feared big bass fisherman at Casitas and he's not even getting swimbait fish anymore. I am not either...I spent 3 days SOLID last week slinging the Orso, Triple Trout and the Osprey 9" to NO avail. I mean it would be normal to at least get 15-20 followers a day...I had 4 followers in 3 days!

I got those followers actually on the 9" Osprey swimibait too...and older bait that people rarely throw now at lakes like Casitas with all the hardbaits and Hudds...

Casitas has turned into a lake that catches rats on the trout baits...the lack of consistent stocking has made this lake very sad. The big bass are pitiful and don't eat trout baits anymore. When you catch a bass that can eat a football/basketball...they look sick! I've been driving around seeing bass dying as they swim around...

example: I saw a fish that was pushing 13 lbs... and it was totally black swimming 2 ft under the surface...I hit it with the hudd on accident...it rolled on it side and laid there for a while then continued its sad pathetic swimming! It was VERY discouraging.

Does anyone remember the twice a week stocks or the every week stocking? First the DFG stockings then the Lassen or Idaho trout stocked as well? those were the years that people were catching 14lbers and bigger MUCH more consistently. As I can recall...this lake has had a COUPLE bass over 15 the past 5 years but thats it.

30" bass weighs 10lbs maybe

I caught a bass 3 weeks ago on the trout bait and it was 28.5" long ( thats the length of my 15.5lb PB) it barely weighed 8 lbs. My entire year has been this way. it I added up how many fish i got this year that were over 28 inches and DIDN'T break the 10lb mark i'd run out of fingers and toes.

I know that the future of the lake looks like it can be on the up and up with more future stockings starting in LATE 2009 to 2010...but till then we have the same pathetic bass. LONG and skinny...year round. No more small mouthed fat bellied bass unless you pick them off the beds in March and April.

Does anyone else agree with me that the big bass in the lake are weak fish and fishing is NOT what it used to be?

give your input on this please!

Thanks,

Eric Elshere

[Obi-Hub]

Couldn't notice because I haven't be able to fish the lake since earlier this year as I like to fish many different waters and refuse to lock my boat into one lake.

Maybe the fish are protesting locking the "General Public" out?

Obi

[elfish16]

wouldn't f@*&ing surprise me!

Its irritating for sure!

[Oldschool]

Try to keep things in perspective; 28" to 29" bass at Casitas are at their max length and the fish are also near the end of their life cycle. Casitas has a great population of shad for bass to feed on besides planted trout. Trout are important, but not essentail for the bass to survive. When anyone catches a bass deeper than 40 feet, it's chances of survival are very low. The pressure change not only affects the air bladder, it affects the brain and the bass can loose the ability to find or catch food, therefor starve to death. A very dark bass swimming like a zombie is dying of starvation, old age or both.
I have only caught a few bass in the 15 lb range the past few years at Casitas, however haven't put the time on the water to expect different results. The 7lb to 9 lb bass are very healthy IMO and it may be a few years until Casitas is oriducing giants agian.
The shad are very important bait source at Casitas and one reason that netting them is wrong for this small trophy fishery.
Tom

[macinckirk]

Couldn't notice because I haven't be able to fish the lake since earlier this year as I like to fish many different waters and refuse to lock my boat into one lake.

Maybe the fish are protesting locking the "General Public" out?

Obi

[DeltaBound]

Can anyone say "DEAD SEA"


it's just living up to it's name.

[elfish16]

Casitas has a great population of shad for bass to feed on besides planted trout. Trout are important, but not essentail for the bass to survive. The 7lb to 9 lb bass are very healthy IMO and it may be a few years until Casitas is oriducing giants agian.
The shad are very important bait source at Casitas and one reason that netting them is wrong for this small trophy fishery.
Tom

All I can say about shad is that a bass exerts so much energy getting to the shad they have to eat a TON to gain anything from it. I am catching 7-9's around the shad...they are NOT fat....the ONLY fat fish are the 2-6lbers. I had a fish that was 30" this year...healthy as can be and fought harder than ANY bass I've ever caught. it weighed a little over 12 lbs...and then got another 10.5 that night that was 27.5" long.

the honest truth, ask any of the BIG bass fisherman out there that since the trout stocks have gotten SO minimal over the last 5 years...the giants aren't like they used to. I've fished casitas my whole life and been hunting pigs since starting.

the giants in the lake don't weigh what they are supposed to. You don't find big fish...many of the best swimbait fisherman aren't getting MONSTERS...yes the 10-12's are still around in abundance but the growing size is down a LOT. The lake is infested with 6-9lbers ( thats not bad at all ) but the teeners are nearly non existent since the lack of trout!

E

[Ron C]

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, none whatsoever, that the primary reason why there are fewer trophy bass being caught at Lake Casitas now than in years past is because of the significantly reduced DFG trout plants occurring at Lake Casitas. These reduced trout plants are the direct result of the Casitas Municipal Water District Board of Directors’ decision to close (or restrict, as they prefer to call it) Lake Casitas based solely on a knee-jerk reaction on speculation that there was a remote possibility that quagga mussels might make their way into the lake; and a decision made in spite of overwhelming scientific data to the contrary provided to them by some of the leading experts in the field (data which they did not even read).

I agree that big bass do not need trout to survive; just look at the San Diego lakes, but the availability of trout as a primary forage for big bass is why there are (were) so many of them in Lake Casitas. This availability has been all but eliminated, as the DFG now makes very few trout plants at Casitas anymore - any why should they, since the CMWD Board of Directors has all but closed to lake to recreational trout fishermen with their ridiculous restrictions.

Tom, I don't believe that you attended any of the CMWD meetings (but perhaps you did), but at each and every meeting, I informed the CMWD Board of Directors that I anticipated that the DFG would reduce or eliminate trout plants at Lake Casitas if they voted to close the lake, and that if this occurred, Lake Casitas would no longer be a trophy bass lake. Sadly, that is exactly what is happening right before our eyes, and it will only get worse – unless full and regular trout plants resume.

You guys jest about the trophy bass knowing that there is a restriction at Lake Casitas, but the sad part is that you are actually somewhat correct in your humor. While they certainly do not "know" that there is a restriction, they most certainly know that there are fewer trout to eat now than there used to be. These trout were their primary source of very high protein (which means increased growth) and this source is now all but gone; to the point where they must now seek other forage. It takes an awful lot of shad to equal the same amount of protein provided by one trout; and I mean an awful lot of shad.

A giant bass must now expend a great deal of energy chasing down a lot of shad to maintain its normal growth rate, whereas they only had to chase down one or two trout to accomplish the same thing (and get a lot more protein). A big bass need only eat a trout every one or two weeks to maintain a normal growth rate, whereas it must eat as many as a hundred shad a day to accomplish the same normal growth rate. And, as we all know, giant bass are just plain lazy. It’s easy to see why the big bass population is in serious decline at Lake Casitas.

Hopefully, there will always be crawdads in Lake Casitas and they will continue to be a high protein forage for all of the bass in the lake. Unfortunately, they must now also be the primary high protein forage source for the trophy bass, as well. This very well could have a negative impact on the crawdad population, which could have a negative impact on the overall bass population at Lake Casitas. Keep in mind that the CMWD restrictions also prohibit the planting of crawdads, too.

At the Bass-A-Thon, I was approached by Ranger Rob Weinerth who asked me what it would take to bring the HBC back to Lake Casitas. My answer was simple – “Open the lake and plant trout for a year and then we'll talk about it. Until that happens, we won't be coming back". I also spoke with Mike Giusti at the Bass-A-Thon and he said that, for now, the reduced trout plants at Lake Casitas will continue until the lake drops their restrictions.

Simply put, when the Casitas Municipal Water District Board of Directors voted to restrict access to Lake Casitas which, in turn, led to reduced DFG trout plants, they singlehandedly destroyed Lake Casitas as a trophy bass lake. Even if the CMWD directors reversed their decision today and the DFG immediately resumed full and regular trout plants at Lake Casitas, it would probably take a year or more before a noticeable recovery would occurred because, as Tom noted, many of Lake Casitas’ giant bass have already starved to death, and many more will.

Ron C

[elfish16]

thanks Ron,

I do think a LOT of giants have died due to the starving factor! I agree that when they closed the lake it was the demise of giants because in return DFG limits their stocking program. A lot of the San Diego lakes do receive trout...Dixon, San V and Murray do receive trout...I have been to Dixon and there were trout EVERYWHERE! Smaller stockers along with giant 10lbers too.

The 2nd part of this is that in the past couple years the money used from Casitas was not put to use in purchasing trout...but purchasing bluegill, redear and crappie. that money needs to be spent on trout considering that the "hook jaw" nonsense won't affect the lakes population of fish.

Spend money on buying trout from another ranch/hatchery and that would increase the trout!

EASY!

E

[Oldschool]

The fact that trout plants help grow giant bass and Casitas bass have grown up feeding on esay meals, is not in question. What I said is the bass are not going to starve without trout plants.
In regards to 30" bass; never measured one over 29 inches. My PB was 19.3 at Castaic and was 28 3/4". PB at Casitas was 18.6 lbs and 28 1/2"at Casitas. .Casitas was closed this year in March, the trout plants were regular up until that time, they didn't stop 5 years ago.
Ron, I'm not arguing that the fact that giants rely on trout plants for maximum growth, my statement is they are dieing because the lack of planted trout.
My largest bass with a swimbait is 13+lbs. My 5 best; 17.4, 17.4, 17.6, 18.6 & 19.3 are all jig fish and that is hair jigs , not clicker jigs. Not all giant bass are caught on swimbaits.
Let you know how bad or good fishing is at Casitas after February.
Tom

[Schneider Fishing]

Not to hi-jack the thread...... So maybe this will need to be another thread; but....

With recent lake closures (limited to locked down boats or to rentals)
what are currently the best trophy bass lakes in Southern California?

[Ron T.]

Seems Castaic has had more plants in the last two months than Casitas has had in the last two seasons . Those trout are gone by day three it seems from the stripers and were talking several plants between two and three thousand pounds ! . Ron C. hit the nail on the head , I too believe the Casitas bass grew to their size do to the protien of the trout . Now the fish just can not sustain their body weight do to the energy exerted for a mouth full of shad . Jenny Kreg menue. Yes the smaller 5 to 8 pound fish seem to be healthy but those fish are young and probably wont reach weights of the teeners we used to see simply becouse of the lack of easy protein .
So Eric, to answere your question , yes I too have cought some fish these last two years that have definatly seen better days .

[bassman619]

thanks Ron,

A lot of the San Diego lakes do receive trout...Dixon, San V and Murray do receive trout...I have been to Dixon and there were trout EVERYWHERE!


E

They haven't stocked San V for Years and also San V will closed for 6-10 years due to dam construction. The stocking of Murray is far from regular but every few weeks not bad I guess.

[Oldschool]

Not trying to beat a dead hosre over this, but we have some misconceptions in regards to giant bass, those rare bass over 15 lbs. Planted trout definately help the growth cycle during the mid years; 7 to 9 years of age, but not a major factor for younger bass.
Lake Hodges produced a 20.4 and several other giants without trout, primarlily a shad diet. A pound of shad is equal in protein to a pound of trout, one planted trout is a easier meal. The fact Hodges was closed during the growing years helped, the bass could feed undisturbed.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for weekly trout plants at Casitas. Catching emaciated bass doesn't mean all the bass are starving. Bass die for a lot of reasons, age being number one factor for giant bass. Bass only live a few years beyond maxiumum size. When you have a year classes of bass reaching 12 to 15 years old, you are going to catch a few that are in bad shape, plus a few true giants in excellent condition.
Every CA lake that has had FLMB have gone through boom and bust periods. Casitas may be entering a down turn, lets hope not.
Tom.

[elfish16]

tom,

I understand some lakes don't get the trout plants and they do grow some giants...Just from the past 5 years the lakes that grown the true giants have been lakes that are stocked regularly. I mean right now look at likes like Don Pedro up north...stocked weekly and they are pulling out 15 pluses consistently.

Sure I've caught a few teeners on shad in my day but those fish were caught around the marina after a trout plant.

I've got the stocker trout guys fishing Casitas and going to the board meetings because they seem to catch more giants than others than fish Casitas. They called me a few weeks ago because in the past few years they can't catch a teener. they measured a bass at 30" this past year that was barely 12.5lbs...these guys are catching 5-7 fish over 10lbs a week...good buddies of mine. You don't see it anymore.

Castaic Lagoon...gets stocked as regularly as the upper lake and see the giants Butch Brown continues to catch. HUGE bass...

I just don't see Casitas bringing in any record class fish with the current state of things. No trout and these fish aren't going to be consistent giants. You never used to catch fish under 8lbs on a swimbait...at least I never used to....it was a rarity. I now only seem to get fish 3-8lbs on them and a rare 10lber.

[some guy]

The shad at Hodges are special. I grew up fishing hodges and the shad there are gigantic. A friend of mine runs the docks at Hodges and called me the other night because he has to net all the giant shad dying off. He was netting lake shad that were 8 inches long!. Hodges has probablty the more shad in it than any other lake I have seen. The giant bass at Hodges ( 9lbs + ) seem to love the gaint crappie population. Hodges grows beast because there are a zillion ambush points and more shad and crappie than they know what to do with.

[Obi-Hub]

I thinks something else to consider on the "Giants" is post release mortality. How many of the "Giants" got mishandled after getting caught? ie. Out of water to long for pictures. Or how many got their gill plates torn by stinger hooks? This would also contribute to a reduced number of fish. How many of the "Giants" have died just from simple Old Age?

I also agree with Tom that the lake may just be going through a "down cycle". I just hope they re-open the lake to the "General Public" before the next "up cycle" so we all can have a chance to catch some quality Casitas "Giants" when that cycle occurs.

Obi

[elfish16]

don't get me wrong...i KNOW there are other handling issues to go into account as well, I just don't know if the fish caught really have been affected to this large of an extent because of that. Sure torn gills and such happens...and yes I know I've seen some giants that are dead floating from age I am sure.

There are SOOOO many 7-9lbers in the lake right now you can't get away from them. I just know the lake hasn't had nearly the trout stocks as normal ( due to the lake not purchasing trout from farms due to the whirling disease ). Those 7-9's will take longer to get to world class fish without the help of the trout.

I walk the shores of the lake and NEVER see crawdads walking the shorelines anymore...I used to see them in mulititudes. I hope there are enough crawdads to sustain the big bass and help them grow. The ONLY fat fish myself and buddies have caught are 6lbers with two trout in there stomachs...the smaller fish are full of shad and normal size...not fat.

[Oldschool]

Eric, I understand your concern, been fishing Casitas since 1958 and December is usually a tough month for me. January is just around the corner and in a few weeks some better fish should show up. Haven't weighed a fish for a few years and IF one manages to find my lure, I will post a photo.
30 inch bass are a myth in CA, IMO. Still waiting for someone to post Dotties length and girth data. Butch is a good freind of mine, he puts in his time and that is what trophy bass fishing is all about. Very few bass over 15 lbs are caught, most the weights are exaggerated or leaded for publicity. The Castaic upper lake is toast because of stripers eating everything. Casitas has a population of giants, at least I'm still hopeing they are there.
Northern CA is producing a few giants, SoCal has extremely high fishing pressure, at least that has been reduced at Casitas.
Tom

[elfish16]

right on Tom,

Yeah I know December is a tough month but in years past its been a great month for me personally. I do hope the pigs show up soon...or this year in general. I just know from the inner circle of swimbait guys fishing Casitas are saying the same thing...the pigs are far a few between.

We will see whats going on at Casitas soon enough...i know fishing pressure isn't the issue at Casitas with a normal weekend having 15 boats at max!

Open the lake again and all issues will be resolved... plain and simple! it will make DFG happy and trout will be back in good numbers again.

When was your last 15 plus at Casitas?

[SoCalBassAssassin]

I think you're right Tom. There must still be trophy bass in Casitas. However I think the real trophies are in SD where dottie was caught. I think everybody should hit that lake really hard, and let the trophies in Casitas grow for a while. I know large bass are lazy, but I can't believe there isn't enough food in Casitas to keep them healthy. I have caught a few big bass this year that seemed they should have weighed more for their length, but IMHO even with that I think this little rest for the masses is not such a bad thing. There are still plenty of crappie & bluegill for them to eat, and the shad schools are huge in most cases.

Maybe this slow down in boats in Casitas is a blessing, and it will give the bass time to grow without all the pressure they usually have to endure to survive. I know forme personally it takes about 60 seconds for me to take the hook out of the fishes mouth, get my picture and release it unharmed back into the lake. I think most of the bass fishermen at Casitas are as careful with the fish as I am. I'm sure that world record is still in Casitas. It just might be a couple more years before someone catches it.

I feel blessed that I live so close to such a beautiful lake, and don't do tournaments so I have no problem being "chained to it. But I do understand the frustration of others that don't want to take the time envloved to enter the lake with their boats. I am guessin gthat everything will turn around at some point, and then we will all be waving at one another again in Ojai!

[tunaman]

Not sure this is a new thing... two years ago I caught one that was 25 x 17, and weighed 7.08 pounds. Last year around this time I caught one that was right at 8 pounds (didn't take the time to get measurements, as I wanted to get it back in the water), and it looked like it certainly should have weighed more also.

Could very well be a cyclical issue, perhaps exacerbated by a lack of planted trout, but as far as I know (from a year ago) the lake's forage is alive and healthy?

Perhaps Mike G, or someone knowledgeable about the lake's survey results from years prior, can chime in and speak to what the year classes were from those periods?

Roger

[elfish16]

I will be interested to see the turn out for the tournaments at Casitas this year considering that its a Casitas Only division from Anglers Choice. Should be interesting to see who brings in giants to scales...

I am like you Saul, I am chained to Casitas because I have no reason to leave. Castaic is a bunch of small fish and it seems if I fish a jig any day of the year I can get a fish over 6lbs. Why leave? I just miss the days of throwing a trout bait and maybe going 7 trips with nothing then when you get bit its a 13 plus...those days just don't seem to be at Casitas any longer.

[Topwater Terry]

Why even go there, unless you are a local! I cannot believe non locals getting their boats locked into that place. I bet Baggerty and the rest of those clowns think that with a small contigent of people still fishing there, they are doing people a favor somehow. Go ahead and fish Castaic, no stupid as@#$#@ restictions there, at least not yet...And I don't think any state trout should be stocked there at all, I don't pay taxes to have fish stocked at Vail,
which is what Casitas is turning into!

[SoCalBassAssassin]

Eric I miss the swim bait hits also, but I do know some that have actually done okay with swim baits. However I haven't heard of any giant bass caught on them this year.

Tiger.. This could very true about the cycle. I know that every year on the pounded lakes the fish really get skinny also. Heck I was on Barret Lake this year and caught several nbass that I thought should have weighed 7 + but only weight around 2 or 3.. They were almost skeletal. I think it has to do with heavy pounding on that lake though. At any rate. If you are down here & want to catch some medium sized bass let me know..

[Oldschool]

right on Tom,

Yeah I know December is a tough month but in years past its been a great month for me personally. I do hope the pigs show up soon...or this year in general. I just know from the inner circle of swimbait guys fishing Casitas are saying the same thing...the pigs are far a few between.

We will see whats going on at Casitas soon enough...i know fishing pressure isn't the issue at Casitas with a normal weekend having 15 boats at max!

Open the lake again and all issues will be resolved... plain and simple! it will make DFG happy and trout will be back in good numbers again.

When was your last 15 plus at Casitas?

Jan 2007; 15.3
Tom

[elfish16]

Eric I miss the swim bait hits also, but I do know some that have actually done okay with swim baits. However I haven't heard of any giant bass caught on them this year.

the swimbait thing is still decent....don't get me wrong...I know I can get fish on them but I have found that most of the fish are 3-7lbs...a LOT of them. I did get 1 swimbait bass this year over 10lbs...my others were on carolina rigs and big texas rigged worms. But nothing more than 12.5lbs.

oh well...thats Casitas and I can't complain too much because the average fish you catch is pretty ridiculous...I just miss the giants!

[Dave Wilson]

Dear Elfish 16,
Have your Dad kick Ranger Rob's butt into gear on getting the crawpappies delivered we ordered- that will help.
Next year I think we're only getting trout and crawdads instead of crappie and bluegill and baby bass and crayfish. I also asked for an annual increase of funding automatically each year.
The trout benefit the Osprey and Eagle populations, so urge DFandG
to send a few million to help protect our birds(hint hint hint) and anglers.
You need to refine your A game at Castaic- I'd quit throwing the big baits and I'll rig you up so you can practise

[elfish16]

Dear Elfish 16,
Have your Dad kick Ranger Rob's butt into gear on getting the crawpappies delivered we ordered- that will help.
Next year I think we're only getting trout and crawdads instead of crappie and bluegill and baby bass and crayfish. I also asked for an annual increase of funding automatically each year.
The trout benefit the Osprey and Eagle populations, so urge DFandG
to send a few million to help protect our birds(hint hint hint) and anglers.
You need to refine your A game at Castaic- I'd quit throwing the big baits and I'll rig you up so you can practise

Dave...great idea on the birds idea! I am glad to hear that Casitas might be getting some more trout next year and such....great news!

Now about Castaic...I hate that freaking lake! I hate fishing 4lb with 3" baits to catch 2lb fish. I just want to the covering water with cranks to come around...now thats fun fishing for sure!

[Dave Wilson]

I have yet to reach for the mighty 4 pound- have to have ice in the guides for that, and I use 4 and 5 inch baits!! As we all know, I've caught a mighty one fish on a crank, although I did hook my finger to my shorts with a DD22. I did buy an ugly crankbait rod that's yellow and has a rather short handle like Team Els fishes, and I will cast a crankbait 4 times per week.

DF&G stocks trout at Casitas for the shore anglers and rental boaters, and I wish it could be like it used to be for everyone.

I heard the Ranger that's going to check boats in for the tournaments is really cranky and will show up late- I imagine his will be the only boat to get in, and the jerk will probably be AOY!!!

[brian evans]

like eric, i have grown up fishing casitas since i could walk. the lake has defently went into a wierd cycle i have never seen before. like eric mentioned i rarley ever see crawdads anymore? as a kid i used to catch them in the marina that were lobster sized! and all the crawdads that got spit up in my livewell during the tournaments this year were tiny little guys. and as far as the giant bass eating the crappie? the crappie in that lake are giants themselves. the one thing i did notice this year was the good population of freshwater gobies or sculpins in the lake serving as forage because during that jig bite in september i had a few fish puke those things up everywhere.

[ironman]

gey dave i wonder who the jerk ranger is gonna be is he only gonna let his new triton in

[CN]

Wish they would put some Crappie & Blue Gill in my Home Lake's

Would also love to see the DF&G think more toward's making sure Lake's have more forage fish ie:Threadfin Shad and Habitat..structure.Most Lake's are low enough why not.

Some of us just fish for a decent limit.

[Gerryjig]

Consistant Trout stocking of consistant sized Trout (7-12in.) over a long period of time will create a trophy bass fishery. Any change in the stocking program will change the overall population of trout eating bass. At Lake Mission Viejo they've resorted to stocking 2-6lb. trout in order to avoid continually feeding WR "possible" class and other (15lb. or over) trophies as an effort to "tame" the circus that persues these fish there. They don't like the liability as a private lake and this is a way to curb trophy bass growth. Now the trophy bass have targeted other small bass and the ever so existant population of bluegill even moreso. The gorging on small trout days are over and I've seen dead DD bass with 4lb. trout stuck in their throats.....bummer! The key to trophy bass populations is Trout stocking. Yes SD has had some huge catches....I think Hodges has one over 20lbs. and that lake has never seen a trout. I'm sure that Hodges 20lb. fish ate a ton of Carp instead. All lakes also have their own 'cycle', and maybe it's time for Casitas to have one of it's own. Either way, I see why you're concerned about seeing a change in the population of big fish at Casitas, kind of a bummer no matter what.

[elfish16]

thanks for the concern! I used to fish Mission Viejo with Mike Gash back about 6 years ago, I've actually talk with you a bit there too...I used to see TONS of smaller trout swimming around and HUGE gutted bass full of trout. Thats how Casitas used to be. Casitas used to receive 1700-2500lbs at each stocking...we rarely get more than 1000 each time....So far this year we've gotten trout that are 3-5 inches and another couple stocks of the 2-3lbers...

Its kind of like Casitas gets the left overs...if any.

Hows old Mission Viejo now days?

Eric Elshere

[hippie]

Who cares about a private lake. CLOSE IT

[smittyfish]

Hippie,

Don't talk about Lake Mission Viejo like that.

[Gerryjig]

Who cares about a private lake. CLOSE IT

nice ya monkey! just an example there bro, don't get your panties in a wad there "Princess- Sparklepants"

[Gerryjig]

are you the kid I spoke with at the A.M. P.M. a few months back with your Pops and a buddy?....I think you were heading to a SD lake that morning while I was heading to the salt....anyway, I won't say how MV is......hippie will get all weird and stuff!....(it's been good catching fish off the graph)......see ya!

[some guy]

Gaaaaarrrrr

[Ron T.]

Hey Eric, I was thinking about Casitas yesterday while at Castaic. About the time the big fish started getting thin and harder to find was the year we had the big floods . Lake raised close to 50 feet in a day and a half . Ya think that might have screwed somthing up ? Or was that about the time the second stocking was eliminated as well .

[littlebailey]

ive caught more big ones than all of you. eat that. 5 biggest are 22.00, 21.99 33.54 and a 6lber. they were all on iron. ide give you my two cent now but its pointless since i know nothing about anything.

[mark poulson]

Ron,
I think really poor spawns since the flood are the reason we have such poor fishing, plus two tournaments a week.
I think what happened is that, because the lake rose so fast in the '04 winter flood, and then dropped so far again, 81', for the maintenance in '06, and then rose again steadily throughout the spawning months, only the fish which typically spawn deeper had decent spawns, and those are the fish that are now the keepers we fish for. So they're deeper oriented fish to begin with.
And the spawns since the "flood" have been screwed up by the lake levels rising so fast each spring, because the winter draw downs have been steeper due to the drought.
Plus, the crawdads may not be able to adjust to the dramatic water level changes as well as the shad, so shad are now the predominate food source for the bass.
It's been a few years since there was a decent jig bite at Castaic.
I just think most of the fish are looking up all the time now.
And the tournament pressure on that lake has mushroomed.
Between new trails, and lake closures, Castaic is now the town pump.

Hey Eric, I was thinking about Casitas yesterday while at Castaic. About the time the big fish started getting thin and harder to find was the year we had the big floods . Lake raised close to 50 feet in a day and a half . Ya think that might have screwed somthing up ? Or was that about the time the second stocking was eliminated as well .

[elfish16]

are you the kid I spoke with at the A.M. P.M. a few months back with your Pops and a buddy?....I think you were heading to a SD lake that morning while I was heading to the salt....anyway, I won't say how MV is......hippie will get all weird and stuff!....(it's been good catching fish off the graph)......see ya!

naw man...I haven't been to that lake in a couple years...well since Gash moved to Idaho. But i do remember you bought a new boat and had it in the parking lot and we chatted a bit...its been a while though man!

E

[elfish16]

ive caught more big ones than all of you. eat that. 5 biggest are 22.00, 21.99 33.54 and a 6lber. they were all on iron. ide give you my two cent now but its pointless since i know nothing about anything.

iron huh? something I gotta give a try.

We know you've whacked them bro. shoot I KNOW you whack the bigguns...

the lake is a mess right now...I fished all week with swimmers and jigs for two bites...

the lake is very frustrating...

[littlebailey]

you just suck.

[Ron T.]

Little baily, I got a fresh one hundred dollar bill that says even you cant get a swimbait fish over 5 pounds right now . Or any swimbait fish for that matter . That place just plain sucks right now . I had three bites all friggen day today . Two were before day break. One jig fish , one missed swimbait fish and one splitshot fish . Total for the day , two fish for 5.5 pounds

[elfish16]

dang brotha....thats a tough day for sure!

but you got a couple fish...thats decent. my buddy from Shasta had two that were 4lbs each Friday...it was a tough day man! I chucked to big stuff all day to no avail!

Paul...did you just say that I suck...

Well, i think its just because you miss fishing down here...

[Byron]

I was up there Monday and today. The place is tough and imposible to figure out right now. Monday I found 2 fish in very random places. Today I got 1 on a jig in 40' and 2 under the birds near Chismahoo in 25' on a tennesee shad DD-22. I got lazy and used the trolling motor to motor around and drag the crankbait through the birds. All fish were fat 2 - 2.5 pounders

[littlebailey]

i wish i could make it down to take you all on a guide trip.