Very disturbing news...

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Kelly Ripa
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Very disturbing news...

Post by Kelly Ripa »

I have a couple of 14 year olds that I have taken under my wing. I fish with them in my boat as often as we can arrange it. Today while we were fishing they shared a photo of what they found floating on the surface of the lake yesterday. They alerted the Rangers and it was collected by the Casita's Rangers and they are investigating. Ready? A 5 pound Striped bass, It was very skinny but the eyes were clear as it appears to have died within a short time of them having found it. Whom ever thought it would be a good idea to transplant it into our ecosystem is seriously mistaken and illegal. There is no connection between Casitas water that could have made this occur even by accident. It was deliberately placed here. It is not known how it got here but I am going to the lake to speak with Rangers tomorrow to ask them to add a new protocol to our entrance into the lake with our boats. It's simple enough. When you enter the lake and have your tag cut off I am going to recommend that our live-wells be inspected for live fish. When I used to tournament fish we used to drive by the tournament directors with our live-well lids open so as to prove we had nothing in them. It just takes ten seconds and it will ensure in the future that no fish are coming into the lake through the boats that are coming in. If a camper wanted to illegally transport the fish into our lake it would be more difficult IMHO for them to know this had occurred but I assume it would be tough for a camper to transport a live 5 pound fish logistically and successfully into our waters. I need the rangers to know with this little added effort they can rest easy about this ever happening again. I am always shocked at how stupid people are concerning things like this. I have seen Koi swimming in Cachuma and can only guess that the fish out grew it's home and the owner let it go into the lake rather than kill it. I am hopeful they can keep an open mind about this and not lock us out of the lake again because of one bad apple but being Casitas I could see us getting locked out again over this. I hope this isn't the case as that too would be a mistake by the water board. It opens a can of worms ( Pandora's box? ) and I hope all sides can agree that this small change would benefit all who use this lake. If anyone ever sees or hears about something like this I would recommend calling the We-tip line and rat'n out the dip####'s that do things like this. Thank you for reading this and any suggestions you might also be able to add.
Kelly
Remember ...What the Dormouse said...Feed your head!
WRB
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by WRB »

Easy enough to inspect live wells on the way into the lake.👍
Tom
Kwin
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by Kwin »

If the fish came in water from Pyramid or Castaic (closest and most likely source) they probably brought quagga mussel veligers with them into the lake. I'm sure the Waterboard are going to be thrilled when they hear this.
Kennortonjr
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by Kennortonjr »

You wonder about the mentality of somebody that would do that, well I could imagine…

I always wanted to watch this documentary on Pike planted (I believe multiple times) on Lake Davis:

That’s just the trailer, but the dynamics of the story look fascinating. I believe the fear was that the Pike could get into all the Nor-Cal watersheds.

When the carp spawn on Oroville you can see thousands of them coming up to the shore. I always see a handful of koi mixed in…

Hopefully this was an isolated incident.
mark poulson
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by mark poulson »

Kelly,
Livewell inspections are a good idea. I did them for years for Mike Iljins's Castaic tournaments, and it is simple and effective.
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drew
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by drew »

Are you sure Casitas never had striper's? Many think that about Santa Margarita.
jiggin4bass
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by jiggin4bass »

I caught a spotted bass at Hensley in 2001 and there been three other since that time I know of that other anglers have caught. One was caught at Eastman in 2013 also. Kill them if you catch them in either lake.
I'm hoping both lakes are free of them now.
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Kelly Ripa
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by Kelly Ripa »

No Drew, Casitas has never had stripers. Stripers were planted in Margarita but that has never been the case at Casitas. The only bass plants at Casitas were Florida strain largemouth.
The Rangers I have talked to are going to pass along my livewell inspection idea to the powers that be.( Water Board )
Remember ...What the Dormouse said...Feed your head!
JVGondal
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by JVGondal »

Anyone else find it disturbing some are calling for unlawful search and seizure? Is this really what it has come to?
mark poulson
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by mark poulson »

JVGondal wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 7:48 am Anyone else find it disturbing some are calling for unlawful search and seizure? Is this really what it has come to?
No.
Attitude plus effort equal success
CLEAN AND DRY
drew
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by drew »

Are you claiming this is the first time a striper was found in lake Casitas? I have heard otherwise and a google search will confirm the rumors.
Kelly Ripa wrote: Tue Jul 22, 2025 9:21 am No Drew, Casitas has never had stripers. Stripers were planted in Margarita but that has never been the case at Casitas. The only bass plants at Casitas were Florida strain largemouth.
The Rangers I have talked to are going to pass along my livewell inspection idea to the powers that be.( Water Board )
JVGondal
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by JVGondal »

mark poulson wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 9:18 am
JVGondal wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 7:48 am Anyone else find it disturbing some are calling for unlawful search and seizure? Is this really what it has come to?
No.
I would expect no less from someone with your views of bigger government regulation
birdman920
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by birdman920 »

all Stripers in Margarita have been caught or died! Spotted Bass were illegally planted in Margarita but never took off! anyone illegally transporting fish from one body of water to another risk fines !
drew
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Re: Very disturbing news...

Post by drew »

It has been 10+yrs since a striper has been caught at margarita, but only a week since a spotted bass was caught there.

birdman920 wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 6:16 pm all Stripers in Margarita have been caught or died! Spotted Bass were illegally planted in Margarita but never took off! anyone illegally transporting fish from one body of water to another risk fines !
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