Super User WRB Posted January 22, 2019 Super User Posted January 22, 2019 I remember when my father in law faced selling his float airplane, he was only 58 when he sold it. He charted float plane trips to his remote cabins around Lake of The Woods, Ontario, but it wasn't the same. My close freind faced selling his off shore sport fisher we made our 1,000 mile annual trips to Cabo San Lucas every year. John sold his boat do to failing health and passed away last year, those trips are now memories. Now I am at the cross road. My local lake is being mis managed and slowly draining each year, not from lack of rain but the board who manages the lake think Steelhead and migratory birds are more important then water storage, refusing to devert river water into the lake during the wet season. Casitas is only 30% capacity with no hope of ever filling to full pool. This makes it very difficult for me to launch my boat. I tried lake Casiac a few years ago and the freeway construction and truck traffic was a nightmare, the boom box wake board boats ruin the peace and quite that we had at Casitas. So now I am faced with the dreaded decision of selling my boat and living with memories of days that will never return. 1 more season. Tom 10 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 22, 2019 Global Moderator Posted January 22, 2019 Hate to hear it. How do the wake boarders launch their boats if you can't? You could always move east where the bass have persisted for centuries 1 Quote
EGbassing Posted January 22, 2019 Posted January 22, 2019 10 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: You could always move east where the bass have persisted for centuries This ^ 1 Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 22, 2019 Author Super User Posted January 22, 2019 11 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: Hate to hear it. How do the wake boarders launch their boats if you can't? You could always move east where the bass have persisted for centuries Castiac is at full pool, has wide launch ramp with docks, it's the noise, traffic and high winds that keeps me off Castiac. Casitas is my home lake that is very low, it doesn't have water contact sports, no water skiers or wake boaters. My family is here, this is my home. Tom 1 Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted January 22, 2019 Super User Posted January 22, 2019 Sounds like it is time to adapt to the current situation. Adapt, Improvise, Overcome. Maybe do some land based bass fishing. From what I have read lots of guys in Southern California catch big bass from the shore. Quote
EGbassing Posted January 22, 2019 Posted January 22, 2019 4 minutes ago, WRB said: Castiac is at full pool, has wide launch ramp with docks, it's the noise, traffic and high winds that keeps me off Castiac. Casitas is my home lake that is very low, it doesn't have water contact sports, no water skiers or wake boaters. My family is here, this is my home. Tom Would you be able to launch a fishing kayak in Casitas? Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 22, 2019 Global Moderator Posted January 22, 2019 5 minutes ago, WRB said: Castiac is at full pool, has wide launch ramp with docks, it's the noise, traffic and high winds that keeps me off Castiac. Casitas is my home lake that is very low, it doesn't have water contact sports, no water skiers or wake boaters. My family is here, this is my home. Tom Gotcha. We have a bunch of boat traffic here too. Sometimes the armadas of bass boats are the worst hahaha Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 22, 2019 Author Super User Posted January 22, 2019 1 hour ago, EGbassing said: Would you be able to launch a fishing kayak in Casitas? No! If I was physically able to get in and out of a kayak, launching and retreiving a bass boat wouldn't be an issue. Tom Quote
IgotWood Posted January 22, 2019 Posted January 22, 2019 Nobody likes change. It's a tough thing to deal with. Especially for fishermen, who's sport is generally based on repeated weather, and seasonal patterns. Someone mentioned kayak fishing. I have to say, it is a whole different ballgame being on a small lake or pond with no boats, no noise, and no fishing pressure. And the limited amount of gear also add a new edge to the game. I am confident in believing that I am just as effective on most days in a kayak as many of the boat fishermen out there. Whichever way you go, I hope you find a way to continue enjoying the sport! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 22, 2019 Super User Posted January 22, 2019 While not in a position to provide any useful advice @WRB I can only offer my support - seems like a tough spot. Whatever path you choose, I hope you find solace. A-Jay 4 2 Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted January 22, 2019 Super User Posted January 22, 2019 I feel your pain Tom. My lakes aren't low but I have been dealing with issues that may put my boat on the market. Two and a half years ago I had a cerebrovascular accident. That took me off the water for a few months but I made it back. Then last winter I fell on the ice and broke 3 ribs and ruptured a lung. The lung has minded itself but the ribs haven't healed properly. I am upgrading to a MK Ulterra with I pilot link and a Humminbird Solix to get the benefits of the Ulterra. I am hoping it keeps me on the water for a few more years. Good luck to you which ever way you decide to go. Quote
The Bassman Posted January 22, 2019 Posted January 22, 2019 Do you still have saltwater options that are convenient? I recall you referencing that in other posts. I'm only 64 and have some orthopedic issues that limit what I'd really like to do. Best wishes to you. Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted January 23, 2019 Super User Posted January 23, 2019 Sorry to hear this. Hopefully the group that manages your lake will change. Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 23, 2019 Author Super User Posted January 23, 2019 Everything at Casitas started to go haywire in 2008 when quagga mussels where discovered in So Cal reserviors, panic took over. Boats were no longer allowed to be transported to various lakes, the Clean & Dry era started, 30 day quarantine and cables to lock the boat to the trailer to prevent travel to other lakes that may have the mussels. This followed the the ruling no hatchery trout plant plants that may contaminate native trout or steelhead. The giant bass populations crashed without the food source they relied on. By 2012 the giant bass populations were gone at Castaic and Casitas, so was the ability to travel lake to lake with your bass boat, you were locked onto 1 lake. We were also in the middle of a drought cycle and no water was being deverted into Casitas and lake wasn't connected to water supplied from NorCal, the started to go down and has continued to it's current historic low level. That is were we are at today. My first trip to Casitas was in '58 when the lake was filling with my late brother Bill, been fishing this lake a long time. Caught my PB northern strain LMB there in '71 at 12 lbs 4 oz, then in '81 caught a 18 lbs 11 oz Florida strain LMB at Casitas that would remain my PB until '93 when a 19.3 lb FLMB at Castaic became my PB. Lot of good memories at both Castaic and Casitas. I don't foresee either lake recovering to thier glory years or Casitas filling to full pool in my life time. Tom 1 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted January 23, 2019 Super User Posted January 23, 2019 Tom maybe you should reconsider moving to Canyon Lake. We might enjoy a game of golf together. Quote
Glaucus Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 Just here adding more reasons to my Bible thick list of reasons to want nothing to do with Cali. What a disaster of a state on every level. 2 2 Quote
Super User TOXIC Posted January 23, 2019 Super User Posted January 23, 2019 Terrible situation to be in Tom. We can only control a certain amount of our natural resources. Have you considered advocating for fishermen on your home waters by pursuing positions on governing boards or water authorities? Seems like you have a wealth of knowledge that could benefit all involved and possibly help rectify a direction that is detrimental to the sport we all love. Your situation is exactly why I decided to retire this year. I am still in good health and I want to experience more of what fishing in this great country has to offer. I can still launch and load my 21 foot boat solo and I'm not afraid to trailer anywhere so it's time to get it done!! I've spent 34 years as a provider for my family and very soon it's going to be "me" time while I still have the health and desire to do it. As an aside, you are welcome in my boat anytime our paths may cross!! Come East and fish the mighty Potomac!! 1 Quote
Dirtyeggroll Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 If your mobility is the current limiting factor on getting the boat in the water perhaps an agile fishing partner would be of use. 1 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted January 23, 2019 Super User Posted January 23, 2019 Man that sucks. There are no other alternatives ? Quote
Super User Oregon Native Posted January 23, 2019 Super User Posted January 23, 2019 Gosh Tom…..sadness. Since leaving everything and moving to Tennessee I've enjoyed leaving the me...me...me...attitude of the slime rocket fishermen out west. We moved to be with our grandkids and although it's been quite the adventure it has been amazing. Attitudes of the fishermen out here are night and day different than back in Oregon. Making smallmouth on the Columbia basically a trash fish was the nail in the coffin. Best of luck and much future happiness to you 1 Quote
Super User NYWayfarer Posted January 23, 2019 Super User Posted January 23, 2019 23 hours ago, WRB said: My family is here, this is my home. There are days I pray my family would make home somewhere else. Somewhere warmer I can fish year round preferably . I feel your pain. There is a season... Quote
Super User NYWayfarer Posted January 23, 2019 Super User Posted January 23, 2019 It might be time to start taking a younger relative or friend fishing. No gas, food or beverage money is needed you will supply that. The way they can pay you back for the "free" guided fishing trip is to launch your boat for you. 1 Quote
FCPhil Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 20 hours ago, WRB said: Castiac is at full pool, has wide launch ramp with docks, it's the noise, traffic and high winds that keeps me off Castiac. Casitas is my home lake that is very low, it doesn't have water contact sports, no water skiers or wake boaters. My family is here, this is my home. Tom Could you launch a jon boat as a second best option? Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 23, 2019 Author Super User Posted January 23, 2019 Thank you all for the concern. Everyone will someday come to this cross road where your age and physical condition reach a point where you can no longer perform a task. For me that task is launching my boat whenever I want to. The next cross road will be no longer being able to drive my car, hopefully that is further off in my distant future. I had boats longer then I could drive a car. Built my first duck boat from plans when 12 years old and had some type of boat every sense then. I don't plan to stop fishing anytime soon. I am selling my boat because I don't want to rely on someone else to go fishing. I enjoy fishing alone when targeting giant bass but those days are gone. My spine is fused and continues to degrade so getting in and out of a boat without a comfortable seat or back rest isn't in the cards. Launching and retreiving a boat in wind and or rain is too dangerous for me now, can't risk falling and promised my family I wouldn't do it anymore. Tom 5 Quote
deadadrift89 Posted January 23, 2019 Posted January 23, 2019 Tom I really hope your able to find a partner. I fished with a gentlemen for many years every Friday that was in a similar situation as yourself. His family didn't want him fishing by himself for health reasons. He was an inspiration and wealth of knowledge to me over the years as you would be in anyone's boat. Best of luck Steve 1 Quote
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