Any ole timers are to share

[roadwarrior]

[WRB]

The old folks home, lake Castaic.

Anyone not familiar with this one time trophy bass in northern Los Angeles county Castiac is a small very deep lake similar to lake Casitas in Ventura county about 40 miles apart. 

Castiac has very little cover mostly steep rock banks with 2 arms; ski arm and fish arm, divided by center point, basically arrow head shape lake. The fish arm has more coves and the banks on the east side are less steep and better spawning areas. The ski arm is mostly a rock wall on the south side and less steep with a few coves on the north side.

The old folks home is located on the ski arm south side walls, not exactly what you would think of as prime giant bass location. In fact it's so isolated and hidden in plain sight few angler fish during pre spawn,none of the trophy bait anglers like Bob Crupi camped  on the fish arm.

I had this spot to myself for several years. 3 bass weighing 17.4,17.6 and 19.3 all came off the old folks home. The 17.4 was part of my 62 lb 5 bass limit all caught on the ski arm 3 at the old folks home.

This spot is unique it has the only sandy beach along the walls from the west ramp to Elderberry dam. Sand attracts trout and trout attract giant bass, it's that simple. A wedge shape flat about 200' along the shore line, steep wall cove with undercut shale and boulders one the south east side and very deep a rip rap wall on the opposite side, all out of sight. Memories.

Tom

[Hook2Jaw]

Tom, reading about you catching the giants is legendary stuff.

[soflabasser]

17 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I just turned 60. I have mostly fished N and central Florida only.

I have fished every big name water body N of Ocala to the Georgia line, except the Suwanee river, and more obscure waters than famous.

I started fishing Florida when it was still “ old Florida”

When I started fishing, a fish camp was really a fish camp, not a restaurant.

There are plenty of places in Northern Florida that still look like ''old Florida'' and I have fished several of those places. I have fished in a real fish camp and have fished rivers in Florida that you would have to research or be a local to know about. These are beautiful places that look very similar to how most of Northern Florida looked like several hundred years ago.

17 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

A lot has changed around here, but bass are still bass, after all.

Techniques that worked several decades ago still work well today. 

[Big Hands]

19 hours ago, WRB said:

The old folks home, lake Castaic.

Anyone not familiar with this one time trophy bass in northern Los Angeles county Castiac is a small very deep lake similar to lake Casitas in Ventura county about 40 miles apart. 

Castiac has very little cover mostly steep rock banks with 2 arms; ski arm and fish arm, divided by center point, basically arrow head shape lake. The fish arm has more coves and the banks on the east side are less steep and better spawning areas. The ski arm is mostly a rock wall on the south side and less steep with a few coves on the north side.

The old folks home is located on the ski arm south side walls, not exactly what you would think of as prime giant bass location. In fact it's so isolated and hidden in plain sight few angler fish during pre spawn,none of the trophy bait anglers like Bob Crupi camped  on the fish arm.

I had this spot to myself for several years. 3 bass weighing 17.4,17.6 and 19.3 all came off the old folks home. The 17.4 was part of my 62 lb 5 bass limit all caught on the ski arm 3 at the old folks home.

This spot is unique it has the only sandy beach along the walls from the west ramp to Elderberry dam. Sand attracts trout and trout attract giant bass, it's that simple. A wedge shape flat about 200' along the shore line, steep wall cove with undercut shale and boulders one the south east side and very deep a rip rap wall on the opposite side, all out of sight. Memories.

Tom

Tribal knowledge is a wonderful thing. Thanks for sharing.

 

Everybody knows where 'Bob' and 'Danny' used to hang out, LOL.

 

Should I act like I didn't spend a fair amount of time last night looking at historical google earth photos of the lake? ;~)

 

The 'OFH' looks like it could be just a little ways from where 'Dick' and 'Don' used to hover. . . .

[WRB]

1 hour ago, Big Hands said:

Tribal knowledge is a wonderful thing. Thanks for sharing.

 

Everybody knows where 'Bob' and 'Danny' used to hang out, LOL.

 

Should I act like I didn't spend a fair amount of time last night looking at historical google earth photos of the lake? ;~)

 

The 'OFH' looks like it could be just a little ways from where 'Dick' and 'Don' used to hover. . . .

Bob C hung out where old S- house bay narrows near the back, both sides.  Danny K hung out north east point at dry creek sandy flat.

Suicide point is often called Iovino point for good reason.

Dick T liked the west marina area, Center point , Sharon's rest ledge and alligator point etc, etc.

Stripers have dominated the outside good areas since '95, major problem.

Tom

[Bird]

You guys are awesome. 

Love hearing some fishing history from the old.......legends.

60 myself but can't compare, thanks.

[WRB]

Way back in '71 I fishing lake Sherwood a small lake near the boarder of LA and  Ventura  counties before I bought a lot to build a homeowner '73.

On the north shore shore of lake Sherwood was a rock wall known locally as Brown's wall. The right or west corner was a point leading to a cove and to the right where the wall ended was a tullie/bull rush/cat tail patch. 

Early in the morning I was fishing Browns wall and a boy about 12 years old was watching me. I pulled my boat next to the boy and asked his name and if he wanted to fish with me. He declined and his name was Butch. 

Yes Butch Brown the now famous trophy bass angler. Butch and I go back a long time and this encounter became a life long friendship. 

I caught my 1st 40 lb 5 bass limit within 100 yards of Browns wall, Butch Brown parents home. Memories.

Tom

[WRB]

In my small world of SoCal in the 60's to 80's a 20 year spand bass fishing evolved at the speed light. It started with the mon & pop tackle stores Bunkers in Burbank, Bob Sands in Van Nuys followed by Action Tackle. 

Florida bass were just emerging in San Diego lakes lakes.with Dads tackle in Chula Vista,basically a live bait shop was the place to meet.

These tackle stores were the hubs of bass fishing where evrything new and anyone of the who's who showed up to talk the talk. Every top name in SoCal bassdom showed up in these shops. All the local club members trying to get a heads up and the top sticks promoting whatever they could. Special time in the evolution of the sport.

I am sure the same thing was going on across the country. Anglers getting together for lunches to discuse the state of the art and try to pick each other's brains to get an edge.

Bill Smith of Smitties worms started at Bunkers for example. Bob Sands named after Abe’s daughters Bobby and Sandy was the gathering place of 2 popular bass clubs SoCal Bassmasters and West Valley until Action Tackle opened by Val White being a SoCal member. 

Young Butch Brown was trying to join West Valley and Aaron Martens was hanging around to learn from the locals like Dick Trask and other "pro's". Those kids were basically ignored until they started to win every tournament. Mom & Pop tackle stores were the backbone of bass fishing. Today it’s the forums.

Tom

[Hammer 4]

4 hours ago, WRB said:

Way back in '71 I fishing lake Sherwood a small lake near the boarder of LA and  Ventura  counties before I bought a lot to build a homeowner '73.

On the north shore shore of lake Sherwood was a rock wall known locally as Brown's wall. The right or west corner was a point leading to a cove and to the right where the wall ended was a tullie/bull rush/cat tail patch. 

Early in the morning I was fishing Browns wall and a boy about 12 years old was watching me. I pulled my boat next to the boy and asked his name and if he wanted to fish with me. He declined and his name was Butch. 

Yes Butch Brown the now famous trophy bass angler. Butch and I go back a long time and this encounter became a life long friendship. 

I caught my 1st 40 lb 5 bass limit within 100 yards of Browns wall, Butch Brown parents home. Memories.

Tom

 

Not that it has anything to do with this thread, but I and a couple of friends use to fish Sherwood every weekend. I didn't meet Butch until he got famous..Can't figure out why I'm getting a bold font..???

[WRB]

I have my old 1986 In-Fisherman lake Isabella article A Rare Chance for a World Record that is written the old story telling technique and very informative article. If interested PM your email and share it with you.

Tom

[DaubsNU1]

Me and a bunch of buddies from here in Nebraska headed down to Fork in summer of 1996. 

 

Threw everything but the kitchen sink, couldn't catch a cold. Talked to a few locals a the bar and they suggested shiners on slip-bobber rigs...said to get the biggest shiners we could find.  

 

"Toss it out, grab a beer...when that bobber goes under, count to three, set the hook, and HOLD ON!" 

 

We had a blast!

 

Biggest bass that week was close to 9 lbs. (for reference, master angler in NE is 5lb bass)