LaKe Casitas closure

[WRB]

For those of you who havn't followed the Caifornia Quagga mussel issue, lake Casitas*, a world class bass fishery, closed recreational boating for 1 year, effective march 4th, 2008.

Lake Cachuma, near Santa Barbara where Jay Yelas learned to bass fish, plans to close March 11th.

This is bad new for bass fisherman, as other lakes will follow.

WRB

* corrected the error, thank you.

[jrhennecke]

I think it is sad and a bad reaction.  What difference is 1 year going to make?

[WRB]

The 1 year closure allows the community and public time to accept the fact the lake may remain closed indefinitely without the termoil of stating that fact up front. This is a policical issue, water is big business out west and recreational fishing is a side beneifit, that appearently is expendable.

WRB

[jrhennecke]

There is no doubt that water is BIG business out here.  Just ask the Delta Smelt.  Is there enough of a "voice" for the fisherman in So. Cal.?  I don't think it would be so easy for them to close lakes here in Nor. Cal.

[jrhennecke]

www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel/

http://venturacountystar.com/news/2008/mar/05/officials-ok-boat-ban-casitas/

Here are a couple of links with info about the closure and the mussel.

[Infidel.]

What a shame!  Bet they will be inflating their rental boat fees!  I was going to fish there two weeks ago and passed.  Should have jumped on it.  

[dumb_dog11]

casitas or castaic? im pretty sure its casitas but u say castaic in the post. No biggie

But seriously, I don't understand, im really ticked!! our club is supposed to have one tourney on casitas and two two day tourneys on cachuma. WOW, this is absolutely RETARDED

[bubbler]

jees lawees....i fish that lake all the time....well we know ojai anglers is taken a hit on this one...they only guide casitas, cachuma and castaic. This is one of the best big bass lakes in the us. but my guess is that the lakes guna be closed for a lot more than 1 year.

[iceintheveins]

I am sick and tired of lakes being closed, or closed to boating, over the fears of aquatic hitchhiking species. Waterfowl also bring in invasive species such as mussels. These lakes ARE PUBLIC PROPERTY and belong to the people, not the officials.

What should be done instead is to have boats inspected and certified mussel free.

The solution is to raise relentless hell. Any official voting for it or supporting it shouldn't get your vote. Mass petitions and mass protests, as well as public education campaigns showing how wrong the water utility goons are work well.

If all else fails, start gathering signatures to place a measure on the ballot that would allow boating again. Only citizens of the cities that "own" the reservoirs are valid signers, but if it gets on the ballot and passes, it is law, no matter what the water jerks say.

[jrhennecke]

I am sick and tired of lakes being closed, or closed to boating, over the fears of aquatic hitchhiking species. Waterfowl also bring in invasive species such as mussels. These lakes ARE PUBLIC PROPERTY and belong to the people, not the officials.

What should be done instead is to have boats inspected and certified mussel free.

The solution is to raise relentless hell. Any official voting for it or supporting it shouldn't get your vote. Mass petitions and mass protests, as well as public education campaigns showing how wrong the water utility goons are work well.

If all else fails, start gathering signatures to place a measure on the ballot that would allow boating again. Only citizens of the cities that "own" the reservoirs are valid signers, but if it gets on the ballot and passes, it is law, no matter what the water jerks say.

You are right on! lake closures and things such as this amount to no more than symbolic measures.  There are many other means of the mussles spreading as you so well state.  There are no rumors up here in Nor Cal about any lake closures yet.  The line has to be drawn somwhere.  The petition idea and all is wonderful.  If you are a B.A.S.S. member maybe you should contact them.    They have experience with anglers rights issues.

[WRB]

casitas or castaic? im pretty sure its casitas but u say castaic in the post. No biggie

But seriously, I don't understand, im really ticked!! our club is supposed to have one tourney on casitas and two two day tourneys on cachuma. WOW, this is absolutely RETARDED

Thanks, corrected the error, it should be Casitas. Castiac was on my mind because of Butch Browns 19.5 caught on Mar 4th.

Yesterday, Mar 6th, it was announced that the Cachuma board will close the lake to recreational boaters, Mar 11th, following the Casitas boards move and the rumor is lake Piru may follow also.

WRB

[jrhennecke]

I just wanted to say that all you guys in So. Cal are gettin done wrong and my heart goes out to you.

[iceintheveins]

Fight like hell and don't take defeat as meaning you can never win. Consider them getting their way (if it happens) as a temporary victory. FIGHT LIKE HELL AND NEVER EVER STOP!

[iceintheveins]

Colorado is HORRENDOUS for closing lakes. We have many lakes that supply water to communities being closed to boating or ice fishing because of contamination, liability, or aquatic hitchhiker fears. We even have about 20 lakes totally closed to all public access for those same bogus fears. The fact is most municipal supply lakes, EVEN IN COLORADO, allow fishing, ice fishing, and at least non motorized boating. Those lakes do not have any greater amount of problems than restricted ones. No evidence exists to support them. In fact, mussels don't hurt water quality, they just stick onto filtration equipment.

[dumb_dog11]

Cachuma's vote is coming up on the 25th of this month

i fish that lake a lot so i hope it doesnt get closed

[iceintheveins]

You guys are getting shafted. You need to sue.