Bank Fishing at Castaic Lake, CA

[Big Hands]

Well done!

You can catch bass at 50 to 60 feet deep in the winter if that's where they are, but IME it's not necessary. Last winter, I caught fish every trip and never had to fish deeper than 25 feet. Tom's post above this is SPOT ON.

[Big Hands]

The lake came up four feet yesterday alone and fourteen feet in the past week 8-)

 

You better not take a nap if you're shore fishing.

[Hammer 4]

On 12/20/2021 at 11:45 PM, Big Hands said:

The lake came up four feet yesterday alone and fourteen feet in the past week 8-)

 

You better not take a nap if you're shore fishing.

After all this rain, I wonder how far the water has risen so far ? 

[ATA]

57 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

After all this rain, I wonder how far the water has risen so far ? 

I think it was 16" in last 30 hours

[Big Hands]

15 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

After all this rain, I wonder how far the water has risen so far ? 

For the past couple weeks, it has been averaging over two feet per day.

 

Overall, from it's lowest point just after mid-October, it has risen 46 feet and currently sits at just under 1,420 feet above sea level. October 21st it was at just over 1,373 feet above sea level. The last day I fished there was December 3rd and it was just over 1,387 feet above sea level. The average over the last few weeks is crazy. At this rate it could potentially fill up sometime in February.

 

I may try to get out Sunday if the weather permits. It has been raining hard or blowing for several days lately. One day (the last time I attempted to fish there), they decided to not allow us to launch because of the debris that had blown into the ramp. Several boats got clogged up from it the day before.

[Big Hands]

Just a pic to show what that wad of debris looks like as of 1/2/22. It's primarily from the wildfires that plagued the local mountains recently that has washed down the slopes, and by way of the creeks that flow into the lake. Combine that with the winds out of the northeast, and this is the result.

 

[Hammer 4]

Simply stated, Yukkk... Sad to see stuff like that. 

[WRB]

That is why they close the ramp occasionally!

What a mess?

Was planning to go fishing at Casitas but the road washed out and it’s closed.

2022 isn’t starting off well.

Tom

[TnRiver46]

20 minutes ago, WRB said:

That is why they close the ramp occasionally!

What a mess?

Was planning to go fishing at Casitas but the road washed out and it’s closed.

2022 isn’t starting off well.

Tom

Look on the bright side, you could go back to drought and wildfire . Can’t have your cake and eat it too ! 

[WRB]

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Look on the bright side, you could go back to drought and wildfire . Can’t have your cake and eat it too ! 

Could have those maladies anytime, earth quakes are a time bomb and the fire season should be over for awhile now.

We don’t have tornados, hurricanes or bugs at night, that is the brighter side.

Tom

 

[Big Hands]

Another shot of the debris somebody took yesterday. They will let us launch though, but recommended that you use either a paddle or trolling motor to get away or into the dock. It has been reported that people have spent from a half hour to two hours to wash the crap off after they get home, and there is going to be some trapped between the bunks and the hull that will just be there until the next time you launch.

 

[Hammer 4]

3 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Another shot of the debris somebody took yesterday. They will let us launch though, but recommended that you use either a paddle or trolling motor to get away or into the dock. It has been reported that people have spent from a half hour to two hours to wash the crap off after they get home, and there is going to be some trapped between the bunks and the hull that will just be there until the next time you launch.

 

Have you heard if and when they are going to clean this mess up ?

[Big Hands]

1 minute ago, Hammer 4 said:

Have you heard if and when they are going to clean this mess up ?

I was told by the lifeguard on duty that over the years they have dealt with similar situations, except that the water level was falling, so as the water fell, they could clean it off of the ramp. But this is a little different in that the water is generally stable or rising, so that won't work. She said that they are attempting to find a way to get it cleaned up though.

[Hammer 4]

Just now, Big Hands said:

I was told by the lifeguard on duty that over the years they have dealt with similar situations, except that the water level was falling, so as the water fell, they could clean it off of the ramp. But this is a little different in that the water is generally stable or rising, so that won't work. She said that they are attempting to find a way to get it cleaned up though.

Well, that's good to hear. Was thinking about heading up there soon, but I'll wait till I hear or read that it's been cleaned up.

Thanks for the info.

[Big Hands]

20 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

Well, that's good to hear. Was thinking about heading up there soon, but I'll wait till I hear or read that it's been cleaned up.

Thanks for the info.

It's really only in that corner where the ramp meets the dam. Probably 100 yards across the ramp, and about 75 yards on the face of the dam. Other than that, it looks pretty normal. If you need to launch a boat, that will get messy.

 

Of course, if the wind starts blowing from the other direction, it could be gone pretty quickly.

[Hammer 4]

I think I'll wait until it gets cleaned up. My Son hates anything dirt related on his cars/truck or boat. 

[Smallies]

How's the level of Castaic now after the recent rains?  It must've come up at least a little.  I think Casitas is still wayyyy down though b/c of the steelhead first requirement.

[Big Hands]

On 1/6/2022 at 9:29 AM, Smallies said:

How's the level of Castaic now after the recent rains?  It must've come up at least a little.

It's currently at 1436', so it's 17' higher than it was on New Year's Day. Launch ramp is currently clear, and even the West ramp now has water on it. The lagoon is also getting some much needed water.

[Smallies]

hey @Big Hands you can just launch a boat over there are Castaic, right?  No waiting period?

[Big Hands]

You can just launch, but the boat will need to be inspected. The main things they are looking for are clean and dry, and that includes everything , including if they drop the motor and it drips, that can be a reason to turn you away. Generally, it isn't as strict and meticulous as some may lead you to believe, but make sure your lower unit doesn't drip, and the inside of the boat (including deep down in the bilge) is dry.

 

If that's the lake you plan to fish again next, get it tagged on the way out, and you won't need to get re-inspected if the tag is still intact.

[Big Hands]

Went to the lake for a few hours on Sunday morning. My daughter was visiting and hadn't been out on this boat that I have had for nine months, so we basically just went joy riding and didn't bring any fishing equipment. The weather was nice, and the wind was not terrible yet.

 

The ramp was about half mucked, but there was one lane that wasn't terribly trashed so we were able to launch and then use the TM to get out past the muck before firing up the big motor.

 

I'm guessing WRB will be able to tell from the 2nd pic where the water level is as it continues to fill back up. That pic also features one of our local celebrities chilling out on the shore. He even laid down and just watched us buzz around with the trolling motor, likely hoping we'd break out the gear and be able to throw him some shore lunch.

 

After that, we were cruising in another cove and noticed a lot of 'stuff' on the exposed shoreline and spent a couple hours policing the beach. Lots of cans and bottles, fishing line, abandoned anchor ropes, mylar balloons and a couple of beach umbrellas that were long past their expiration date.

 

Not sure how good the shore fishing is now (in early February), but accessing the shoreline is easier than it has been simply because the water is so much higher than it was, but not so far up that you can't get around.

[Zippo Guy]

I always read the threads about Castaic even though I live in Northern California on Lake Oroville. I've only started bass fishing last year and found what you say about Castaic works here. From driving by Castaic on trips down south and by your pictures they seem very similar with steep banks and lots of dirt. Nothing pretty about our lakes. Oroville was down to 628 before those storms blew through. We are currentlyat 746 going to 900 when full.

 

Being new I took my grandson out with a local guide to see how we fish this lake. We started with TRDs and ned rigs on on a steep bank and caught a bunch. When the wind picked up we switched to spinners and kept catching smallmouths. Since I only have spinning reels, we have continued using light neds, drop shots, some weightless worms and some Texas rigged TRDs.

 

We have a houseboat we use as our base and take our runabout out chasing bass. We have the same issues of crap in the water from fires and with the water rising it is picking up more each day. They usually go out and drag the crap into coves and log it off. Keep up the great information as it is helping me. Really looking forward to fishing this spring.