Southern California -- boating in lakes & rivers

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Author Topic:   Southern California -- boating in lakes & rivers

ShrimpBurrito posted 10-15-2004 11:39 PM ET (US)
I'm relatively new to the Los Angeles area, and am looking for some laid back places to do some boating in lakes and rivers. Fishing would be nice, but peace, tranquility, and nice scenery take priority. I'm willing to drive a few hours to get there, and would especially be all over a place that had boat-in campsites.
Does anyone have any sugestions?
philmoses posted 10-18-2004 12:47 AM ET (US)
ShrimpBurrito,
If you find this (in so cal) let me know, Im going on 14 years here and still looking.
I would say your best bet would be towards Lake Isabella. That isn't too far from LA either, just head up the 5 to Bakersfield and turn inland towards Isabella. it gets pretty chilly up there in the fall and winter though.
Pretty much all of the rivers within range of so cal are overrun with the go-fast crowd.
I do thinnk that there are some places along the colorado river north of Yuma (maybe Brawley area) that I have heard are pretty cool but personally I havent checked this out.
If you head down around San Diego drop me a line and I will hook up my 15 and make a convoy out of it.
Phil
Russ posted 10-20-2004 12:17 AM ET (US)
ShrimpBurrito,
Lake Casitas, in Ventura County, is perhaps the closest to your description of the lake you're looking for in Southern California. Animal life abounds, vegetation is lush, and the coastal climate is mild. Waterskiing and PWC's are not permitted, nor is swimming in the lake. Fishing is a major activity there, so there are quite a few bassboats on the weekends in the summer, but there is a 35mph legal speed limit. Tournaments are occasionally held. There are are a number of camping areas at the lake complex. Reservations can be made, and are necessary during the summer season. I live in Camarillo and have spent considerable time at the lake, either in my Outrage or in my friends's bassboat. It doesn't really matter which boat we're in, we still don't catch bass. Nor anything else, actually. It doesn't matter, tho, it's just pleasant being on the lake.
Due to the drought conditions the lake is now quite low, as are most of the lakes in Southern California. There is a Lake Casitas website.
I think we met at a rendezvous at Blake Island.
Russ
ShrimpBurrito posted 10-22-2004 11:31 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the suggestions, guys. We have already made some seriously long drives to get to destinations like I described, but we obviously can't do that every weekend. I'll definitely check out the places you mentioned.
Phil - We went out to Lake Mojave on the Colorado when we lived in San Diego several years ago, and it was much less of a mob scene than say Lake Havasu. It's big enough so that if you are willing to go out a far ways from the marina, you can find some peace. More houseboats than jetskis by far. I'll definitely give you a ring if I bring the boat down your area.
Russ - I definitely remember meeting you at the Blake Island rendezvous. I was under the impression that you lived in that area. Did you recently move?
Guy Winslow posted 10-30-2004 12:16 PM ET (US)
Try Diamond Valley resivor, its east of Lake Elisonore and is a pretty big lake. On the down side, no body contact, no alcohol, no camping. On the up side because of the no body contact rule, no jet skiers, no water skiers and due to the no alcohol rule, no or very few IDIOTS, also good fishing for bass and trout. I live in Murrieta and the lake is just about 40 min. away from me. I was there on sunday July 4 this summer and was one of seven boats on the lake, how about that. I love the place and have caught a lot of trout
on my 18' Outrage. If your intrested in more info www.dvlake.com. Good luck
Joe Kriz posted 10-30-2004 01:07 PM ET (US)
Shrimp,
One of our favorite trips, once or twice a year, was to Willow Beach, Arizona.
This is on the Arizona side of the Colorado River.
On the Hiway, just before Las Vegas, turn off towards Hoover Dam. Cross over Hoover Dam onto the Arizona side and there will be a sign (don't remember how far0 for Willow Beach.
http://www.sunsetcities.com/willow-beach-lake-mead.html
Beautiful scenery and not very many boats when I was there years ago.
We used to take a few boats up the river and camp out just below the Hoover Dam. There are Hot Springs along the river if you know where their located.
I still have old photos of a group of us lounging around one of the Hot Springs/Falls, having a great time skinny dipping and enjoying some spirits.
(No, I won't share these photos :-)....
Las Vegas isn't far away either and sometimes we would go there at night for the food and gambling and return back to the camp early in the morning.
(the younger years).
Lake Mead is above the Hoover Dam and because of its' size, you didn't see too many boats there either. Both the Colorado River and Lake Mead can get Hot in mid summer so we usually went in the Spring or the beginning of Fall..
A Beautiful place and the fishing in the Colorado river used to be fantastic for very large Rainbow Trout. Not sure how the fishing is now.
Further up river, below the dam, you need to pay particular attention to the depth of the water. This depends on how much water they are letting out of the Dam on a daily basis.. We have taken 13's and 17's up there.. Anything else would probably be too much draft as we had to watch it closely even with our boats.
Beaching the boat for camping was accomplised on the sandy areas.. Long mooring lines tied to bushes, trees, etc. were needed as sometimes the water level would rise at night (or day) due to the letting out of water from the Dam. One morning I woke up with water under my army cot and the boats were no longer beached, they were floating but still attached to the mooring lines.
Just be prepared for this sort of thing when you go.
Joe
philmoses posted 11-03-2004 07:18 PM ET (US)
All this talk makes me think a winter so cal rendevous could be a good plan.
Phil
Sheila posted 11-08-2004 10:40 PM ET (US)
ShrimpBurrito,
I don't know if this will help you, but you might look here:
http://www.boatharborslocator.com/lakes_and_rivers.htm
It's the "locator service" on West Marine's web site for lakes and rivers in California. Maybe if you find something that looks promising, you could come back and inquire if others have experience there.
SantaMonicaWhaler posted 11-18-2004 06:07 PM ET (US)
Shrimp Burrito:
Thanks for asking that question. I have often wondered over the last two years if there were any lakes, rivers, etc. in the Los Angeles area where I could take the BW for a relaxing weekend of freshwater fishing. My perception has always been that every lake would be be full of drunk idiots on their PWC or 50mph speedboat.
Mark
ShrimpBurrito posted 11-18-2004 08:04 PM ET (US)
Wow, lots more great info here. Thanks alot for all the tips. I'll be trying each one of them, since they are far better than any guess I would have!
I like Phil's idea of a winter SoCal rendezvous. I know someone planned one a few months ago for a run over to Catalina, but I'm not sure who all made it.
One idea for a rendezvous would be to get together Saturday afternoon on December 18 in Newport Beach for all the proper grilling and alcohol, and then after dark, take a cruise through the harbor to watch the Christmas parade and to see all the houses decked out. I've never seen it, but heard it is quite the site.
Anyone interested?

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Author	Topic: Southern California -- boating in lakes & rivers
ShrimpBurrito	posted 10-15-2004 11:39 PM ET (US) I'm relatively new to the Los Angeles area, and am looking for some laid back places to do some boating in lakes and rivers. Fishing would be nice, but peace, tranquility, and nice scenery take priority. I'm willing to drive a few hours to get there, and would especially be all over a place that had boat-in campsites. Does anyone have any sugestions?
philmoses	posted 10-18-2004 12:47 AM ET (US) ShrimpBurrito, If you find this (in so cal) let me know, Im going on 14 years here and still looking. I would say your best bet would be towards Lake Isabella. That isn't too far from LA either, just head up the 5 to Bakersfield and turn inland towards Isabella. it gets pretty chilly up there in the fall and winter though. Pretty much all of the rivers within range of so cal are overrun with the go-fast crowd. I do thinnk that there are some places along the colorado river north of Yuma (maybe Brawley area) that I have heard are pretty cool but personally I havent checked this out. If you head down around San Diego drop me a line and I will hook up my 15 and make a convoy out of it. Phil
Russ	posted 10-20-2004 12:17 AM ET (US) ShrimpBurrito, Lake Casitas, in Ventura County, is perhaps the closest to your description of the lake you're looking for in Southern California. Animal life abounds, vegetation is lush, and the coastal climate is mild. Waterskiing and PWC's are not permitted, nor is swimming in the lake. Fishing is a major activity there, so there are quite a few bassboats on the weekends in the summer, but there is a 35mph legal speed limit. Tournaments are occasionally held. There are are a number of camping areas at the lake complex. Reservations can be made, and are necessary during the summer season. I live in Camarillo and have spent considerable time at the lake, either in my Outrage or in my friends's bassboat. It doesn't really matter which boat we're in, we still don't catch bass. Nor anything else, actually. It doesn't matter, tho, it's just pleasant being on the lake. Due to the drought conditions the lake is now quite low, as are most of the lakes in Southern California. There is a Lake Casitas website. I think we met at a rendezvous at Blake Island. Russ
ShrimpBurrito	posted 10-22-2004 11:31 AM ET (US) Thanks for the suggestions, guys. We have already made some seriously long drives to get to destinations like I described, but we obviously can't do that every weekend. I'll definitely check out the places you mentioned. Phil - We went out to Lake Mojave on the Colorado when we lived in San Diego several years ago, and it was much less of a mob scene than say Lake Havasu. It's big enough so that if you are willing to go out a far ways from the marina, you can find some peace. More houseboats than jetskis by far. I'll definitely give you a ring if I bring the boat down your area. Russ - I definitely remember meeting you at the Blake Island rendezvous. I was under the impression that you lived in that area. Did you recently move?
Guy Winslow	posted 10-30-2004 12:16 PM ET (US) Try Diamond Valley resivor, its east of Lake Elisonore and is a pretty big lake. On the down side, no body contact, no alcohol, no camping. On the up side because of the no body contact rule, no jet skiers, no water skiers and due to the no alcohol rule, no or very few IDIOTS, also good fishing for bass and trout. I live in Murrieta and the lake is just about 40 min. away from me. I was there on sunday July 4 this summer and was one of seven boats on the lake, how about that. I love the place and have caught a lot of trout on my 18' Outrage. If your intrested in more info www.dvlake.com. Good luck
Joe Kriz	posted 10-30-2004 01:07 PM ET (US) Shrimp, One of our favorite trips, once or twice a year, was to Willow Beach, Arizona. This is on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. On the Hiway, just before Las Vegas, turn off towards Hoover Dam. Cross over Hoover Dam onto the Arizona side and there will be a sign (don't remember how far0 for Willow Beach. http://www.sunsetcities.com/willow-beach-lake-mead.html Beautiful scenery and not very many boats when I was there years ago. We used to take a few boats up the river and camp out just below the Hoover Dam. There are Hot Springs along the river if you know where their located. I still have old photos of a group of us lounging around one of the Hot Springs/Falls, having a great time skinny dipping and enjoying some spirits. (No, I won't share these photos :-).... Las Vegas isn't far away either and sometimes we would go there at night for the food and gambling and return back to the camp early in the morning. (the younger years). Lake Mead is above the Hoover Dam and because of its' size, you didn't see too many boats there either. Both the Colorado River and Lake Mead can get Hot in mid summer so we usually went in the Spring or the beginning of Fall.. A Beautiful place and the fishing in the Colorado river used to be fantastic for very large Rainbow Trout. Not sure how the fishing is now. Further up river, below the dam, you need to pay particular attention to the depth of the water. This depends on how much water they are letting out of the Dam on a daily basis.. We have taken 13's and 17's up there.. Anything else would probably be too much draft as we had to watch it closely even with our boats. Beaching the boat for camping was accomplised on the sandy areas.. Long mooring lines tied to bushes, trees, etc. were needed as sometimes the water level would rise at night (or day) due to the letting out of water from the Dam. One morning I woke up with water under my army cot and the boats were no longer beached, they were floating but still attached to the mooring lines. Just be prepared for this sort of thing when you go. Joe
philmoses	posted 11-03-2004 07:18 PM ET (US) All this talk makes me think a winter so cal rendevous could be a good plan. Phil
Sheila	posted 11-08-2004 10:40 PM ET (US) ShrimpBurrito, I don't know if this will help you, but you might look here: http://www.boatharborslocator.com/lakes_and_rivers.htm It's the "locator service" on West Marine's web site for lakes and rivers in California. Maybe if you find something that looks promising, you could come back and inquire if others have experience there.
SantaMonicaWhaler	posted 11-18-2004 06:07 PM ET (US) Shrimp Burrito: Thanks for asking that question. I have often wondered over the last two years if there were any lakes, rivers, etc. in the Los Angeles area where I could take the BW for a relaxing weekend of freshwater fishing. My perception has always been that every lake would be be full of drunk idiots on their PWC or 50mph speedboat. Mark
ShrimpBurrito	posted 11-18-2004 08:04 PM ET (US) Wow, lots more great info here. Thanks alot for all the tips. I'll be trying each one of them, since they are far better than any guess I would have! I like Phil's idea of a winter SoCal rendezvous. I know someone planned one a few months ago for a run over to Catalina, but I'm not sure who all made it. One idea for a rendezvous would be to get together Saturday afternoon on December 18 in Newport Beach for all the proper grilling and alcohol, and then after dark, take a cruise through the harbor to watch the Christmas parade and to see all the houses decked out. I've never seen it, but heard it is quite the site. Anyone interested?