San V launch ramp

[Moose]

According the Bruce Smith of the San Diego Bass Fishing Podcast, we will be losing the launch ramp at San V on Oct 25th, if not sooner! I'm sorry but this is some serious BS!! You are cutting off recreational opportunities for, literally, thousands of San Diegans and no one in a position of power gives a damn! Not only are we losing access to PUBLIC lakes, they are killing the local businesses that rely on local fishermen such as lakeside Bait and Tackle, ECBT, and Anglers Marine.

This city is just ridiculous! I wish I could convince my wife to get the hell out of here!

[inthedeep2]

Politicians do not care about us once in office.
Its a shame there will be alot of money lost in our local economy/ hobby.

[KillinTime]

How much lower until we can use the old ramp. I imagine it's still there?

[Stringbean]

The city always claims lowering the water level was a public safety issue , because structural problems with the dams. San vee is new, and was built to increase water storage, in the event of an earthquake takes out the Aquaduct system.
The amount of money spent on the new ramp and parking lot was massive.
It’s just more lies for there mismanagement.

[Fisheromen]

And yet we continue to vote them in!

[VinnyBass]

As each lake is lowered to the point where almost no lakes are able to launch boats on them....just watch the rates go up on your
water bills. The city will be then generating tons of money. When the City tries to tell us they have to raise the rates they could just
point out how low our reservoirs are and many will believe it is just a normal thing to do....but not us fishermen!
So freaking sad what is happening here.

[Skeeter Nick]

It's disgusting how incompetent our mayor is. This is disgusting. I'm 55 and been fishing these lakes my whole life. I had been saving for a long time and bought a new skeeter for myself for my 50th birthday. 1st hodges closed, then el cap Otay etc. 2 tiny lakes left for every boat too use. Fishing is my outlet for life and now we can hardly do that now. I'm going to try and fight the city for the property tax value on my boat next year and encourage everyone else to do the same.

[Dfishin]

Disgusting is just 1 word of many for them. I retired 2 years ago and my dream was to fish. I went to Missouri to get the boat I wanted. Now it sits in my driveway.

[Kenroe]

This is just crazy!
San V was closed for like 2 years as the dam was raised & retrofitted to increase its holding capacity.
The city/county is now at a serious risk if a natural disaster should occur.
Water is the life blood of a city.
The only dam that has been found to be in need of retrofitted by the state is Hodges.
Hopefully el Nino will bring SD much Water & refill the resiviors , hopefully once the current mayor is out of office the new mayor will lead the city in the right direction & restore all the lakes to a level where boaters can again have access.
As most of you know, the SD ciry/county lakes were once a combined gem of fisheries & water recreation.
They touted some of the BEST LMB fishing in the country & regularly put out multiple 10+ lb LMB yearly.
Having all the lakes open & available allowed for the lakes to maintain a balance & not be too overpressured.
Once upon a time the lakes had a biologist that knew what he was doing.
New leadership is needed to return the lakes to their former size, health, availability & productivity.
Gloria needs to go!

[bdb74]

I would certainly not invest in a boat or any expensive freshwater gear. Use the money to travel or gear up for the salt. This forum has been of the opinion that the city wants to end fishing since I first saw this forum. over a decade ago. People post it and/or read it but then go out and invest in freshwater fishing gear.

I think eventually freshwater fishing will be largely ended in San Diego County. They can empty a lake and refill it and not restock. They can lower the level or raise it or whatever. If the level is raised or lowered during the spawn, they can wipe out a year of reproduction. The politicians don't care about the "industry" because it's NOT an industry. Industries have lobbies that pay and pay and pay campaign contributions to politicians. They need enough money to pay both candidates in every election regardless. The "industry" does not generate enough money and there is no lobby by anglers. If the activity does not generate money for politicians, it will not be an activity. That's reality.

This is a time when fishing is bigger and more popular than it has been in years. It may be possible to lobby for some consideration to be given to anglers. It would have to be an organized group that collects dues and has fundraisers and pays campaign contributions. That's all. Without that, the politicians will just keep making it more difficult to fish.

Would it be possible to have a waiver where anglers can sign and just go to the lakes whenever? No more closed days, no more biology done on the lakes, no more stocking, just let the lakes be water storage that happen to have some fish. Let anglers fish at night when the big bass bite. Put up big signs that say Enter at Your Own Risk and just ignore the anglers entirely. If someone can get a boat in there somehow, so be it. If guys walk the shore and fish, let them. If something happens, they can't sue the city.

[DarkShadow]

All this talk about the end of freshwater fishing has me concerned. If anyone needs to liquidate their JDM tackle collection before the apocalypse, feel free to DM me. I'm here for the community.

[Moose]

This is just crazy!
San V was closed for like 2 years as the dam was raised & retrofitted to increase its holding capacity.

It was actually closed for 5yrs.

IF the El Nino comes through with the projected rains (I'll believe it when I see it) and helps refill the lakes the city will just, most likely, allow them to be drawn down again by using the failing dams as an excuse to not keep them full. They are justifying the current drawdown of the lakes by claiming the dams are failing and cant support the lakes being at full pool, so they cant just turn around and say that the lakes can remain full all of a sudden. If the rain refills these lakes, the city will not have had to purchase any water, so it will have cost them nothing to fill the lakes and keep them filled.

[Kenroe]

There can be a compromise.
Keep the lakes as full as possible .
They dont have to be at full pool to allow for boater access.
Other than Hodges, I hadn't heard that the State of CA had made a determination on the dams at any of the other SD lakes.
Are those reports public?
& why such a significant draw down of San V.
Its been raised & retrofitted specially to allow for greater, safe holding capacity.

Why does the repairs or replacement of lake dams fall onto the cities/counties rather than the state?
Aren't dams & bridges, railways, freeways. state infrastructure?

[Skeeter Nick]

Toad Gloria is using the water for drinking water. He didn't purchase water this year because the city is broke. Word is he is also selling water to Mexico. At least this is what I heard.

[camobass]

Feel for you guys. One of the reasons I ditched the state. Plenty of water, 24 hour lakes, amazing hunting, fishing, constitutional carry and freedom.

[Moose]

Toad Gloria is using the water for drinking water. He didn't purchase water this year because the city is broke. Word is he is also selling water to Mexico. At least this is what I heard.

What the city is actually doing is selling the water we would normally receive from the Colorado River to Riverside. Instead of the water coming to our lakes and then being sent to Riverside, the water is going directly from the river to Riverside. Essentially eliminating the city as the middle man.

[TommyP]

I remember talking to u a few years ago Camobass if I remember. U and the family picked up and moved to Missouri? We were just back in that area last month for a wedding.......lots of bass boats parked in front of houses. We just closed another amazing season at Barrett. That in itself is a constant fight. Hope this finds all well with u.

TommyP

[DarkShadow]

Toad Gloria is using the water for drinking water. He didn't purchase water this year because the city is broke. Word is he is also selling water to Mexico. At least this is what I heard.

What the city is actually doing is selling the water we would normally receive from the Colorado River to Riverside. Instead of the water coming to our lakes and then being sent to Riverside, the water is going directly from the river to Riverside. Essentially eliminating the city as the middle man.

I like the "They're selling the water to Mexico" Facebook conspiracy narrative better.

[Kenroe]

Feel for you guys. One of the reasons I ditched the state. Plenty of water, 24 hour lakes, amazing hunting, fishing, constitutional carry and freedom.

What state?
I have property in Rapid City, SD & they have most to all of the items you mentioned & it's s red state too!
Seriously thinking of relocating there.

[Dfishin]

This could go Political!