Irwindale pit?

[EvilFett]

Has anyone ninja fished the abandoned hole? I talked to my cousin who is a lifegaurd working out of santa fe dam, he said they have scuba exercises in this hole. I asked him if there were any fish and his reply was "There are some HUGE fish in there :EyePop:". I told him to invite me next time and sure enough he said it was ON! I wonder whats in there?

[old pudd fisher]

Has anyone ninja fished the abandoned hole? I talked to my cousin who is a lifegaurd working out of santa fe dam, he said they have scuba exercises in this hole. I asked him if there were any fish and his reply was "There are some HUGE fish in there :EyePop:". I told him to invite me next time and sure enough he said it was ON! I wonder whats in there?

Yes I wonder about that to. I used to drive by it all the time when I worked out thier. Hope you get some good replys:Big Grin:

[EvilFett]

I hope for replies also but it seems like everyone is mum on this 1:Secret:

[advance]

Had a friend who worked as an operator there years ago and we fished the pit many times. Alot of big fish in that hole. Watch out for security. If you don't belong behind the gates they are not very nice to trespassers. Ninjas beware, the fine is hefty......and it's patrolled day & night. Just a heads up.

[Git R Done]

heck yes there are. i knew a buddy who used to go there frm time to time and i tagged along one time and man o man...theres bass, bass and wait more bass. i think we used rattle traps. there are also cats down there. i didnt fish for any but i saw huge dried up cats around where we were fishing

[screaming_spool]

about 10 yeas ago we would ninja bass it. great bass fishing...also some carp. watch out for the security.

[smokinflies]

Has anyone ninja fished the abandoned hole? I talked to my cousin who is a lifegaurd working out of santa fe dam, he said they have scuba exercises in this hole. I asked him if there were any fish and his reply was "There are some HUGE fish in there :EyePop:". I told him to invite me next time and sure enough he said it was ON! I wonder whats in there?

which gravel pit are you talking about? i seen two pits besides the 605.

[Mister Twister]

which gravel pit are you talking about? i seen two pits besides the 605. I used to fish pit across from peck rd lake,like 20 yrs ago.We would park at wrecking yard on peck rd,slide down the hill, hard climb out.Then quite a few people fished it.I used 6'' mister twister,Mann jelly worms, white spinnerbaits.Man with bullhorn in row boat would yell at us to leave,your going to jail ect,sure it's different now. got some dd bass there,c&r it' was phenomenal.Did my share of trespassing then. Corona lake was unreal in the 70's, the skeeters would eat you alive though.

[carpanglerdude]

Necro post x 10000

The LA Times did an article about the Irwindale Pits many years ago and mentioned the fishing opportunities herein. Enjoy:

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-08-22/sports/sp-1133_1_big-hole


But they have to know their town will never be the same. The abandoned pits, for instance, will become overrun with out-of-town fishermen and scuba divers, once word gets out. Maybe I shouldn't even mention this, but did you know Irwindale is the secret sportfishing capital of Los Angeles?

Several of the abandoned pits are partially filled with water. (The Raider pit, however is bone dry, which should help the team's running game.) In the pits that have mini-lakes, I'm told, the water is clean and clear and teeming with fish. The rock-and-gravel companies planted the fish--bass, carp, bluegill, catfish--to help contain the local bug population and to keep the water clean.

There's no trespassing, but . . .

"I've gone snorkeling down there," Dennis Chico said, pointing to an abandoned pit near his home. "The water is very clear, a beautiful greenish-blue. You can see for 20, 30 feet. It's like Catalina."

In other words, the water is clearer than the air. Irwindale is where the dust meets the smog. The Raider offense will be a 50-yard pass and a cloud of dust.

By the way, this may be the first time in history that Catalina and Irwindale have been mentioned in the same story. You snorkelers and scuba divers will be able to tell the difference. The ocean floor off Catalina isn't covered with abandoned rock-crushing equipment. Chico described the local fishing.

"There's a lot of bass down there, real good-sized," he said. "I've caught 10-, 11-pound bass. I've heard rumors of extremely big catfish down there. I won't say where the best pit is, but the fish are down there. Some guys chum with bait, then shoot the fish with a bow and arrow."

On the counter of Eddie Diaz's liquor store, under glass, is a snapshot of Irwindale's unofficial record catch. A fisherman is holding a 25-pound 39-inch mackerel. Photo inscription: "King of the hill, 3/8/86, Jim Teal, from his secret hole."

[Marley]

Years ago, the good folks of SARL fame operated a fishing lake in one of those pits. I never did make it up there, although I have fond memories of getting lost trying to find the place one night...

[Sebastian323]

If seen two big pits by the 605 and they both look quite hard to get down to the water. Peck Road Park used to be a gravel pit, but it's not nearly as steep down to the water.

[Viejo]

I hope for replies also but it seems like everyone is mum on this 1:Secret:

I can't imagine why people are not more forthright.......They should be giving you the fishin bro lowdown :}

[Marley]

I hope for replies also but it seems like everyone is mum on this 1:Secret:

You can count on a typical mix of bass, bluegill and catfish. If a guard or foreman has or had a fishing fetish I would bet money that they sneaked in some crappie and if so, that species should be off the charts. Probably some carp, likely a few turtles, too. Clean, cold spring water (and seasonal air temps) would allow trout in the winter time but the summer temps there would likely have killed those off a long while ago. But if the water is deep enough and you find the hole SARL used to plant, you might be surprised with a trout or two.

[Slims]

I used to fish all the quarries/pits around azusa/irwindale from the time I got a car until the day before my 18th birthday.

Here's the info:

The pit SARL used to own was on the corner of olive and lower azusa across the street from dolans liquor/sandwich. That closed to the public late 80s. I used to fish it a lot, but it was completely drained and dried out in 1998. Biggest bass I got out of it was just shy of 8, biggest bluegill 2.3 lbs.

There is another really deep pit on the corner of arrow and vincent. It is a real pain in the *** to get out because it is so steep, and all loose rocks. Again, big hungry bass and big cats. Smaller panfish than on Olive. As far as I know, still filled with water and fish, but I havent been since 1999.

The pit behind the church on rt 39 at the mouth of azusa canyon was a panfish heaven. Smaller bass, but I got 1 smallie there.

I never fished either big pit you can see off the 605. No cover and heavily patrolled. My buddies dad got arrested in there, twice. I never felt it was worth it. But my buddies dad kept going back, and Im sure it was for a good reason.

I wont even go into Morris dam......but it was awesome.

That being said, I was taken out of the pit on olive in the back of a cop car twice. Never ticketed because all we had were fishing rods, never alcohol or spray paint. Both times though the cops made us clean the under chasis of their car to pull all the dead plants and debris. Was worth it in my opinion. Always cholos down there, and fought once. The pit on vincent is pretty regularly used, and patrolled. The guys at the burger joint and the grangers love calling the cops. Behind the church was always short trips. The quarry guys would chase us out on their trucks, or call the cops. Always the chance of running into cholos and having your **** stolen or fighting. It was the late 90s when I would go so maybe its different now but I doubt it.

I loved doing it, but after I turned 18, no bass is worth thousands and possible jail time and confiscation of my gear.

If you have any more specific questions, I will answer to the best of my knowledge.

[Marley]

Real info. Cool, and thanks!

[old pudd fisher]

I used to fish all the quarries/pits around azusa/irwindale from the time I got a car until the day before my 18th birthday.

Here's the info:

The pit SARL used to own was on the corner of olive and lower azusa across the street from dolans liquor/sandwich. That closed to the public late 80s. I used to fish it a lot, but it was completely drained and dried out in 1998. Biggest bass I got out of it was just shy of 8, biggest bluegill 2.3 lbs.

There is another really deep pit on the corner of arrow and vincent. It is a real pain in the *** to get out because it is so steep, and all loose rocks. Again, big hungry bass and big cats. Smaller panfish than on Olive. As far as I know, still filled with water and fish, but I havent been since 1999.

The pit behind the church on rt 39 at the mouth of azusa canyon was a panfish heaven. Smaller bass, but I got 1 smallie there.

I never fished either big pit you can see off the 605. No cover and heavily patrolled. My buddies dad got arrested in there, twice. I never felt it was worth it. But my buddies dad kept going back, and Im sure it was for a good reason.

I wont even go into Morris dam......but it was awesome.

That being said, I was taken out of the pit on olive in the back of a cop car twice. Never ticketed because all we had were fishing rods, never alcohol or spray paint. Both times though the cops made us clean the under chasis of their car to pull all the dead plants and debris. Was worth it in my opinion. Always cholos down there, and fought once. The pit on vincent is pretty regularly used, and patrolled. The guys at the burger joint and the grangers love calling the cops. Behind the church was always short trips. The quarry guys would chase us out on their trucks, or call the cops. Always the chance of running into cholos and having your **** stolen or fighting. It was the late 90s when I would go so maybe its different now but I doubt it.

I loved doing it, but after I turned 18, no bass is worth thousands and possible jail time and confiscation of my gear.

If you have any more specific questions, I will answer to the best of my knowledge.

Thanks good stuff and always wondered about those pits, I lived in Covina most of my life and past by them many times, but never fished them.

[castle]

Two people drowened there yesterday at 1:00 in the AM whhen there car fell in during a ninja mission gone wrong. See Riverside Press Enterprise for article

[smokinflies]

Two people drowened there yesterday at 1:00 in the AM whhen there car fell in during a ninja mission gone wrong. See Riverside Press Enterprise for article

actually the 2 people survived the fall and it was a car accident, not a ninja mission.


http://hosted2.ap.org/CARIE/7f780b0f92634e54be4b48f9179deaa4/Article_2012-08-25-Rock%20Quarry%20Plunge/id-2cae58f4eeed43cd8ce0575f7e3fbfff

[dday07]

Vulcan pit very good but alot of surveillance from ground and air...def. a hit and run place.

[Sebastian323]

There is another really deep pit on the corner of arrow and vincent. It is a real pain in the *** to get out because it is so steep, and all loose rocks. Again, big hungry bass and big cats. Smaller panfish than on Olive. As far as I know, still filled with water and fish, but I havent been since 1999.

The pit behind the church on rt 39 at the mouth of azusa canyon was a panfish heaven. Smaller bass, but I got 1 smallie there.


If you have any more specific questions, I will answer to the best of my knowledge.

Are these two pits you mention here abandoned?

[carpanglerdude]

Are these two pits you mention here abandoned?

I doubt they are truly "abandoned", even if they may not be actively mined for gravel. They are probably still patrolled by security.

There was a big post here by a guard at pits near mouth of Azusa canyon; he posted a picture of a ninja fisherman he caught on patrol in the topic.

Those old quarry pits look fantastic; I would pay good money to be allowed to fish them. Shame they are off limits.


For anyone who lives in the area, is it legal to fish any of the river below Morris Dam? There is a 'park' area just off the main San Gabriel Can Rd, on Old San Gab Rd, are you allowed to fish the water in this section? Or do I have to hike up above San Gabriel Reservoir to fish legally?

Thank you!

[bassfishing24/7]

I doubt they are truly "abandoned", even if they may not be actively mined for gravel. They are probably still patrolled by security.

There was a big post here by a guard at pits near mouth of Azusa canyon; he posted a picture of a ninja fisherman he caught on patrol in the topic.

Those old quarry pits look fantastic; I would pay good money to be allowed to fish them. Shame they are off limits.


For anyone who lives in the area, is it legal to fish any of the river below Morris Dam? There is a 'park' area just off the main San Gabriel Can Rd, on Old San Gab Rd, are you allowed to fish the water in this section? Or do I have to hike up above San Gabriel Reservoir to fish legally?

Thank you!
Can u post a link to that thread???

[Slims]

Are these two pits you mention here abandoned?

No, they are not abandoned. The pit on Vincent is constantly being used. They block the street to let the trucks in and out. And the pit on hwv 39 is heavily patrolled.

[Skyler]

http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_21399990/man-and-woman-survive-150-foot-plummet-into?nstrack=sid:7400233|met:300|cat:0|order:2

[Cowboy Hookup]

I can verify there is monster LMBS there. Stopped off at gas station on the corner of Myrtle and Longden this past May, on the way to a morning wedding around that corner. This dude rolls right up on his bike carrying a couple rods and wearing a back pack. I asked how he did today and asked where he fished?

Proudly he takes off his backpack and unzips it. In it, was 8 to up to a dozen or so monster LMBS averaging anywhere from 15"-22". He then points to one of the pits, but I not familiar with the area and it is not clearly visible from the corner. I told him I heard the security being tight in there but said they didn't bother him much. I asked him him what he uses and he told me everything. He even showed some of the crawlers.

I've been fishing over 35yrs. but just recently started freshwater only 4 yrs. now around local lakes. I'm not an experienced Bass angler cuz I thought it took to much effort to get into even though I have the right gear. I've caught a few juveniles here and there. To the point, I envied those pigs that day. I personally haven't seen pigs that size and abundant caught local lakes in the area. It just sucks cuz I know it is there but isn't easily accessible to the public. I'll probably be daring to hit it up when I hit my midlife crisis. lol lol

[crazy rick]

have not ninjad in a long time but its worth it also im looking for someone to share a room at the us open at boulder station res has already been made $19 / night sun thru wed 4 nights crazy rick 714-996-bass

[bman90278]

An old friend of mine from years ago had a family member who worked in the quarry and used to let him fish there once in a while. I don't believe he caught anything decent sized, but I know he had caught a few smallies, which I thought was cool.

-b

[Sebastian323]

Well the other day riding bus 78 around 10:30 P.M. into downtown LA, I run into this guy who is on his way out to Santa Monica for some night fishing. Eventually, the conversation gets to the Irwindale pits. He says he has fished many of them and shows me some pictures of big largemouths he has caught out of there. Hi best is 7 or 8 pounds. Also he says there are smallmouth in the pits out by Azusa Canyon, just as mentioned on this board.

also found this out about Morris:

Black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, redear sunfish, and smallmouth bass have
been previously found in Morris Reservoir

from http://dpw.lacounty.gov/lacfcd/sediment/files/FullDoc.pdf pg 194 (just search bass and see what you find)
it also says there is bass in Pacoima reservoir

[hamdenst]

i have also heard of "friends" of the guards at the pits being allowed to fish with good results.

has anyone tried fishing the walnut creek spreading grounds off of grand/garvey off the 10 in covina? i believe i read online about it being some kind of "secret" urban fishing hole. wondering if anyone had any experiences here. thanks!

[Slims]

0nce again, i used to fish this mudhole a lot in high school. There are carp, bluegill, and bass in there. Nothing ever huge besides the carp, but the bass were always super hungry. As with everything, what used to be easy and at worst a slap on the wrist, has become something more severe. A buddy of mine was ticketed and fined after being ''escorted'' out of there. Also, what used to be a chain link fence behind the hotel has become a block wall with pretty gnarly razor/barbed wire. Also it looks like there was a security cam installed back there.

[BASSCATCH]

Back in 2011, i used to fish the SGR in the azusa canyon, i would park right across from burro canyon firing range, i would always catch big bass there, the were different type, Large mouth, spotted, small mouth, red ear sunfish, huge carp, and trout...I miss that spot, they drained it, and now the off road community has taken over, there is still fish there, but very hard to climb up. Morris is off limits, and the trout there is a native fish, so should only be c&r with barb less J hooks. I was told by my neighbor about the pits once, but i was discouraged due to the trasspassing, and difficulty of getting out, not worth it in my mind.:Sad:

[carpanglerdude]

i have also heard of "friends" of the guards at the pits being allowed to fish with good results.

has anyone tried fishing the walnut creek spreading grounds off of grand/garvey off the 10 in covina? i believe i read online about it being some kind of "secret" urban fishing hole. wondering if anyone had any experiences here. thanks!


That pond by Ikea?
Heard a snakehead was pulled out of there several years back. Photos were posted on this board.

Unless there is another spot you meant?

[old pudd fisher]

Yeah I remember that photo and post, I lived in the apartments across the street from it in the late 70's. Never fished it.