Crystal Lake

[MRVRSICK]

Decided to head out to the lake. Caught a lot of bluegill while trying to get some bass, with the day totaling over 20 NICE sized 'gills. I know some of you have been up there, so share some of the stories!

[Darius]

You joking right? Please in the future say you caught 2 not 20 blue gills, all the homies are on there way to that lake drinking their 40's and screwing their bitches leaving their crap everywhere now. But hey thanks for the report I guess I have to make a trip out there. You get a view of the campsite, they look good?

[Big Bear Legal Eagle]

Interesting bits of trivia: Crystal Lake is the only natural lake in the San Gabriel Mountains, formed by a landslide that originated between Mt. Islip and Mt. Hawkins. Hard to believe, but in the early 1900's it was a very popular destination resort with swimming and canoeing in its "crystal clear waters." There were feeder lines from some local springs that provided fresh water throughout the summer months but were disconnected in 1969 and have never been restored. I was involved in an attempted restoration by the Pasadena Casting Club and California Trout in the early 80's. Unfortunately in those years the U.S. Forest Service in the Angeles National Forest was almost entirely focused on the income from leasing radio & television tower sites and other commercial mining and logging opportunities. They dismissed recreation and historical rehabilitation as costly luxuries. The fires in 2002 pretty much eliminated the Crystal Lake Resort and the other historical improvements and the road degraded over the years until it was locked to public access. Now it's just an extension of the urban jungle. Too bad.

[Philly_D]

Didnt know they reopened the lake. I love it up there. Many years ago i used to open the lock to the gate and drive up there and fish at night. After watching the news a few days after one of my night journeys, found out there was a body up there the same night i was. good thing i didnt come across it. i would of sh*t myself.

[viperman100]

when did it reopen, are they still going to be stocking it with trout, my buddies and I used to float tube up there and catch trout all day long, alot of smaller size bass also and a couple good sized ones too. Last I heard they drained the lake to clean out ashes and stuff so whats in there besides the blue gill and bass??? too bad about how "some" people treated that place, the san gabriel mountains east and west fork and crystal lake are a great little get away unfortunately its not far enough to deter the rif raf,,,,

[Philly_D]

when did it reopen, are they still going to be stocking it with trout, my buddies and I used to float tube up there and catch trout all day long, alot of smaller size bass also and a couple good sized ones too. Last I heard they drained the lake to clean out ashes and stuff so whats in there besides the blue gill and bass??? too bad about how "some" people treated that place, the san gabriel mountains east and west fork and crystal lake are a great little get away unfortunately its not far enough to deter the rif raf,,,,

Yeah, I used to love catching trout in the snow! I remember seeing monster bass in there, could never get them to bite though. They didnt stock east or west fork too much this last season, or at all i think?

[Darius]

No more stocking the ghetto rivers at S.G anymore.

[HunterAndy]

That place is still open? Wow, I haven't been there in 10 years+! Might make a trip to go out and mess around with some bluegills soon =}...Thanks!

[viperman100]

No more stocking the ghetto rivers at S.G anymore.

yeah I heard they were cutting the stockings at the rivers but didnt know if they would be stocking the lake now that its open again. Sad thing is they stopped stocking the rivers due to budget cuts yet they still stocked Peck Road park, the dirtiest mud hole in the planet.

[MRVRSICK]

Hey all, I'll do some more scouting saturday morning (if it's not raining) or Sunday (rain or shine) and get a better look at the lake and surrounding area. Just saw one family come down and throw a bunch of rocks into the lake right where I was fishing, didn't seem to affect the bite much :)

Still too cold and foggy to attract all the crowds, this weekend looks like it might be the same or worse.

So if you're in the area, stop by and strike up a conversation, I'll probably be the only one fishing the lake :))

[Philly_D]

Hey all, I'll do some more scouting saturday morning (if it's not raining) or Sunday (rain or shine) and get a better look at the lake and surrounding area. Just saw one family come down and throw a bunch of rocks into the lake right where I was fishing, didn't seem to affect the bite much :)

Still too cold and foggy to attract all the crowds, this weekend looks like it might be the same or worse.

So if you're in the area, stop by and strike up a conversation, I'll probably be the only one fishing the lake :))

Id rather save the gas money for a pyramid trip but maybe ill see u up there. If i dont make it good luck!

[viperman100]

take pictures while your out there, I would love to see what it looks like now. I used to live in BP and was up there almost three times a week after work, now its too far of a drive plus I have Perris alot closer to me.

[MRVRSICK]

Forgot to bring the SLR! The girlfriend liked it though, she wants to go again tomorrow morning. She had the first catch of the day, a little bass, I got the second, a slightly larger one. Pics are on her phone, maybe I'll get them on tomorrow. No bluegill though.

Warm and clear up there, if she wasn't with me I would've done a lot more fishing... Maybe I'll take the camera tomorrow :)

[MRVRSICK]

The weather was beautiful out there! Even got a little burned http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/Mobile%20Uploads/775.jpg

Obviously I'm the better camera-person :)
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/Mobile%20Uploads/772.jpg

Good day, she was super excited as she caught one on her second cast with a brush hog, my monster hog was from being determined on catching one with a plastic from a kit that was given to me. Wish I had a tube, there's some nice spots that could be hard to hit from shore :(

[old pudd fisher]

Nice report and pics "MRVRSICK" I haven't been there in years, glad it's open again.

[viperman100]

good job up there, the place looks real good, wish I was closer I might have to make a run up there one day and see it for myself.

[MRVRSICK]

Looks like going up to the lake is a weekly thing for me as I went up again today. Bass were shallow and just roaming around, caught a couple of bluegill (I'm guessing) to pass the time. Pics tomorrow.

Met a fly fisherman from San Pedro, cool dude.

[jdietze]

yeah I heard they were cutting the stockings at the rivers but didnt know if they would be stocking the lake now that its open again. Sad thing is they stopped stocking the rivers due to budget cuts yet they still stocked Peck Road park, the dirtiest mud hole in the planet.

The DFG stopped stocking the SG rivers because of lawsuits from the environmentalists that had to do with the yellow-legged frog, if I'm not mistaken. That's why you see all of these lame places being stocked, instead of these wonderful river systems. Oh well, it's probably just as well, cause the little wild 'bows on the rivers are beyond beautiful compared to the rubber trout.

[viperman100]

The DFG stopped stocking the SG rivers because of lawsuits from the environmentalists that had to do with the yellow-legged frog, if I'm not mistaken. That's why you see all of these lame places being stocked, instead of these wonderful river systems. Oh well, it's probably just as well, cause the little wild 'bows on the rivers are beyond beautiful compared to the rubber trout.

not to hijack the thread, but I've caught bass out of there as well, so that frog getting eaten anyways. But yes its worth going up and down the river for the wild trout alone it was just nice to once in a while hook a decent stocker on the light line in current, but also not stocking it will hopefully keep some of the rif raff out of there.

[MRVRSICK]

Don't mind the zipper -__-
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/IMG_0407.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/IMG_0411.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/IMG_0408.jpg

She caught quite a few of these runts
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/IMG_0410.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/IMG_0412.jpg

And "action" shot...
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/IMG_0413.jpg

And a few shots of the drive back down
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/IMG_0423.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/mrvrsick/IMG_0416.jpg


No bass, bunch of 'gill... Didn't fish too long either. Had DFG around, asked for the licenses (of which I was glad to see)

Next time will be without the GF and WITH the SLR :D

[Darius]

Glad to hear that the Wardens are out there patrolling. I hope to make a trip out there and bring a trash bag. The fish being caught on jigs, worms?:Secret:

[MRVRSICK]

Fishin has been good, most fish caught on texas rigged plastics, weightless-3/16oz. This last weekend saw a few bass (1-2 lbs) and many panfish (max of 18 oz)

Will be there on Sunday from noon to whenever I get bored.

[plumbertom]

You sure those are Gills? They look like Warmouth to me.

[661Bass'n]

@ plumbertom....never heard of a Warmouth so, I had to look it up...interesting.."Warmouths can be very aggressive, and will often strike at lures and baits even after being released by anglers moments before. They are rarely targeted by anglers but are an occasional accidental catch. The world record was caught in Florida and weighed 2lbs 7oz."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warmouth

[annex138]

I don't think they are warmouths. The look nice sized green sunfish

[MRVRSICK]

I would venture to say they're green sunfish. They are very aggressive though. A lot of fun on 4 pound line. Will be taking the fly rod out this weekend for a fun time. A nice spotted bass ran some drag on me the other day, surprised me and the kid that was astonished by there actually being fish in there :)