The collapse of fishing in Puddingstone is not a problem of lack of law enforcement or an excess of fishery biologists. Nor is the problem due to anecdotes of gill netting (although the indifferent response is a park management problem). The primary reason Puddingstone fishing is a shadow of its former self is because of systematic neglect and indifference over the last 40 years.
I live across the street from Bonelli Park/Puddingstone and have been researching the lake for a couple of years as a prelude to proposing a new management plan for the lake. The LA County Park Department paid for a preliminary study of the lake last fall. I have obtained copies of those computerized maps and have compared them to one of those classic 1980's large, plasticized "Fishin' Map Co." maps of the Puddingstone topography when fishing was very good.
When the lake was drained for dam repair in 1985, the bottom was scraped flat as a billiard table and the importation of siltation from the stream entry point in the northeast corner gradually decreased the depth throughout most of the lake by 10'. Fish habitat structures previously placed by the citizen led Bonelli Park Foundation were removed. The 2021 vegetation study showed that lake vegetation only sparingly exists along the fringes of lake shoreline. Otherwise, the lake bottom is a lifeless, featureless desertscape.
The lead contractor on the 2021 study proposed a very ambitious expensive project which LA County did not believe was worth the investment. Not surprisingly as the local park management is also very unsupportive of fishing at the lake because their responsibilities only increase with the popularity of the park. Fewer people mean less trash, fewer issues with crowd control and fewer potential headaches for park management.. As a result, the fishing at Puddingstone has deteriorated to its present sad state as a conscious decision by park management.
I have repeatedly approached park management, but they remain unresponsive in their office "bunker." I have decided to bypass them and have written up a draft proposal and am having knowledgeable people review my proposal before I submit it to the County later this summer. I will forward it to anyone interested in the lake for comment and input. The main points are:
1. Reduce the speed limit on the lake to 5 mph and phase out the 35mph speed limit except on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for Memorial Day to Labor Day between 11:00am - 4:00pm. The goal is to eventually limit watercraft to those powered by electric motors, human energy or sails. Bass boats could only use their electric motors except while pulling the boat onto the trailer. The 35-mph speed circle in the middle of the lake keeps anglers out of the middle of the lake, creates uncomfortable wakes for smaller boats and kayaks and is dangerous in such a relatively small area.
2. Place multiple man-made structures throughout the lake to create fish habitat. Some of these habitat structure kits can be purchased commercially - even on Amazon - but very effective structures can be built by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys Clubs, school and church groups. The more people who invest time and energy in the lake, the greater its constituency and the less likely it will slide back to its current unacceptable condition. Longer term, remove excess siltation to deepen water areas and install water pumps to aerate deeper water and reduce algae blooms. There is already a healthy population of shad that will grow larger with the increase in habitat to sustain the sport fish.
3. Establish catch-photograph-and release fishing regulations on all species until the fish population can respond to the habitat improvements. Since there is currently a health advisory recommending that women and children avoid eating fish from Puddingstone, the restriction on taking fish is consistent with good health. The model for Puddingstone is an urban version of Lake Barrett in eastern San Diego County where anglers compete on Ticketron for a fishing pass.
4. To expedite the process, I would do the legal work to resuscitate the non-profit Friends of Bonelli Park 501(c)3 foundation so we could solicit tax-deductible donations from individuals, companies and grant foundations to supplement government funding.
Given the almost hostile approach of the current park management to fishing, it is remarkable that ANY fish survive in the lake. The only difference between the "old" Puddingstone and a new, potential Puddingstone is a one-time investment in habitat restoration and periodic fine-tuning by a lake management team.
This is not intended as a one-step panacea and there can never be 100% enforcement, but to do nothing and waste such a valuable resource is not a plan at all. What Puddingstone once was; it can be again. If you are interested in being part of a solution rather than giving uninformed knee-jerk reactions, you can contact me at
McAttorney@aol.com.