OT: Fishing and camping at Castaic last weekend...

[SLove1104]

Went camping with the family from Thursday to Sunday at Castaic Lake in the Valley... We fish there almost every weekend but this was the first time camping there and let's just say it was... I don't know, slightly irritating.

First off, they haven't stocked Castaic's lower lake since January because of some sort of lawsuit (but they do stock the upper lake... anyone know what that's about?)... So in the past month or so the fishing at the lower lake has sucked... I did manage a 3 lb. trout and a 4 lb. striper last week... Anyway, we did end up getting a few small largemouth and a 4 and 6 pounder this past weekend...

Anyway, so our neighbor there ended up getting all his gear taken... Not sure of the full story but either a couple of his fish were short, or he was over the limit. I know, his fault, but still, that sucked for him. He was visiting from back east I think so the laws are different... Guilty of negligence I guess...

To top it off, the cops patrolled and rolled through the campsites ALL week EVERY hour! It was aggravating! My boyfriend woke up to take a leak at 4 in the morning and walked out the tent to some cops with flashlights rummaging through our crap! What the?? Every night, they would walk through and shine lights in trashcans looking for booze and look through peoples' crap.

Oh, and the cherry on top, the cops made my boyfriend's friend put out his cigarette, because it is now illegal to smoke on all county park property.

So basically... 4 days of being harrassed by cops... where you can't even smoke... and the fishing sucks.

That was my weekend in a nutshell! Castaic's gotta get their butt in gear or they're seriously gonna lose some die hard fishermen... I don't care about their record fish in there if the cops are gonna harrass me every hour... I don't think I had one happy neighbor the whole week... Just a bunch of ****ed off campers!

We're going back for another 5 days on Thursday. (Apparently, we're a little slow. We didn't learn the first time...) Seriously though, as much as it sucked being patrolled like jailbirds all weekend, the kids had fun so I guess that's what matters... It'd just be nice if a guy can take a leak at 4 in the morning without flashlights in his eyes...

 

[maharsreef]

Welcome, to liberal/ socialised America. The govmnt is about to take over and be involved inevery aspect of your life.

 

[Drft626]

Welcome, to liberal/ socialised America. The govmnt is about to take over and be involved inevery aspect of your life.

1+ Sorry to hear you guys didn't have the best time. I guess in a way the cops patrolling makes some people feel safe and others just confined and restricted especially the people who smoke I guess I'm not going to be in castiac anytime soon. Also the cops were going through your stuff that's insane, They don't have that right.

 

[SLove1104]

Well, they weren't going "through" our stuff per se... More like shining their flashlights IN our stuff without touching it... In our open bins, trashcans, fire pits, pretty much anything they can see without needing a warrant...

And ya, I'm one of those people that appreciate the police for all the good they do, and the help they give when it's needed... But I'm also all about privacy and having a good time without being bombarded and feeling like I was in prison boot camp... Especially when camping. That's my relaxing time man... Damn. I mean, they're not gonna find any terrorists at the lake are they? I mean come on! California's on a budget crisis and this is what they've got the cops doing? Shouldn't they be out looking for murderers and thieves? Like really, did someone steal someone's firewood?

Anyway, ya we had fun regardless... Just thought it was insane with all the cops around... I camp at O'Neill and Caspers several times every year and have never had this happen... It was... different.

 

[peskyfish]

Out of curiosity, who patrols the campground? LA County Sheriff or Park Rangers? That sucks that they harassed you like that, I would be ticked off a little too.

 

[Hammsreefbeer]

:smokin::smokin::hmm4::lolspin:=:worried:







































puff,puff,give.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hammsreefbeer]

Ranger alert!!!!

 

[SLove1104]

Out of curiosity, who patrols the campground? LA County Sheriff or Park Rangers? That sucks that they harassed you like that, I would be ticked off a little too.

It was actually the Sheriffs... that's why I found it odd and a bit over the top... If it were park rangers I'd have shrugged it off...

 

[peskyfish]

Sheriffs can be like that. And probably not much going on up there in Castaic compared to ...Compton!

 

[SLove1104]

:smokin::smokin::hmm4::lolspin:=:worried:

puff,puff,give.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol Hamms. Well, all the guys around us were toking before they started patrolling so I thought they started coming because of that. But come to find out later from someone that camps there all the time that the sheriffs do this often regardless... It's more about the booze really. They gave out several open container tickets that weekend...

I mean, I'm a rules person myself... Rules are there for protection, yadda yadda yadda... But come on... This is camping we're talking about. I mean, camping without having a beer around the campfire would be like having a reef tank filled with water with nothing in it... I know not everyone goes camping to get wasted but come on, most do... And it's not an age thing... It was actually mostly the older crowd there that was having beers around the fire... I mean, as long as it's good responsible drinking... ya know...

 

[montrose]

I mean, I'm a rules person myself... Rules are there for protection, yadda yadda yadda... But come on... This is camping we're talking about. I mean, camping without having a beer around the campfire would be like having a reef tank filled with water with nothing in it... I know not everyone goes camping to get wasted but come on, most do... And it's not an age thing... It was actually mostly the older crowd there that was having beers around the fire... I mean, as long as it's good responsible drinking... ya know...

I'll drink to that (and I don't even drink). It's been too long since I spent the night in a tent, but I'm headed to Utah next month for just that.

 

[SLove1104]

Sheriffs can be like that. And probably not much going on up there in Castaic compared to ...Compton!

What are you talking about... They got to give out several open container tickets and took away someone's fireworks... Ooooh, dangerous stuff man! That's hardcore. Compton ain't got nuthin on that! :spin1:

 

[bad santa]

I mean, I'm a rules person myself... Rules are there for protection, .

Then either follow the rules(no drinking) or dont camp there again.The beer drinking rule was put in place because of some not so respectfull drinkers did something that probably got out of hand. If camping is about the kids having fun then i guess you accomplished that. If you want to drink while camping then go to a bar or camp out in your back yard and throw a line in your tank.

I was at castais a few years back boating with the family and some not so responsible person set a fire when he flicked his cig into the dry brush. What a way to end the day right? I wished the sherriffs were patrolling that campground to have tickeded that guy before he wouldve set that fire.

Im just saying!

 

[SC Trojan]

or you can come camping with us at La Jolla Indian Campground/Reservation, off the 76 in san diego where they allow alcohol as long as its in cans, only rule they have is music has to be turned off by 10pm. They themselves(Native Americans) do patrol and anybody being rowdy or disrespectful will be kicked out in a heartbeat,beleive me. Super fun place for family and friends, theres a stream running through the campground that can be fished and or innertubed (they rent them out for like 10 bucks a day),theres also lake henshaw about 10min up the hwy if want lake fishing. Like yourself Slove, i enjoy taking the family out and having a few beers without having to look over my shoulder for the you know who:thumbsup::beer::beachbum:, we usually go memorial or labor day weekend but it gets pretty packed quick,highly recommend it!

 

[SLove1104]

Then either follow the rules(no drinking) or dont camp there again.The beer drinking rule was put in place because of some not so respectfull drinkers did something that probably got out of hand. If camping is about the kids having fun then i guess you accomplished that. If you want to drink while camping then go to a bar or camp out in your back yard and throw a line in your tank.

I was at castais a few years back boating with the family and some not so responsible person set a fire when he flicked his cig into the dry brush. What a way to end the day right? I wished the sherriffs were patrolling that campground to have tickeded that guy before he wouldve set that fire.

Im just saying!

We were following the rules. We weren't one of those people that they're there looking for. Like I said, I understand rules, but who wants to relax and go camping, with cops on their campsite at 4 in the morning invading privacy, and driving by every hour on the hour, even at midnight kicking up dust as they drive by...

There's a huge difference between being there for safety, and just being absolutely rude and inconsiderate. Just saying...

 

[SLove1104]

I was at castais a few years back boating with the family and some not so responsible person set a fire when he flicked his cig into the dry brush. What a way to end the day right? I wished the sherriffs were patrolling that campground to have tickeded that guy before he wouldve set that fire.

Wouldn't this include ticketing every smoker who flicks his cigarette in and out of campgrounds? Might as well make the whole state a non-smoking state... right? I see irresponsible people everywhere, if "rules" were set for every idiot's mistakes, we'd all be required to stay home in padded rooms with cops standing outside everyone's doors.

 

[Hammsreefbeer]

hEY sANDRA.
I was just teasing yesterday but i see this thread is heading in a bad way but would like to say i understand what your saying.I am a SMOKER and DRINKER and have camped my whole life and have hit almost every camp spot from border to border and Castaic suck anyway.
Go up 395 to Brown's town in bishop or El capitan state beach.These are good fun and as long as your respectful all is good.I have a trailer so its not the same but "F" the rules,just be respectful to people and the land.

And anyone that says you cant have some beer and having a good time should'nt be camping becuz there missing the whole idea of leaving town and chilling out,having a few laughs and enjoying the fresh air.
Now i feel like hooking up the trailer and bailling.lol

BTW.nothing i just said makes any since and the beer and BT i just took isnt helping but just thought id get one more...............IBTL.:beer:

 

[GTR]

The following are PROHIBITED by Los Angeles County Park Code Number 17.04.

• Alcoholic Beverages

Pretty clear if you want to drink you need to find a new place to go.

SteveU

 

[SLove1104]

Hey Doug... ya I know you were just joking. lol. So hey, how far are these places you mentioned? To be honest, I don't like going too far to camp... I usually stay in the OC and LA area... Mostly Casper's in San Juan and O'Neill in Irvine/Lake Forest... this is the first time at Castaic. My boyfriend lives in Santa Clarita and I in Lake Forest so we like to stay close. We did go to Lake Piru last year but (speaking of beer) the boyfriend had a little drinking mishap and let's just say we can't go back there again... lol. Besides, the fishing sucked off shore. I'm not ready to get the kids on a boat yet as they're impatient little ones... lol. ("When can we go back? Are we going back yet? I have to pee! When? When? When? Are we done fishing? Catch a fish yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?")

Oh, and we're hitting up some place in SD next month... I think it's Campland... not too sure since my sister booked that one... Been to that one?

 

[SLove1104]

Pretty clear if you want to drink you need to find a new place to go.

SteveU

I don't want to drink. I rarely drink. I'm talking about EVERYONE camping... not me.

And I'm also talking about having campsites raided at 4 in the morning while everyone is sleeping... INCLUDING families with children! Are you people not reading this part?

Seriously, I get it... NO DRINKING ON COUNTY/CITY/WHATEVER PROPERTY. But does this require getting woken up at 4 in the morning by cops raiding your crap???

It doesn't take much to understand that there's a difference between enforcing safety and being pushy, rude and inconsiderate!

I mean really, does it take kicking up dust while everyone is having dinner to enforce safety? (In addition to every other hour of the day) Does it take looking through my crap at 4 in the morning waking children up?

Believe me, I GET IT. I'm not anti-law if that's what you guys are thinking... Geez. My whole point is they're going OVERBOARD.