NEW DOCK MOORINGS have already been poured, here and even higher up the bank, as shown by Ranger Jim Dayberry.

In SoCal, most of the attention has been to the reopening of San Vicente Lake in Lakeside. One article had it opening in November of 2015, but the last three news releases from the City of San Diego say: “There is NO projected opening date at this time!”

Still, we know it’s coming.

But in Escondido, the earthquake-threatened dam at Lake Wohlford is also due for a new structure–perhaps as soon as 2017. Here it will allow the lake level to rise where nobody has seen it for a decade or more–it’s original capacity, some 20 to 25 feet higher than it is presently.

While replacing the old one with a new, seismically sound, concrete dam, it’s not a perfect situation all around. The city’s hands are tied by construction costs and with issues such as (more…)

JUMPING for a Vail Lake public opening in 2015.

Almost an enigma among SoCal reservoirs, Vail Lake was once a regular stop for clubs in the 1970’s, produced bass to 18 pounds in the 1980’s and then after developers got into the act, became both a hot ticket and a hot potato as an exclusive (or not), private fishing hole.

In today’s Press Enterprise it was reported that the new manager for the lake and adjacent properties, Rancho California Water District, has plans for improvements, but when they say “family friendly” attractions, that always makes me uneasy.

It’s not that I mind (more…)

Don’t worry, I’m not asking for Mother Nature to take it back. But when I look at conditions just a few seasons back, it’s pretty plain, we have got quite a ways to go when it comes to a wet winter.

Easiest for me to compare with photos is Lake Elsinore (across the street) and yet, when you look at the annual projection for the water level here, it seems officials already knew where we were headed. And here we are.

The 1240 elevation “danger line” (more…)

BILL RICE, shown at Lake Elsinore in the 1970’s, to enter FWFHOF, class of 2015.

He was a fellow member of the Saddleback Bassmasters club in Orange County in the 1970’s and my mentor and first boss in the outdoor writing world at Western Outdoor News (WON), beginning in 1977. And now he is a member of the class of 2015–inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. (See release)

While you may not know he was the fastest copy editor to ever hit a newsroom, or that he actually wrote a book on tennis, among his many accomplishments, Bill was (more…)