Well at the board meeting tonight they unanimously adopted a tagging system for boaters that want to fish Casitas. You need to call the lake and get on the list for trailer space at the lake. They are using this list as the order for which you will be called to schedule your appointment.

The appointment is for a very thorough clean and dry inspection, Make sure there is no water in your motor or bait tank and bilge lines. When you pass the inspection you purchase their $50.00 bike type cable and lock. Your boat is then locked to your trailer and you keep the key.

What makes this system work is the tamper proof shipping container type seal. This goes in the same place your lock goes, This intact seal is what lets them know that you have not launched elswhere. So you can come and go as you please as long as when you come your seal is intact. You need to get a new seal put on when leaving.

They expect to start the appointments for inspection on may 3rd.
After your inspection and locking to the trailer with the seal you take your boat home for 10 days and that is your quarantine period.
This further insures any mussels and veligers on board will die and not contaminate Casitas

I know this is better news for Casitas locals than for those who do not live close or follow the tournament circuit. I dont think this will help tournaments on Casitas much. I cant imagine people would drive the distance to get tagged and then go home for 10 days just to get on the lake the 11th day for a tournament but maybe I am wrong about this

All in all It seems to be better than what we had and I think they will make more storage for boats on the lake eventually too. I dont think it will ever be the same as it once was. The attitude seems to be zero tolerance for the possibility of mussel infestation. Times have changed forever on our California lakes my friends and this attitude is rolling through the state like a wild fire that can't be put out.

Peace

Rich

The Casitas change is a welcomed move from total ban.

yes, i agree, things have changed, but what we have here is condition of the threat of mussel invasion, and the lack of true science to guide the actions. So the result is an extra conservative approach. It has to be this way until we know better. many people feel simple clean and dry will stop the spread. Could be.

i think stiff fines and penalties should be given to anyone who even moves there boat with an mussels on it, they are the culprets, not the recreational trailer boater that keeps a clean and dry ship.

The State is a no show, basically, to this whole issue as well. Where is the leadership and coordination on this??

Like I had said in past posts we are pretty much on our own. Larry Elshere was the one who spearheaded this and made it happen. I will not get in to politics as it will only lead to bickering on the site.

I personallly attended the meeting and was dissapointed at the board members lack of scientific knowledge or any hard data present. They all had computers and I suggested that someone get on line and find out the average temp of an outboard. It was a topic being heavily debated and seemed to be the fulcrum that was to determine the vote because it was believed that veligers might exist in the motor. I got some funny looks but I dont think anyone ever extracted that info. The info was extracted from the atendees opinions. What a joke, such a serious situation and no reliable hard scientific data.

Peace

Rich