Fishermen Lured by Possibility of Cash

There’s money in rainbows for those who capture tagged trout at Lake Casitas.

A man fishing with a Bellflower Cub Scout pack found a pot of gold at the end of a fishing line.

Three large rainbow trout with red tags were among 2,000 pounds of fish planted in the lake in a new program to lure more visitors to the Lake Casitas Recreation Area west of Ojai. The tags can be redeemed for $500 each.

Two of the tagged fish are still swimming, and more might be planted, said Richard Hajas, assistant general manager of Casitas Municipal Water District.

Peter Oestreich of Norwalk, who was camping at the lake with Cub Scout Pack 1, claimed the first reward. He caught a 3 1/2-pound rainbow trout Oct. 26 just outside the marina. Gary Wolfe, owner of Lake Casitas Boat Rentals, paid $500 to Oestreich, who said he would donate half the money to the Cub Scouts.

“Casitas hopes to find more sponsors to put even more money fish in the lake,” Hajas said.

The water district will spend $40,000 to stock the lake every other week until March. About $30,000 is earmarked for rainbow trout and $10,000 for a new strain of crappie.

“The drought situation may have people believing otherwise, but the fishing is great,” Hajas said. “And the camping, day use, park store, marina and snack bar are all open and available to the public, every day, year-round.”