Where to fish?
“When my oldest son was younger, who now is 11, I used to be able to take him fishing at Sprig Lake. It used to be only for children to fish. They used to have Fishability there also. But they no longer have fishing there at Sprig Lake. Last time I went by there, there wasn’t any water. Now my question is where have they changed the fishing location for children so I may take my 4-year-old to go fishing? Or there isn’t a place like that in Gilroy anymore? Can you help out a mom that wants to take her boys fishing, please?”
Red Phone:
Blame the lack of fishing on the endangered steelhead trout.
According to an official with the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department, they do not have fishing at Sprig Lake due to the steelhead that inhabit the waters in the area. The staffers at Mount Madonna Park would close a valve that would fill up Sprig Lake with water and the Sprig Lake Fishing Program would be held for two months and then the water would be drained.
In 2001 the National Marine Fisheries Service, a federal agency, told the County Parks and Recreation Department that diverting the water was detrimental to the endangered steelhead; so the parks department ended the fishing program and haven’t filled up the lake since, said Parks Director Lisa Killough.
She added that a lot of people get frustrated and ask why the federal government tells local cities what they need to do.
“Basically the federal government has the responsibility to make sure all local cities and counties are (following) the endangered species act,” Killough said.
After the closure, Fishability Day moved and has been held for the past two years at Hilltop Spring Ranch, owned by the Vogt family.
Fishermom, if you are looking for a place to bring your child to fish, Spring Valley Lake, in Ed R. Levin County Park, has fishing for families with children younger than 10, Killough said. But, unfortunately, that’s in Milpitas.
Stop sign frustration
“Hello Red Phone. I have one single little gripe today. Does it appear that people in Gilroy don’t know how to come to complete stops? Given the number of stop signs here, I think it should be a prerequisite that if people come to live here, they have to go through a test on coming to complete stops and being courteous when you come to a stop sign. There are rules. Anyway, that’s my gripe. I don’t know if other people feel the same way, but I get really irritated. Thanks for listening and I hope you have a great day. Stay cool, Red Phone.”
Red Phone:
It’s trying, good caller, it’s trying.
Let Red Phone interject an opinion here. It’s lived all over California, as well as other states, and has found that your gripe isn’t exclusive to Gilroy alone. And were there a test, drivers would no doubt be on their best behavior – like teens taking their driving tests – but would go back their old selves afterward.
Thanks for the comment.
