9 minute read
Fishing Ojai
from Ojai Visitor
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Fishing in Ojai
YEAR-ROUND
If you are so inclined, pack your fishing gear when you come to Ojai. While many people don’t typically associate vacationing in Ojai with fishing, fishing there is to be had. In fact, one of the largest-ever largemouth bass caught came from Lake Casitas, a 21-pound, 3-ounce tank caught by Ray Easley in 1980. It was the state record at the time. The largemouth bass record, set by George Perry in Georgia in 1932 is the fishing world’s equivalent of Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak, considered unbeatable.
There is world-class deep-sea fishing in the nearby Channel Islands, and Ventura and Oxnard harbors host fishing boats that go out virtually every day, weather permitting.
Lake Casitas doesn’t just hold the potential world-record largemouth bass, but also sizable populations of bluegill, red-eared sunfish, black and white crappie, channel catfish, carp (an underrated sport fish, especially for bow fishing) and winter stockings of rainbow trout. The best bets for casual fisherman and those with young children is panfishing off the dock by the boat ramp, in the Wadleigh Arm when the lake level returns to normal, or around Mallard and Grebe campgrounds. Ask the staff in the marina tackle shop for the latest information and fishing reports. You can get a peek Easley’s monster bass as well. (Lake Casitas Marina Bait & Tackle Shop, 805-649-2043.)
For those who like to get off the beaten path, there are opportunities to stalk native rainbows in Ventura River tributaries, as well as the Sespe River watershed just over the hill from Ojai. Be prepared to hike in from the trailheads, and be prepared to catch small, albeit colorful and feisty, rainbows that seldom exceed one foot in length. Perhaps with recovery efforts, the endangered southern steelhead will again return. Estimated spawning runs before Casitas Dam was built in 1947 were 5,000 to 10,000 fish heading up the Ventura River.
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HIKING OJAI
map & guide
By Bret Bradigan | Map Design by Colleen McDougal
HIKING OJAI
map & guide
By Bret Bradigan | Map Design by Colleen McDougal
1. SHELF ROAD: Directions: From Ojai Avenue, head north on Signal Street until it ends. Length: 3.5 miles return trip. Difficulty: Easy. Shelf Road winds through orange and avocado groves as well as wild chaparral. Every bend in the trail presents you with stunning views of the east end of the Ojai Valley. It takes about an hour at a brisk pace to walk the length of the trail and back between the trailheads a Signal Street and Gridley Road.
2. VENTURA RIVER BOTTOM TRAILS:
Directions: From Highway 150, there’s the Old Baldwin Road trailhead just east of the Ventura River bridge. From South Rice Road, there’s a trailhead north of the intersection with Lomita Road. Also from North Rice, take a right on Meyer Road to the Oso Trailhead. Length: Varies. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Three trailheads lead you into the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s 1,600acre Ventura River Preserve and spectacular glimpses into old-growth oak canopy, splendid vistas from rocky ridgelines, deep swimming holes, lush fern grottoes and rare wildflowers.
3. PRATT TRAIL: Directions: From Ojai Avenue, turn north on Signal Street and drive about 1.2 miles until you see the Forest Service sign on the left. The trailhead is a further half-mile. Length: 4.4 miles to Nordhoff Ridge. Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. The Pratt Trail criss-crosses a seasonal stream before opening onto a natural bowl formed by the slope of Nordhoff Ridge. From there, it’s another four steep, dusty miles to Nordhoff Peak, 4,426 feet above sea level.
4. GRIDLEY TRAIL: Directions: From Ojai Avenue, turn north onto Gridley Road. Follow it to the gated end, about two miles. Length: Three miles to the Gridley Springs, 6 miles to Nordhoff Peak. Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. Elevation gain: 1,200 feet to the springs. This trail, at the north end of Gridley Road just to the left before Hermitage Ranch, follows an orchard road before making a northeastward turn, winding along the steep flank of the mountain until it enters the cool, dense side-canyon wherein lies Gridley Springs, with a watering trough for horses and inviting shade.
5. HORN CANYON: Directions: Take McAndrew Road to Thacher School. Park in the gymkhana lot. Length: 2.2 miles to the Pines. Difficulty: Moderate. Elevation Gain: 600 feet. The trailhead begins at a parking lot, just past a dip. The trail winds past the famous school’s observatory along the west side of a stream. After four shady, rock-hopping crossings, a steep set of switchbacks reaches the pine grove’s 50-foot-tall trees.
6. COZY DELL TRAIL: Directions: From Ojai, head north on Maricopa Highway (Highway 33) for 3.3 miles. The turnout is on the left, just before and across from Friend’s Ranch packing house. Cross the street to the trailhead. Length: 1.9 miles to Cozy Dell Creek. Difficulty: Moderate. The trail begins along a seasonal creek and quickly climbs about 640 feet in elevation along a well-forested and wild-flowered canyon to a ridgeline knoll with spectacular views of the Ojai Valley.
7. MIDDLE FORK OF MATILIJA CANYON:
Directions: Head north on Highway 33 from Ojai for about 4.7 miles to Matilija Canyon Road. Follow the road to the end — about another two miles. Length: Up to 7 miles (14 miles return). Difficulty: Moderate. Follow the trailhead at the end of Matilija Canyon Road through the gated property to the west side of the creek. The trail heads through the gates of Blue Heron Ranch, a historic farm, then clambers through chaparral scrub for another 1.5 miles until you can see tilted slabs of rock. Winding alongside Matilija Creek, the often-slender trail leads to the fabled Three Falls of the Matilija.
8. ROSE VALLEY FALLS: Directions: Take Highway 33 to the Rose Valley turnout on the right, about 12 miles from Ojai. Follow the road four miles to the turnout for the campground. Length: .5 miles. Difficulty: Easy. It is an easy stroll along the beautiful shaded stream to reach the first 30-foot cataract.
9. SISAR CANYON: Directions: Take Highway 150 about nine miles from Ojai to upper Ojai. Sisar Canyon Road is just past Summit School, the trailhead at the end of the road, about a further mile. Length: 10.5 miles to the Topa Topa Bluffs - seven hours minimum. Difficulty: Strenuous. Elevation gain: Nearly 4,000 feet to the top of the bluffs. Only recommended for experienced, well-trained hikers. The first two miles of Sisar Canyon follow the stream through an enchanting forest of sycamores, bay laurel and enormous oak trees. After that, the trail ascends the eastern flank of the Topa Topa bluffs.
10. SULPHUR MOUNTAIN ROAD: Directions: Follow Highway 150 for 9 miles from downtown Ojai. Turnoff for Sulphur Mountain Road is on the right. Follow the road until it ends, another five miles. Length: 10 miles from gated access to the Girl Scout Camp near Casitas Springs. Difficulty: Easy to moderate. This trail starts at 2,600 feet high at the end of the Sulphur Mountain Road access and follows the winding ridgeline trail (actually, an old road) down to about 400 feet elevation.
Eastside Fun
cannabis lounge & throwing pots
FIRESTICK pottery
firestickpottery.com | 805-272-8760 1804 E. Ojai Ave. Open 10-6 Daily
Looking for a very “Ojai” activity? Head east on Ojai Avenue to Firestick Pottery. Take a free tours of this Ojai institution, and/or bring friends for memorable fun. Throwing pots is a great way to make your own treasured Ojai keepsake, and you can learn an ancient art form in the process. Firestick hosts pottery parties, workshops and its own gallery of some of the finest ceramicists in the region.
sespe creek collective
sespe.org | 805-738-7490 408-C Bryant Circle
Cannabis Lounges Come to Ojai! Cannabis “coffeeshops” have come to Ojai. “Adults in Ojai are anxious for new fun alternatives to bars for socializing, and there’s huge value for consumers to be able to sample something before they purchase it,” said CEO Chelsea Sutula. “From recreational use to medicinal, from daytime events to Ojai’s nightlife, cannabis lounges are about to become the next staple for local and visiting partakers alike.”
STATIONERY CARDS GIFTS HOMEGOODS
