Diamond Valley Lake Welcomes Boat Owners

Slow but great to be back on the water.

That's the reaction among fishermen allowed to launch their own boats on Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet this week for the first time in about 14 months.

The lake reopened to boat owners with season passes last Sunday and other fishermen will have access Sunday. The first to fish came last Saturday for a fund-raising tournament for Valley-Wide Recreation.

The lake closed to outside boats in October 2008 when water levels in the drought year fell below ramp level. Shore fishing and fishing from rental boats remained an option.

Fishing enthusiasts petitioned lake owner Metropolitan Water District, and the district board agreed to extend three of 11 ramp lanes and recoup the cost through higher user fees.

"I'd say it was a little slower today, but I'd say it's the season" nearing winter, said Roland McClung of Rancho Cucamonga.

"We still got six fish," said boat owner John Creviston of Banning, who released them back into the water. "I'll be back tomorrow and the next day."

Last Saturday's tournament attracted 59 boats "which was a good turnout for the rain," said Megan Merchant, an owner of Last Chance Bait and Tackle, who was involved with the event. The prize catch of the day was five bass weighing in at 25.61 pounds.

"It probably started raining at 10 or 11 and rained continuously through weigh-in" around 2:30 p.m., she said. "Everybody had a good attitude."

The ramp project cost Metropolitan about $650,000, Bob Muir, district spokesman, wrote in an e-mail. The district expects to recoup that cost over a five-year period from the higher fees at the lake.

The boat launch fee has doubled to $12 and annual passes have increased from $350 to $450. The pass may be purchased at the old rate until Sunday. Annual passes have been extended by the number of unused months as of October 2008, Muir said.

Entrance fees and parking remain unchanged at $7 per vehicle and $3 per person fishing access fee.

The district expected to reopen in February, but favorable weather and an efficient construction schedule allowed the earlier opening, Muir wrote.

"It's very exciting. It's like an early Christmas present. It's surreal," said Merchant.

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