Atwater Village Fishing at the Los Angeles River
By Carmelo Gaeta
Some of you may have heard about the abundance fish in the LA RIVER, others of you are probably still in disbelief that not only are there fish down there but also people are fishing for them. I will admit I am one of those fishermen.
I was raised in Atwater Village and still have family and friends here. My aunt Flora lived within a block of the river on Tyburn, so it was only natural as a kid with an older brother and cousins to spend time in the river, looking for snakes, frogs, tadpoles, crawdads and anything else that would float down river.
The River was an open air science lab; you could see the cycle of life, to see a tadpole turn into a frog was an amazing thing as child. My connection to the river goes back 30yrs. So, one day last summer, after living a few years in New York, while I was walking my dog along the river just south of the Tyburn pole I came across two guys fishing, and to my surprise they had a fish in their bucket. My cousin David told me people were fishing in the River, but until I saw it for myself I didn't believe it. I felt it my duty as a native of Atwater having lived on Petite Ct, Madera, Perlita and now La Clede to fish the River myself, and boy have I, I'm hooked. I've fished from the Los Feliz Bridge to the 110 & 5 freeway interchange.I have talked my head off about it, the friends I grew up with are now down there with their rods having fun and making good use of the River, as we all should be. We're not the only ones enjoying ourselves; several local and not so local anglers are finding the River a great spot for fly fishing. Don't be surprised when fly fishing clinics are being held down there. Certain sections of the River are beautiful and lush. Don't get me wrong the River still has along way to go; far too much refuse makes its way down to the River, cups, wrappers, cans Styrofoam etc. But for what it is, a River, it has come along way. I no longer have tadpoles to catch they have been replaced by the Carp, and I am fine with that.
* L.A. River fish are not fit for human consumption; all fish were released back into the river.