Another Lockout on Opening Day? : Trout: Ranchers close stretch of East Walker River, but most fishermen wouldn’t go there anyway.

The ranchers and the anglers are at it again.

With the Eastern Sierra trout season opening Saturday, the Plymouth Land and Livestock Company of Nevada posted signs Thursday, closing a stretch of the East Walker River north of Bridgeport to trespassers.

That is the same trophy trout fishery severely damaged by silting when the Walker River Irrigation District--a group of Nevada ranchers--released a large volume of water from Bridgeport Reservoir in the fall of 1988.

The irrigation district subsequently was convicted of violations of the California Fish and Game Code and ordered to mitigate the damage and maintain controlled water levels and flows in the future.

The motive for this week’s posting was not immediately clear, but fishing interests suspected vindictiveness.

“I don’t think they were worried about a fly fisherman hooking a cow,” said Jim Edmondson, regional manager for the fishing lobby, Cal Trout.

Edmondson scheduled a press briefing this afternoon in Bishop to outline Cal Trout’s response.

Meanwhile, it was uncertain how the posting would be enforced, or whether it would be enforced at all.

Mono County Sheriff Martin Strelneck said that in trespassing situations, there must first be a complaint, after which a violator is asked to leave.

“If he refuses, then there’s a violation,” Strelneck said.

Rick Rockel of Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport pointed out a state law permitting public access to private lands where the center line of an adjacent highway is within 50 feet of the high-water mark. An angler, for example, could fish that water as long as he remained within the high-water marks on both sides.

Strelneck also said that the Department of Fish and Game might have primary jurisdiction when trespassing involves hunting or fishing.

Initially, the posting covered only a mile from the Bridgeport dam to the bridge where California 182 crosses the river--the area most heavily impacted by the ’88 incident, where trout anglers wouldn’t want to go now, anyway.

“All they’ve got down there is 20-pound carp,” Strelneck said.

However, if the posting were to be continued as far down as the choice area known as Murphy’s Pond near the Nevada border, it could affect serious fishing.

Some important points on this Eastern Sierra trout opening:

--The limit, now statewide, has been cut from 10 to five fish a day, 10 in possession.

--This will be the initial test of the DFG’s promise to plant larger fish, from half a pound up, in exchange for cutting the limit.

--Because of recent warm weather, any ice remaining on higher lakes is considered rotten and unsafe--hence, ice fishing and exploring is being strongly discouraged, especially in view of the Convict Lake tragedy Feb. 19 in which seven people drowned.

--Thursday was beautiful, but forecasters said a stormy cold front was moving in that could bring winds of up to 60 m.p.h. in the higher elevations by Saturday and snow down to 6,000 feet by Sunday, and 5,000 by Monday.

But, experts say, bad weather can mean good fishing, especially for larger fish.

Tom Gieser of Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport said surface disturbance mistaken for insects sometimes brings small trout to the surface, with big browns in pursuit. Also, the fish aren’t as sensitive to motors.

Mike Sharkey of Big Rock Resort at June Lake said: “The weather is always a question mark, but that doesn’t bother the fishing--only the fishermen.”

Anyone seeking a trophy brown will almost certainly be at Upper or Lower Twin, which in ’89 also produced the largest catch for opening day and the season, 22-8 by Jim Becker of Arcadia. Gieser recommends the strike-action trolling method: trolling fast with 13- to 18-size Rapalas.

Fish up to five pounds should be common everywhere. Since last fall, the DFG has dumped thousands of older broodstock rainbows into every major lake.

And during lulls in the wind, fly anglers should enjoy unusual opening-day success. A warm spring has brought early insect hatches.

Besides the new limit, the 1990-91 state fishing regulations impose new restrictions on some waters.

For example, in ’88 Gene Cox of Rosamond caught a 12-4 brown in Rush Creek that was the largest fish on opening day, using a worm for bait.

This year he will not be able to use a worm, and if he catches another fish that big, he will have to throw it back. Rush Creek, from Grant Lake to Mono Lake, now has 10-inch maximum size and artificial-lure restrictions.

Anglers are urged to pay close attention to the new regulations. Generally, anglers 16 and older need licenses--$21 at any tackle store. Fishing hours in Mono County (north of Bishop) are from an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset. Fishing is allowed 24 hours in Inyo County (Bishop and south). Penalties for violations can range from $40 to $80.

The outlook:

Bishop area--All of the streams and lakes have been heavily stocked, and knowledgeable anglers still loyal to troubled Crowley Lake should be rewarded, at least on the opening weekend, if the weather doesn’t run them off the lake. There will be less water but more seclusion on the Owens River above and below Crowley.

Mammoth Area--Hot Creek still hard to beat for fly fishing--but that’s all you can do there, and the limit is zero, since it’s all catch and release. The Twin Lakes--not to be confused with those near Bridgeport--have been loaded with lunkers by the locals, but the roads are still closed to Lakes Mary, Mamie and George.

June Lake loop--Except for Grant, water level is no problem at these spring-fed lakes, and a late freeze in the off-season allowed a triple plant of brooders in June and Gull. Also, the mysterious cutthroat in June have grown to five or six pounds by now, but trolling is the only way to get them. Grant, as low as it is because of a court order to maintain a minimum level in Mono Lake, could be very productive.

Bridgeport area: The Twin Lakes are the best for big fish. Although low, Bridgeport Reservoir will also be good for those who don’t mind launching boats off the beach between the public ramp and the dam. The two regular ramps are high and dry. The Virginia Lakes have bad ice but are fishable.

Trout Fishing Spots in the Eastern Sierra

With corresponding numbers for map 1. WALKER RIVER, SECTION II--Take Highway 395 to where Walker River crosses it, about 20 miles north of Bridgeport. About 12 miles of the river is planted at all campgrounds and other accessible locations from the bridge to just below Mountain Gate Lodge.

WALKER RIVER, SECTION III--Take Highway 395 to 17 miles north of Bridgeport and turn west on Highway 108, the Sonora Pass Road. The river is planted at the old campground located at the second bridge and at access points to just above the Leavitt Meadows store.

2. BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR--Turn north off Highway 395 on Highway 22 at the south city limits of Bridgeport and continue for about three miles to the lake.

3. ROBINSON CREEK--Travel Highway 395 to Twin Lakes Road at the north end of Bridgeport and turn south. Creek is planted at the bridge at Doc and Al’s Resort on the road to Buckeye Creek, and at campground access points along Twin Lakes Road from Doc and Al’s to Lower Twin Lakes.

4. TWIN LAKES BRIDGEPORT, UPPER AND LOWER--Turn south off Highway 395 onto Twin Lakes Road located at north end of Bridgeport and continue to lakes.

5. LUNDY LAKE--Turn west off Highway 395 at Lundy Lake Road, six miles north of Lee Vining. The lake is at the end of road.

6. LEE VINING CREEK--Turn west off Highway 395 one-quarter mile south of Lee Vining on Highway 120. Continue about three miles to Azusa Camp Road. The creek is planted along road that parallels the creek from Azusa Camp Road for five miles to the bridge where road crosses the creek.

7. GRANT LAKE--Turn west off Highway 395 onto the June Lake Loop Road, north. Continue to the lake.

8. RUSH CREEK--Turn west on June Lake Loop Road off Highway 395 to Silver Lake. The creek is planted at access points from the Southern California Edison power plant bridge, north to the lake, and in Silver Lake Campgrounds.

9. GULL LAKE--Turn west off Highway 395 onto the June Lake Loop Road, south. Continue through June Lake Village to Gull Lake.

10. JUNE LAKE--Turn west off Highway 395 onto June Lake Loop Road, south. Lake is 1 1/2 miles from turnoff.

11. TWIN LAKES MAMMOTH, UPPER AND LOWER--Turn west off Highway 395 onto Mammoth Lakes Road, 10 miles north of Crowley Lake. Twin Lakes are the first lakes on the right, about seven miles up the road.

12. OWENS RIVER, SECTION III--35 miles north of Bishop on Highway 395, east on Benton Crossing Road. Continue to the bridge. Planted at access points one-half mile upstream and two miles downstream from bridge.

13. CONVICT LAKE--Take Highway 395 to 10 miles south of Mammoth Lakes and turn west on Convict Lake Road. Continue for about two miles to the lake.

14. CROWLEY LAKE--The lake is 37 miles north of Bishop just off Highway 395. Turn east at Crowley Lake sign to enter south end of lake; turn east on Benton Crossing Road to north end of lake.

15. ROCK CREEK LAKE--From Highway 395, turn west at Tom’s Place located 30 miles north of Bishop (Rock Creek Road) and follow the road to the lake.

16. BISHOP CREEK, LOWER--Take Highway 395 to Bishop. Turn west on West Line Street and continue to Bullpit and Izaak Walton parks. Plants are made upstream from Bullpit Park to the Powerline Road.

17. SABRINA LAKE--Drive to Bishop on Highway 395 and turn west on West Line Street. Follow the signs to the lake, about 20 miles southwest of Bishop.

18. BIG PINE CREEK--Turn west off Highway 395 at Chevron station in Big Pine. Continue to the top of grade. The creek is planted from Sage Flat Campgrounds to Glacier Lodge.

19. INDEPENDENCE CREEK--Turn west off Highway 395 on the road just north of the Independence post office in Independence. The trout are planted from Independence Campground one-half mile west of Independence to where the main road crosses the creek above Seven Pines village.

20. LONE PINE CREEK, LOWER--From Highway 395, turn west at Whitney Portal Road in center of Lone Pine. The creek is planted at access points from the Los Angeles Aqueduct to Lone Pine Campgrounds.

21. LONE PINE CREEK, UPPER--Take Highway 395 to Lone Pine. Turn west at Whitney Portal Road in the center of Lone Pine and continue up the grade for 13 miles. The fish are planted at the campgrounds at this point to the pond at Whitney Portal store.