OUTDOOR NOTES / RICH ROBERTS : Despite Warnings, Tragedies Continue

Authorities and professional rafters at the Kern River are beside themselves. There were two more drownings last Saturday, raising the total to 159 since 1968.

The river northeast of Bakersfield is at its highest level in five years--great for whitewater rafting but bad for those unprepared for its dangers.

According to reports, three men were floating down it in a small swimming pool-type raft--the kind experienced rafters call a “rubber ducky,” not one of the sturdy inflatables usually used.

The men were wearing life jackets, but in what they apparently thought was an extra precaution they tied themselves into the raft so they wouldn’t be tossed out. According to reports, they struck a rock, flipped and were trapped underneath and pinned against the rock by the force of the river.

One survived but two drowned--Wing Wong, 34, of Alhambra, and Erik Ly, 26, of Monterey Park.

Anyone running the river is required to obtain a permit at the U.S. Forest Service office in Kernville. It’s free but gives the authorities a chance to warn people to take proper precautions.

The victims apparently had no permit.

Five men--Rigoberto Romero, Redys Mendez and Jose, Hector and Luis Hernandez--who were caught taking 236 trout with Hawaiian throw nets at Piru Creek June 2 pleaded guilty in Newhall Municipal Court in Valencia Tuesday. Piru Creek is a wild trout stream with a zero limit.

Cal Trans, which owns the property along old California 99 near Interstate 5, recommended they be sentenced to 30 days each. The time probably will be served on weekends picking up trash on the freeways.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which owns Crowley Lake, closed its period Monday for proposals to manage the lake. The DWP isn’t happy with how the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks has been running it.

Five bids were received, one from Rec and Parks.

Briefly

CONSERVATION--A.B. (Bert) McKee Jr., president of Ducks Unlimited in 1963-64 and regarded as a pioneer conservationist, died June 24 at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. He was 88. In recent years, McKee was instrumental in establishing relations between Edwards Air Force Base for development of the Piute Ponds project on the base. The project was dedicated to him last year.

The American Bass Assn. planted 7,000 Florida largemouths in Lake Casitas as part of its “Plant-A-Bass” program. . . . Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher has imposed emergency measures to reduce the commercial catch of swordfish 15% to 6 million pounds. A drift net quota of 60,000 pounds was already in place.

SALTWATER FISHING--The Balboa Angling Club took 50 underprivileged children fishing on the Western Pride in an annual event sponsored by Bisbee’s Sportfishing. Actor Willie Aames accompanied the group. . . . The Kiwanis Club of Ventura has scheduled a calico bass tournament July 12-14. Details: (805) 650-1255. . . . A class in ocean fishing is scheduled next Tuesday, 6:30-9 p.m., at East Los Angeles College. Details: (213) 265-8793.

Leaders after three of 16 weeks in the Sportfishing Assn. of California’s Saltwater Whoppers Summer Derby: barracuda and bonito, Dave Becker, Port Hueneme, 8-pound 12-ounce barracuda; California halibut, Bruce Warren, Long Beach, 24-7; kelp and sand bass, tie between Bill Parks, San Juan Capistrano, and Scott Schull, Apple Valley, 8-3; seabass-yellowtail-albacore, David Chadbourne, Tustin, 45-11 white seabass; rockfish-lingcod, Ron Mueller, Simi Valley, 14-8 cow cod.

BAJA FISHING--John Cruz of Orange landed a 366-pound blue marlin on the sportfisher Juanita 8 of the Gaviota Fleet at Cabo San Lucas. Hurricane Delores helped the fishing by pushing in warmer water, bringing boats to the Jaime Bank--unusual in June. The live bait supply is very good. . . . Baja Fishing Adventures of Long Beach reports dorado plentiful at Loreto, from 10 to 35 pounds, and some sailfish in the area.

Dr. Harvey Barish and his two children, fishing from Hotel Palmas de Cortez, caught nine dorado of 25-60 pounds and three yellowfin tuna of 50-70 pounds, plus three marlin and three sailfish, which were released. . . . Wind hurt the Tortuga fleet at the East Cape last week, but boats were taking three or four marlin apiece Monday, along with sailfish, dorado and small tuna. Sam Edney, Santa Ana, landed a 570-pound black marlin.

ROCK CLIMBING--The Friends of Joshua Tree are concerned that a one-way loop road scheduled to be built around the desert monument next year will eliminate access to 80% of the crags, severely limiting parking at climbing sites and, say the climbers, “devastate desert habitats.” Apparently, the National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration developed the plan without public input. The climbers went to their congressional representatives and will now be allowed input at a meeting to be scheduled.

FLY-FISHING--Milt Huber will tell the South Bay Flyfishers about “30 Years of Fishing the High Sierra” at their monthly meeting July 10, 7:30 p.m., at the Westchester Townhouse, 8501 Emerson Ave. . . . Jeff Boghosian reports that rainbow trout of 16-20 inches are turned on to small parachute Adams and Zug Bugs at Manzanita Lake in Lassen National Park. Fishing is zero limit, artificial lures and barbless hooks only.

CARTOGRAPHY--A new six-color, shaded relief map of the Kings Canyon high country is available for $5.95, plus 6% sales tax and $1 shipping, from Tom Harrison Cartography, 333 Bellam Blvd., San Rafael, Calif., 94901-4851.

HUNTING-SHOOTING--The California Gun-Knife-Collectors show is scheduled July 13-14 at the L.A. County Fairgrounds in Pomona. Admission: $6. Details: (213) 430-5112 or (714) 613-3111.

FOR THE RECORD--A May 22 column referring to a 20-pound 3-ounce brown trout caught in the Eastern Sierra’s Convict Lake incorrectly reported that the fish was taken on processed cheese. The fish was caught on Super Zeke’s, which is not made from processed cheese.