OUTDOOR NOTES : Waterfowl Season Opening in 10 Days

As Southland hunters await the Oct. 26 opening of waterfowl season, those behind the scenes are preparing for the arrival of the migrating birds and predicting a fair season.

Statewide, Department of Fish and Game officials say this season should be similar to last year’s. Locally, managers at the state-run San Jacinto and Imperial Wildlife areas say ponds are being flooded and are already host to many of the migrating birds.

At the Imperial Wildlife Area’s Wister Unit, 100 shooting sites should be available for the opener. Manager Chris Gonzales said more than 5,000 ducks, mostly teal, are already utilizing the area and “more are arriving every day.”

San Jacinto manager Tom Paulek said more than 150 acres of ponds are flooded and 12 sites should be ready for the opener. “We have enough resident birds in the valley that the opener should be good for hunters,” Paulek said.

At San Diego lakes, which offer waterfowl hunting to the public, birds are just beginning to arrive, but the hunting opportunities are disappearing fast. Otay Lake has already been reserved for the season (though there are usually some no-shows). There are some Thursdays available at Barrett, and some Sundays and Thursdays remain at Southerland.

“We’re not seeing the birds in any good numbers yet,” said Jim Brown, San Diego city lakes manager. “But the season is still two weeks away. Typically, we’re looking at Barrett and Otay to be just what they’ve been for the last 10 years--and that’s among the top public waterfowl hunting areas anywhere in the state.”

Southern California’s split season runs Oct. 26-Nov. 16 and Nov. 30-Jan. 5, 1992. Waterfowl regulations booklets became available Tuesday at the DFG’s Long Beach office and most license outlets.

Add hunting: Black bear season opens statewide this weekend, with best prospects overall in Northern California and a strong likelihood for big bears locally.

“I would expect a 900-pound bear to be taken in Southern California this year--either in Los Angeles, Ventura or San Bernardino (counties),” wildlife biologist Jon Fischer said.

Among those, Ventura County offers the most promising opportunities for Southland hunters, judging from last season, when four bears taken from the county rated on the Boone & Crockett scales.

The DFG suggests that Ventura County hunters try the Ojai area’s Topa Topa bluffs/White Ledge Camp and from Girdley Springs west in the Wheeler Gorge area; Rose Valley, heavily used by bears but firearms closures make it difficult to determine legal hunting areas; Portero Seco, productive and fairly well-marked, and Santa Barbara Canyon, producer of large bears in the past, a good area to backpack into camp and wait.

In Santa Barbara County, the best bet is beyond Gibralter and Jameson Lakes. In Los Angeles County, most bear sightings have been reported from the Warm Springs and Ruby Canyon areas, and in San Bernardino County, the Mill Creek area of the San Bernardino National Forest is recommended. Special tags are required for the season, which runs through Dec. 29. They are sold on a first-come basis. Applications are available at license agents and DFG offices for $15.

Briefly

SALTWATER--Yellowtail and calico bass are providing the best action for Southland anglers, particularly at Catalina and San Clemente Islands. Ventura and Santa Barbara county boats are loading up on squid and reporting impressive counts of calico bass and rockfish. . . . Instruction: Kit McNear is offering a free shallow-water lingcod seminar next Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., at Ventura Sportfishing.)

Off the western Baja coast, some skippers are reporting excellent results. The Vagabond returned to San Diego Sunday from a three-day trip with 156 yellowfin tuna, 11 albacore, 26 bluefin tuna and three bigeye. Top catch: a 126-pound bluefin caught by Mel Daily of Long Beach at Guadalupe Island aboard the Kenani Kai.

Cabo San Lucas: Blue marlin are still showing daily, many in excess of 250 pounds. Yellowfin tuna in the 30- to 70-pound class are being hooked frequently, and dorado are plentiful.

WORLD RECORDS--Local catches recently approved as records by the International Game Fish Assn.: Richard Marsell’s 11-pound 4-ounce kelp bass, taken last May off Dana Point, all-tackle; Michael Arujo’s 21-12 largemouth bass, caught last March in Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County, 16-pound line class; Alyson Gillett’s 27-0 white seabass taken off Catalina Island last May, women’s 8-pound line class; A.H. (Pug) Jones’ 31-8 yellowtail caught off Baja California’s Alijos Rocks last June, women’s 20-pound line class.

FLY FISHING--Boston taxi driver and renowned fly-tyer Jack Gartside is making the rounds--tonight at the Wilderness Fly Fishers’ 6:15 meeting at the Ramada Inn in Los Angeles; details: (213) 280-3459; Thursday at the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers’ 6:30 p.m. meeting at the Encino Glen in Burbank; details: (818) 785-7306. . . .Instruction: The Fly Tying Theatre--18 instructors representing clubs of the Southwest Council of Fly Fishers via closed-circuit television--Friday through Sunday at the National Orange Show Fairgrounds in San Bernardino. At East Fork Fly Fishing in Irvine: Fly tying by Mark Kirchner Saturday, cost $50. Beginning-intermediate fly tying by Orange County Fly Fishers’ Bob Moyer Oct. 26, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., cost $50; details: (714) 724-8840. . . . Beginning fly-tying, South Bay Flyfishers, next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Westchester Townhouse in Westchester, cost $25 (includes optional membership); details: (213) 823-9514.

SHOWTIME--Don and Alicia Bullock’s Gun Show and Sale, at Anaheim Convention Center Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m-5 p.m. daily.