OUTDOOR NOTES / RICH ROBERTS : ‘Experts’ Cast Rave Reviews to New Film

Whatever the reviews, the new movie “A River Runs Through It” has to be one of the top two or three motion pictures ever about fishing.

Don’t get excited yet. It’s a short list, topped by “The Old Man and the Sea” but ruling out “Jaws,” “Orca the Killer Whale” and “Moby Dick,” in which the subjects were cast as eaters, not entrees.

“River,” based on the late Norman Maclean’s best-seller and directed and co-produced by Robert Redford, revolves around fly-fishing in Montana.

Some viewers might think the movie treats the sport with more reverence than it deserves, but the only critics who matter are the disciples of the art, and they say it’s true to the sport and Maclean’s book.

“I liked it,” said Ben Mintz, a past president of the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers and a publicist for the sport. “But I don’t think it can be a hit because it’s probably too intellectual. Nobody gets shot or blown up.”

Because the film was set in the 1920s, the crew had to scrounge antique gear--reels, split reed creels and the like, which they got from the collection of Ed Pearlman of Tarzana, with screen credit.

However, they didn’t use real cane rods, but modern Hexagraph graphites made in Chico, Calif., by a similar process of assembling six tapered triangular elements. They are finished to look like cane, but work a lot better.

“I think the film will do a lot to create a respect for fly-fishing (and) family values,” said Dick Thies of Long Beach, communications director for the Federation of Fly Fishers.

The fly-fishing business has slumped during the recession, with some Southland stores closing in the past year. Maybe the movie--beautifully and sensitively filmed--will stimulate interest.

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The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the Army Corps of Engineers probably won’t like the movie. In building Lake Balboa, the new recreational complex in the Sepulveda Basin that opened this summer, they apparently didn’t think enough of fly-fishing to keep a casting pond in the plans.

The pond was suggested by the Sierra Pacific club, which promised to offer free lessons and other programs, consistent with public park facilities in Pasadena, Long Beach, Santa Monica and San Francisco. The idea was approved by the department and the corps, and when plans were drawn up in the mid-1980s, sure enough, there it was, in a little cove on the peninsula opposite the boat ramp.

But sometime between then and now it disappeared, and anglers who have gone there to practice casting have been run off by park personnel.

Briefly

HUNTING--With the Southern California seasons opening Saturday, preseason counts for upland game birds have continued up from the drought-induced low of 1990--chukar looking best in the Mojave Desert and quail in Riverside County, less so in Imperial County, according to Department of Fish and Game biologists. The seasons end Jan. 31. Shooting hours are from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Bag limits are 10 quail per day, 20 in possession, and six chukar per day, 12 in possession.

FRESHWATER FISHING--A DFG electroshocking survey of Castaic Lake revealed a proliferation of threadfin shad and reinforced the belief that the lake will produce the next world record largemouth bass. Shad are the largemouths’ primary food. However, Wade Sinnen, the DFG’s reservoir management fisheries biologist for Southern California, is also concerned about a continuing increase in the larger striped bass, which feed on anything--including trout and small largemouths.

TV TIPS--”Sportfishing with Dan Hernandez” is believed to be the Southland’s first free-channel fishing show since Pierpoint Landing’s “Fishing Flashes” was on live weekly from 1955 to 1963, with landing co-owners Bill Nott and the late Mac MacLintock producing and hosting, respectively. Hernandez’s half-hour show is on Channel 13 in Los Angeles and the Fox network in San Diego at an hour only a fisherman could appreciate: 6 a.m.

SALTWATER FISHING--A free long-range fishing seminar all day Saturday at Turner’s Outdoorsman in Reseda will feature speakers Capt. Frank LoPreste of the Royal Polaris, Capt. Tommy Rothery of the Polaris Supreme and Carl Newell on wahoo fishing. . . . A series of 15 weekly classes on “Fishing and Camping Baja” will start next Tuesday, 7-9 p.m., at the Discover Baja Resource Center in San Diego. Details: (800) 727-2252.

BAJA FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: The most unusual catch last week was a 40-pound salmon that apparently lost its way. Otherwise, dorado are best. Blue marlin dropped off, although Mike Austin, Woodland Hills, took one at 283 pounds on the El Torito. In two days, Scott Zimmerman, Irvine, released four marlin and took 50 dorado, while Rob Sandborg, Seattle, weighed a 100-pound sailfish, a 180-pound blue marlin and 38 dorado. East Cape: Phil Kreutzer, San Diego, took the first black marlin of the season at Spa Buenavista--258 pounds. Dorado running 10-45 pounds. Blue marlin, wahoo and tuna also reported. San Diego long range: Point Loma fleet reporting high yellowfin tuna counts, along with yellowtail, dorado and some wahoo to 62 pounds, on trips of 1 1/2 to five days south. Ray Ellison, Ventura, caught a 176-pound black sea bass on the American Angler at San Pablo Bay.

RECREATION VEHICLES--What may be the oldest existing RV will be shown for the first time at the 40th annual Los Angeles RV Show Thursday through Sunday at the L.A. County Fairgrounds. It’s a 1929 Wiedman, one of the first RVs with indoor cooking facilities. RV historian David Woodworth of Tehachapi has finished restoring the rig.

PARAGLIDING--Bob England of Sylmar successfully defended his U.S. national championship at Bishop last weekend. John Bouchard, North Conway, N.H., and Bob Schick, Salt Lake City, were second and third, respectively.