OUTDOOR NOTES / RICH ROBERTS : Trout to Be Planted for Urban Anglers

Time was when many Americans could stroll to the edge of town with a cane pole on one shoulder, throw a line with a worm on the hook into a fishing hole and pull out a trout for supper.

It might never be quite like that again, but the California Department of Fish and Game will bring neighborhood fishing to parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties next year as part of its urban lakes program.

Starting in January, about 30,000 rainbow trout will be distributed among Alondra Park Lake west of Lawndale, Lake Balboa in the San Fernando Valley, Echo Park Lake near Dodger Stadium, Centennial Regional Park Lake in Santa Ana and Tri-City Park Lake in Placentia.

The waters were monitored over two years to ensure that water temperatures, oxygen levels and pH balances would sustain the fish. Mike Harris, the DFG fisheries biologist who is coordinator of the urban fishing program, said creel surveys will determine the future of the program.

In other words, if the fish aren’t being caught, the programs at certain lakes will be discontinued.

The down side is that in L.A. County, the plant allotments for Pyramid, Castaic, Legg and Peck Road Park lakes and Puddingstone Reservoir will be reduced slightly to accommodate the urban lakes.

The standard state fishing laws will apply: licenses for anglers 16 and older and a five-fish limit.

*

On a related note, thousands of tiny threadfin shad are going belly up at Huntington Central Park Lake in Huntington Beach.

Harris attributed the kill to a phenomenon known as lake turnover, which occurs when the warm surface water drops to the bottom and the cold water rises, bringing up dead organic matter.

“The cold, oxygen-poor water . . . (has) a lot of silt that consumes oxygen and literally suffocates the fish,” Harris said.

Harris suspects that a warm Santa Ana wind the night of Nov. 30 churned up the water and caused the turnover.

*

DFG Director Boyd Gibbons has written James Kuykendall, general manager of the Mammoth County Water District, protesting new water wells in Mammoth Meadow, southwest of town, that could harm nearby Hot Creek.

“Flows have now dropped to less than half of the normal flow of 20 cubic feet per second, which is having a significant effect on the endangered Owens tui chub . . . (and) hatchery production of catchable trout (at Hot Creek Hatchery) has been reduced by 46%,” Gibbons wrote. “While the prolonged drought is certainly a factor, DFG is concerned that extracting additional water will aggravate the problem.”

In a separate report John Deinstadt, DFG wild trout chief, said that angler surveys at Hot Creek, “recognized as the most productive one mile of wild-trout stream in the western United States,” also indicated the creek is in decline.

“Through 1991, no significant changes were identified in the recruitment of brown trout downstream,” Deinstadt said. “Preliminary results from 1992, however, show an almost complete absence of young-of-the-year brown trout.”

Briefly

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Blame it on the full moon, says Michelle Moore of Fishing International, of the end of the billfish bite last week. Also, there weren’t many anglers in town this close to Christmas. But dorado are still thick “and can be caught until your arms give out,” Moore said. San Jose Del Cabo: Victor’s Fleet reported finding wahoo at the Inner Gordo Bank. Gerald Ingersoll of Wyoming landed two larger than 40 pounds. Craig Johnson, Mendocino, had a 50-pounder, and Ralph Watwood, Escondido, a 45 and two yellowfin tuna. Dorado biting about six miles out. La Paz: Dorado and sierra inside the bay, with wahoo near Ballena Island. A few sailfish still hitting out of Spa Buenavista, but dorado are the main course. San Diego long-range: Rough seas for most, but Red Rooster III, 18 days to the Revillagigedo Islands with 20 anglers, got 234 tuna and 145 wahoo. Mike Zakar, San Diego, had the largest tuna at 283.6 pounds, and there were three others over 260. Guy Halpain caught an 81-pound wahoo. Capt. Jack Whitaker’s Qualifier 105, 16 days to San Benedicto, also took large tuna, including a 241-pounder by Jeff Traina of Torrance. Capt. Randy Touissant’s Qualifier Excel collected three tuna over 300, including a 325.5 by Lee Erlendson of Rancho Mirado.

HUNTING--How much are California’s deer worth? About $445 million, according to a 1987 UC Davis study. The figures were inflated from 1987 dollars and considered hunting revenue, as well as non-hunting uses such as photography and deer-watching pegged to a “willingness to pay” factor developed in extensive surveys. The survey estimated that hunters spent $180 million statewide this year. . . . Duck hunting tapered off at Lake Barrett near San Diego last week, with 30 hunters taking 54 ducks. At Otay, hunters averaged slightly better than a duck apiece. . . . Southern California Ducks will have a benefit Christmas turkey shoot Sunday, 9 a.m. until dark, at Raahauge’s in Norco. They shoot at targets but win turkeys. Details: (909) 735-2361.

NOTEWORTHY--Expert Ralph Cutter of Truckee will tell the Fly Fishers Club of Orange County about fishing the Sierra Nevada for golden trout and such at their Thursday night dinner meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Revere House, 901 W. 1st St., Tustin.