OUTDOOR NOTES / RICH ROBERTS : With Streams Running, Rafters Can Seek Out Old Haunts

One of the results of the wet winter is California’s best whitewater rafting in 10 years this spring and well into summer, according to Nate Rangel, president of California Outdoors, a nonprofit trade association of the state’s professional guides and outfitters.

“Rivers are flowing that haven’t been boated in years, and many excellent spring trips will extend into summer,” Rangel said.

Options run from easy Class I and II trips along the Upper Kern and East Fork of the Carson to the wild Class IV and V rapids of the Salmon and North Fork American. Trips run from a half-day to five days, using rafts, canoes, kayaks, dories and the latest thrill: boogie boards.

A highlight is the return of the Kaweah, one of America’s steepest rivers, which drains Sequoia National Park but has had too little water to use rafts since 1983. Rangel suggests that only experts tackle Suicide Falls (Class V-VI) in the upper portion.

A free directory of California river outfitters is available by phoning (800) 552-3625.

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Make way for El Nino III. CoastWatch, a monthly bulletin issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service regional office in La Jolla, notes “an apparent resurgence of El Nino (conditions) in the equatorial Pacific.”

The first recorded phenomenon of warm subtropical waters moving into the northern Pacific occurred in 1982-83 and returned in ‘91-92, bringing warm water fish and a sportfishing bonanza.

CoastWatch now says, “We expect an intensification of anomalously warm sea surface temperatures off the West Coast of the U.S. during spring and summer.

“Due to the renewed El Nino conditions, coupled with warm ocean waters residual from the 1991-92 El Nino, the outlook is highly favorable for many subtropical game fish such as yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tunas, mahi-mahi (dorado), billfish and yellowtail to be abundant off Southern California and upper Baja California during the summer and fall.”

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Early returns from the California Department of Fish and Game’s expanded urban lakes trout planting program indicate success.

At Lawndale’s Alondra Park Lake, DFG inland fisheries technician Ginger Nuhn counted 577 trout in creels the week of Feb. 10, out of 760 that were stocked. Over the previous four days at Lake Balboa in Van Nuys she tallied 767 of the 1,600 that were stocked. Still to be surveyed were Echo Park Lake near Dodger Stadium, Tri-City Park Lake in Placentia and Centennial Park Lake in Santa Ana.

Nuhn said that small spinning lures seemed to be working best at Balboa, with Power Bait the hot ticket at Alondra. More important, about 30% of the anglers were younger than 15, and about 90% came from within 10 miles of the lakes.

Briefly

CONSERVATION--Trout Unlimited’s annual National Conservation Banquet on Saturday night at 6:30 at the Disneyland Hotel will feature fly fisherman, tier and author Jack Dennis and L.A. County chapter vice president John Dietsch, who was fly-fishing coordinator for Robert Redford’s film, “A River Runs Through It.” Tickets: $35 prepaid, $40 at the door. Reservations: (213) 624-2405. . . . Dennis also will speak at the Pasadena Casting Club’s monthly meeting Thursday night at 6:45 at the Masonic Temple, 3130 Huntington Drive. . . . The Wilderness Fly Fishers of Santa Monica will have their annual fund-raising Super Auction next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel, 1150 S. Beverly Drive. Cost: $22 prepaid, $25 at the door. Details: (310) 280-3459. . . . The fourth annual Desert Cleanup by off-highway vehicle groups is scheduled March 20 in Jawbone Canyon. Sponsors are the California Off-Road Vehicle Assn., the California Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs and the American Motorcycle Association. Volunteers welcome. Details: (714) 666-2309, (714) 944-3279 or (805) 499-9982. . . . More than 20,000 tagged juvenile white sea bass were released into Mission Bay last week from the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute in a joint project with San Diego State and the California Department of Fish and Game. The project is part of the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program to test the feasibility of restoring depleted wild fisheries.

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Striped marlin still running strong, despite full moon. Top catches were a 318-pound blue marlin and the season’s first swordfish, taken three miles out from the arch. Two hammerhead sharks weighed 265 and 226. Yellowfin tuna sighted but not biting. Skipjack tuna, roosterfish and jack crevalle good. Mazatlan: Good tuna bite, plus 56 sailfish to 108 pounds and 68 dorado.

CANOEING--The Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club’s second annual Challenge of the Canoes is scheduled March 20 at King Harbor in Redondo Beach. Entries welcome. Details: (310) 798-1857.

FISHING INSTRUCTION--The Downey Fly Fishers will offer a free one-day seminar on “Fly Fishing Made Easy,” featuring instructor John Van Der Hoof, Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at Downey Wilderness Park. Free lunch. Details: (310) 425-7936 or (714) 952-3552. . . . Kit McNear, Jim Hendricks and Mark Wisch of Pacific Edge will give a seminar on halibut Thursday night, 7-10 p.m., at Reuben’s Restaurant in Marina del Rey. Fee: $10. Details: (714) 840-4262.

HUNTING--The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited’s monthly meeting is scheduled tonight at 7:30 at the Sierra Madre Senior Citizen Center, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

TRAVEL--Veteran Alaska guide-outfitter Nick Pierskalla will be at the Fishermen’s Spot, 14423 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys, Saturday and Sunday to conduct free seminars on fishing, wildlife photo and river rafting opportunities.