Outdoors : FLY-FISHING VICTORY

Conservationists, mostly fly-fishing groups and guides, are hailing the California Fish and Game Commission’s decision to retain regulations for another two years on the Upper Sacramento River.

Anglers in a six-mile stretch in the Dunsmuir area are still allowed to fish with standard baits and lures and keep five trout daily. Those above and below town--another 40 or so miles--must catch and release, and fish only with artificial lures with barbless hooks.

These regulations were imposed in 1993, two years after a toxic spill caused by a Southern Pacific train wreck destroyed practically all life in the river. Because of the strict regulations, the wild trout in the catch-and-release portions of river have responded nicely and the Upper Sacramento has, in fact, become one of the top wild-trout fisheries in the state.

Many Dunsmuir residents and business leaders had fought for a return to pre-spill regulations--a five-fish limit and no gear restrictions--along the entire 46 miles of river, claiming they would be more attractive to tourists, particularly families.

MISCELLANY

HUNTING--A Northern California man was shot and killed earlier this month in an apparent hunting accident in Lassen County. Zakary E. Foltz, 19, of Susanville, died after being hit in the head by a shotgun blast while he and several other hunters lined the shore of Honey Lake hunting geese. It appears to be California’s first shooting fatality involving hunters since 1991.

BAJA FISHING--No crowds at Cabo San Lucas, but plenty of striped marlin up the Pacific side of the peninsula, with some boats releasing as many as five stripers a day. A Gaviota Fleet boat last week released 13. In the gulf near San Jose, yellowfin tuna are feeding aggressively and most boats are returning with at least six fish. Wahoo and dorado are showing sporadically as well. Farther up the gulf at Loreto, there are yellowtail in the 15-pound range.