For Openers, Forget the Upper Owens

With the Eastern Sierra’s general trout-fishing season more than four months away, anticipation is hardly at its peak.

But those planning early should make note of two recent developments:

* The Upper Owens River from Crowley Lake upstream to the Benton Crossing bridge--a popular three-mile stretch--will be closed to angling from opening day (April 27, 2002) through May 27 and again from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15.

* The season has been extended throughout the rest of the region through Nov. 15, two weeks beyond the traditional Oct. 31 closing day.

This all happened last Friday, when the California Fish and Game Commission adopted sportfishing regulations for 2002. The closures on the Upper Owens are intended to protect Crowley Lake brood stock heading upriver to spawn, while the season extension is designed to give anglers more opportunity, while also giving those that cater to them more time to reel in a few more dollars.

Lengthening the season is seen as a good idea by most, as it conforms with closing days of general seasons throughout the state. It won’t have much of an impact on fisheries, since the extra two weeks are at a time when the mercury starts to seriously plummet.

As for the closures, they’re sure to stoke the fire burning within those who believe their rights as license-buying fishermen are under attack on too many fronts, notably on the coast where a network of proposed marine closures threatens to render off-limits many of their favorite saltwater fishing holes.

Will the Upper Owens restrictions be a boon to the Crowley Lake fishery?

Probably not, “but it’s a step in the right direction and they certainly won’t hurt,” says Gary Gunsolley, owner of Brock’s Flyfishing Specialists in Bishop.

Jim Edmondson, conservation director for California Trout, said the protection finally afforded spawning rainbow and brown trout “is the culmination of 17 years of hard work.”

Edmondson has been interested in protecting brood stock on the Upper Owens since his first trip to the Big Springs area north of Benton Crossing in 1984, “When I saw people walking around with 25-pound stringers with sperm and roe dripping out of their fish.”

CalTrout had been pushing for a two-fish bag limit, 16-inch maximum size limit (the larger fish are the spawners) and the use of only barbless lures or flies. But the commission, citing convincing testimony from CalTrout and other groups and individuals, chose to close the stretch entirely.

By adopting such an extreme measure, the commission at least cannot be charged with favoring the more conservation-minded fly fishermen over catch-and-keep bait fishermen.

Still, its decision is somewhat surprising as it went against the Department of Fish and Game’s position. The DFG had recommended no change to existing regulations: a five-fish limit and no gear restrictions.

Curtis Milliron, a DFG biologist specializing in Crowley Lake, accused CalTrout of “shooting the wrong dragon” and said there was no biological justification for the closures, citing “a low level of harvest [of fish 16 inches or greater], especially relative to the number of fish that go upriver.”

CalTrout contends that the DFG could have made a better case had it presented fresh data to support its position (the last studies were in 1996-97).

Their differences aside, both groups agree that the bigger issue on the Upper Owens is one of water quality; that ensuring adequate and timely water flows, especially with increasing demands for water throughout the region, is a more complicated battle that will be waged for years to come.

Critics of the seasonal closures make their feelings known as they get wind of them, and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of presence DFG wardens will have on the Upper Owens during opening weekend, and how much slack they will cut unknowing anglers casting their lines into the closed portion of river.

As for Gunsolley, an outspoken proponent of the closures who maintains that he respects the rights of the catch-and-keep crowd, he has more immediate concerns. “The last time I got involved in an issue like this, trying to get more areas restricted to catch-and-release fishing, they plastered Power Bait stickers all over my truck,” he said.

The Fish and Game Commission also adopted federal regulations on saltwater rockfish closures as a means of protecting stocks of bocaccio, canary, cow cod, yelloweye rockfish and lingcod.

In Southern California, the fishery will be off limits in January, February, November and December.

The Reel Deal

* Cabo San Lucas: There are no guarantees, but if you’ve been dreaming of catching your first marlin, this is the place to be. Tracy Ehrenberg, owner of the Pisces Fleet, labeled the bite “incredible,” and her reports are as honest as they come.

One of her clients, a captain from Florida “on a busman’s holiday,” caught and released 42 striped marlin in 10 days, all on light tackle. The billfish have congregated in the Pacific at an area called the Golden Gate, and should remain there for another month or so. Then, they will migrate south, closer to Cabo San Lucas, but will disperse along the way.

Meanwhile, fishermen also are experiencing an unseasonably strong run on wahoo.

* Hawaii: If it’s a grander you’re after, you’re better off traveling to Hawaii. Five blue marlin have tipped the Kona scales at 1,000 pounds or more this year, and that’s five more granders than were weighed in at Cabo, where an 870-pound blue tops the list.

“That doesn’t tell the whole story, however, as we have also seen some excellent single-day catches of smaller fish--including five blue marlin in one day on the charter boat Medusa,” Rick Gaffney, a renowned local skipper, reported this week via e-mail.

Kona-area anglers have enjoyed their best blue marlin fishing in years, and while nobody is certain why, recent restrictions placed on long-lining crews and a growing catch-and-release ethic are possible factors.

At last count, through Aug. 1, 810 blue marlin, 202 striped marlin, one black marlin and 244 spearfish had been tagged and released in Big Island waters.

“That compares to less than 300 blue marlin released in the whole of [the year] 2000, and just over 300 in the year 1999,” Gaffney said.

* San Diego: San Diego’s long-range tuna season is in its early stages, and while action at Mexico’s Revillagigedo Islands has been somewhat slow, the size of the fish has skippers optimistic about the season.

The Red Roster III pulled into port at Lee Palm Sportfishing on Monday morning with only 120 to show after 18 days at sea. But many topped 100 pounds and the biggest was a 260-pounder caught by Los Angeles resident Ben Kita, a long-range veteran who has caught four yellowfin weighing 300 pounds or more.

“It was a slow scratch, but we had a lot of 150-to 170-pounders,” Capt. Andy Cates said. “This grade of fish is what people come down for. Actually, they come for the 200-pounders and bigger, but this was definitely satisfying. It was good seeing so many over 100 pounds. Usually this early, we see a lot more 50-to 80-pounders.”

Field Note

California’s bear-hunting season ended Tuesday, after it was determined by the DFG that the kill quota of 1,500 had been reached. Hunters had through Dec. 30 to attain this mark.

Last year, the quota was reached Nov. 30, one day later than the previous year. There are an estimated 18,000 to 23,000 black bears in California and the DFG says the annual harvest does not have a negative impact on the population.

Winding Up

More than 5,000 ski jackets and other winter clothing, courtesy of nine Colorado resorts, are expected to arrive today in Karachi, Pakistan, where they will be distributed to Afghan refugees.

The donation is being made as part of an effort spearheaded by Cheryl Jensen, wife of a Vail resort executive. The other eight resorts are Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Aspen, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Snowmass, Crested Butte and Copper Mountain.

In a pocket of each jacket is a translated note reading, “Gift from the people of the United States of America.”