All That Water Makes This Sierra Trout Opener Special

Saturday will mark more than the annual opening of trout season in the Eastern Sierra. It will be a celebration of the end of a seven-year drought that strained the resources, and polarized the factions in the eternal battle over water between fishing interests and people.

But differing views will be set aside for a day or two as folks from the California Department of Fish and Game, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, fish advocacy organizations such as CalTrout and Trout Unlimited and locals whose livelihoods depend on fishing gather Friday night for the usual kickoff barbecue organized by the Bishop Chamber of Commerce.

There is plenty to celebrate--lots of water and lots of fish. What nature has not provided the DFG will, dumping 70,000 catchable-size rainbows into 40 lakes and streams.

Besides the barbecue and fishing, other activities include Rainbow Days, a 70-year-old tradition revived last year by the Bishop Lions Club, and the Fisherman’s Ball on Saturday night at 8:30, at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop. There is no admission charge for Rainbow Days, and the ball costs $8 a person.

The feature of Rainbow Days is the opening-day fish display in front of the Kmart on Main Street. Catches can be registered between 4 and 7 p.m.; awards presentation is 8:30.

Other Eastern Sierra outposts such as June Lake and Bridgeport also will have big-fish displays. Except for skiers, Mammoth Lakes will be relatively quiet. The basin lakes are frozen and the roads to them are closed. But the campground at Annett’s Mono Village at Twin Lakes near Bridgeport is open and the lakes are ice free.

A few other lakes located above 7,500 feet will be accessible but frozen, and anglers are cautioned about ice fishing without checking with authorities to make sure it’s safe. Warm spring weather has turned most surfaces soft.

Motels are heavily booked and some campsites will be closed, but lodging and sites are available. Visitors can check with the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Pine at (619) 876-6222, the Bishop Chamber of Commerce at (619) 873-8405, or the Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau at (619) 934-2712 about lodging availability.

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For the record: DFG Director Boyd Gibbons was not invited to speak to the Sacramento chapter of the Safari Club last week. He asked to, hoping to explain his position against bear hunting with dogs that has the hard-core hunting fraternity snapping at his heels.

“It was very polite,” said Dan Heal, the Chico plumbing contractor who is leading the move for Gibbons’ dismissal. “It wasn’t ugly. But it was, ‘Mr. Gibbons, you screwed up.’ ”

Heal and some colleagues also met with officials of the Resource Agency, which encompasses Fish and Game. Heal said he was told that Gibbons, a gubernatorial appointee, had been “reprimanded” by Gov. Pete Wilson and Resource Agency Director Doug Wheeler.

Steve Capps, Gibbons’ press aide, said: “He has spoken to the governor. He was not reprimanded. (But) certainly, the administration has been surprised by the bitterness of some of the hunting groups.”

Briefly

FRESHWATER FISHING--Despite budget cuts that will reduce the lifeguard staff, Castaic Lake will remain open seven days a week because of terms of its license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The alternative is to cut hours by delaying the daily opening from dawn to 10 a.m., after the morning bite. Friends of Castaic is attempting to raise $20,000 by June 5 to offset the cuts. . . . The King Fisher Club of Orange County treated 148 needy children to a day of fishing at Irvine Lake. Bobby Barret, 3, Long Beach; Katie Garrett, 9, Anaheim, and Kenny Most, 15, Barstow, led their age groups, each with catches of 1-pound 4-ounce rainbow trout.

HUNTING--The Inland Empire chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will have its monthly meeting Thursday, 7:30 p.m., at the Sizzler, Hamner and 2nd St., in Norco. Details: (909) 987-8836. . . . Dan Anderson and his German shorthair, Gunther, bagged three planted chukkar in 2 minutes 5 seconds to win the fifth annual Gun Dog Showdown conducted by the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited. Next were Bud Andrews, 2:20, and Rami Mendez, 2:24. Both also used German shorthairs.

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: With wind and rough seas slowing the action, the week was highlighted by a 418-pound blue marlin taken by Geissler Chenso of Cabo San Lucas aboard the Cucharita. East Cape: A group of 10 anglers at Palmas de Cortez caught 13 striped marlin, 12 dorado and other species. A guest at Hotel Punta Colorada hooked a 30-pound dorado off the beach an hour after checking in. . . . Ronnie Kovach’s Eagle Claw Fishing School goes to sea from San Diego again Friday on a 2 1/2-day trip to San Martin Island. Cost: $299. Details: (714) 840-6555.

FLY-FISHING--Guide Tom Knopick of Durango, Colo., will tell the Fly Fishers Club of Orange County about fishing in southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico at the club’s dinner meeting Thursday night, 6:30, at the Revere House in Tustin. Cost: $15.