CHECK THE BOOK BEFORE HITTING THE WATER.

Byline: Brett Pauly Daily News Staff Writer

Fishing regulations are recommended in odd years and implemented in even years, so anglers should become familiar with several changes impacting Eastern Sierra trout waters in 1998.

After all, it is their line-casting brethren who suggest many adjustments to the Department of Fish and Game's ``Sport Fishing Regulations'' handbook. More than half of such proposals come from concerned citizens.

``We solicit input,'' said Alan Pickard, senior fisheries supervisor with the DFG in Bishop. ``We don't always agree, and ultimately our disagreements may prevail, but it makes our job easier.

``We don't have the staff to monitor as close as we'd like to, but we target the waters that receive the most use - Crowley Lake, Hot Creek, Owens River, East Walker River - to make sure we are not overharvesting . . . or underharvesting. That is our thinking when we are adjusting regulations.''

Among this year's modifications in regulations:

Bigger brook trout can be kept for special bonus limits. Up to 10 brook trout per day measuring less than 10 inches - up from 8 inches - may be taken and possessed in addition to other trout limits. The bonus allowance does not apply to Kirman, Lane and Roosevelt lakes.

The traditional take limit of five trout in any species has been reduced to two at Lane and Roosevelt lakes.

New size and take limits, as well as gear restrictions, have been placed on Bridgeport Reservoir tributaries at the beginning and end of the season to protect spawning trout. One trout measuring at least 18 inches may be taken using artificial lures with barbless hooks from the season's outset to the Friday preceding Memorial Day and from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31.

The DFG believes the golden trout populations in the four backcountry lakes of the Cottonwood Lakes Basin east of Lone Pine are sufficiently abundant to allow fishing for the first time in decades. From July 1 to Oct. 31, anglers can catch and release the brilliantly hued golden - the state fish - using artificial lures with barbless hooks.

The portion of Fish Slough within the Owens Valley and the Bureau of Land Management's Native Fishes Sanctuaries is closed to fishing all year.

Gear restrictions have been loosened along the Lower Owens River from Pleasant Valley Dam downstream to the lower end of Pleasant Valley Campground, where fishing is permitted year-round. Previously, only artificial lures with barbless hooks could be used to target trout under 12 inches long; the gear restriction and size limitation has been lifted, except from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, when only catch-and-release angling is allowed. The limit is two trout from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30.

Meanwhile, the boundary of the catch-and-release and artificial-lure-with-barbless-hook section of the river has been moved downstream. The section now includes the area from the footbridge at the lower end of Pleasant Valley Campground downstream for 3.3 miles along Chalk Bluffs Road to the redwood sport-fishing sign.

Same ol' regs: The Eastern Sierra trout season schedule from the last Saturday in April through Oct. 31 applies to most streams, lakes and reservoirs in Inyo and Mono counties situated north of Independence Creek, which flow through the town of Independence. Anglers can catch a daily bag limit of five trout and can have 10 fish in possession. Fishing is generally allowed from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

Special regulations - fish-size restrictions, gear requirements, closures and variations to season dates and bag limits, including those listed above - are chronicled in the DFG's ``Sport Fishing Regulations'' booklet.

Anglers ages 16 and older must display a valid 1998 California sport-fishing license ($27.05, annually, for state residents) on their outer clothing above the waist for easy identification by game wardens.

A one-day license for residents and non-residents is $9.70. A 10-day license - non-residents only - is $27.05. An annual license for non-residents is $73.50. Free and reduced-fee licenses are available to certain seniors, veterans, American Indians, wards of the state and blind or physically or developmentally disabled anglers. Information: [phone].

Fishing without a license draws a minimum fine of $250.

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Photo

PHOTO (Color) June Lake Marina boaters used wakes to break up ice in the days before the trout opener.

Brett Pauly / Daily News