CHILDREN RELEASE `SCHOOLED' FISH : THIRD-GRADERS FIND IT HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO TROUT.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Hannah Geyer, holding a tiny rainbow trout in a plastic cup of water, walked gingerly Wednesday to the edge of Big Rock Creek.

Crouching down by the stream, the third-grader gently released the fish, one of nearly 200 trout raised from eggs since January by 130 children at Wilsona Elementary School.

``Every morning we would check on them, feed them every day and clean their tanks,'' 9-year-old Hannah said. ``We learned about the fish and how they grow and how to take care of them.''

It was hard to say goodbye to the fish, she said.

``It's sad because we really enjoyed seeing them grow up and finding out about their habitat and how they lived.''

The children, their teachers and more than 20 parents were participating in a program, sponsored by the Deep Creek Flyfishers of San Bernardino County and the state Department of Fish and Game.

Joe Lynch, coordinator of the program in the High Desert and a middle school teacher from Phelan, said it's unlikely that any of the trout released Wednesday will survive. On average in the wild, no more than two trout reach maturity from 2,500 eggs, he said.

``The purpose is not to increase the trout population but to raise children's awareness about the ecology and the environment and what they can do to help protect it,'' said Wilsona teacher Julie Briggs.

The pupils first visited Big Rock Creek in October, where they picked up trash, studied insects and learned about harmful effects of pollution on the environment.

In January, the school received 200 trout eggs from the Mojave River Hatchery to raise in Briggs' classroom. Ten of the baby trout died.

Along with releasing the trout Wednesday, the children looked for and studied insects that fish eat, picked up trash and drew pictures of the creek's riparian zone at a bend in the creek.

They also participated in a ``bubble gum'' walk. Each child chewed some pink bubble gum, stuck it on a paper plate and used it to anchor rocks, twigs and other interesting items.

Eight-year-old Megan Tureaud picked up a piece of tree bark, a little pine cone and some leaves.

``It's fun because you get to pick up stuff,'' Tureaud said. ``The most fun is you get to go in the water.''

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3 Photos

Photo: (1--ran in AV and CONEJO editions only--color in AV only) Joe Lynch, left, program coordinator, helps Wilsona School third-graders identify larvae that trout eat.

(2--color in AV only) Elizabeth Kramer examines the screen she used as a sieve in Big Rock Creek to see what trout food might be available in the water.

(3--ran in AV only--color) Meeta Panesar, left, and Gretchen Leavenworth carry hatchling trout.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News