FISHING MADE EASY FOR ROOKIES TIPS FOR YOUR TROUT OPENER.

Byline: Michael A. Anastasi Sports Editor 

You've wanted to fish. You have no idea how.

This story's for you.

Know the difference between an improved clinch knot, a Palomar knot and a forget-me-not? Read no further.

Have you ever kept nightcrawlers in your refrigerator? Do you even know that nightcrawlers are worms? Answer yes, and there's nothing here for you.

Can you tell a treble hook from a treble clef? A rod from A-Rod?

Stop, stop, stop.

This is a story for those who've never been but always wanted to go.

Trout season opens April 29 in the Eastern Sierra, and it's expected to be the best opener in years. You will catch fish because anyone can catch fish on this day. Al Davis will limit out. Donald Sterling will limit out. Susan Lucci will limit out, on Saturday.

Trout fishing is the easiest fishing, yet among the most enjoyable. The Eastern Sierra - the place our water comes from - is fantastically gorgeous. You don't need a lot of money. You don't need a lot of time. You can drive there in time to eat your next meal. Yes, there are a bazillion people but there are a bazillion fish and plenty of space.

Welcome to the great outdoors.

For at least one weekend, even the most-urban corporate warrior among you can imagine what it might have been like to be a pioneer.

--What do I need? For starters, a fishing license (fee: $28.10), available at most sporting-goods stores. In California, your license must be visible as you fish; you can buy a nifty holder that you can pin to your shirt. And you can keep no more than five trout a day. There are fishing cops, called game wardens, who will give you a very expensive ticket if you don't follow fishing rules. A copy of the regulations is available at the same place you buy your license.

--And then: A rod and reel. If you're over 12, don't buy a spincasting outfit. You want spinning gear, a rod that releases line using your index finger.

Buy the cheapest rod you can that doesn't have line already spun on the reel. You're not advanced enough yet to appreciate the difference from a more-expensive outfit, but the pre-spun reels tend to cause a lot of problems for anglers who don't have a lot of practice casting.

--Casting? Do I need an agent? You do need a little practice, maybe 10 minutes to master the basic over-handed throw. Go online to www.gofishing.org for instruction.

--Now what? Now buy your ``stuff.'' Every angler has way more stuff than he actually needs or uses, but that's part of the unwritten code of angling that you will learn soon enough.

There are two ways to attract fish: lures, which one casts and reels in to simulate something swimming in the water (an insect or very small fish, for example) and bait, which lies still. There's artificial bait like PowerBait, the most popular brand of trout attractant, and organic bait, such as worms and salmon eggs.

In an atmosphere like the Eastern Sierra, they all work roughly as well.

--Why's that? Because the state's Department of Fish and Game raises and then ``plants'' millions of trout in the Eastern Sierra every year. It puts more than 400,000 trout in Crowley Lake alone. They're hungry.

--What kind of bait? Get a jar of PowerBait (green is a favorite), a jar of pink salmon eggs and a cup of nightcrawlers. Start with the PowerBait and go from there.

--And lures? When you're comfortable with bait fishing, you can try casting lures. It can be more rewarding and engaging, but it's easier to mess up. Buy these trout staples: Thomas Buoyant, Rooster Tail, Super Duper, Kastmaster and Rapala.

--How do I attach it? You need to know how to tie a basic knot, the Palomar being the easiest (illustration this page; you can also buy knot-tying pamphlets at sporting goods stores). The lure or hook attaches via what's called a swivel snap. Buy a package of those, too.

With baits, you'll need to use a leader. Basically, you attach a small weight to the end of your line. From that, you attach a 3-foot-or-so line with the hook attached to the end. The weight will fall to the bottom of the water, and the bait will float up.

--That's a drag: Now, put 4-pound line on your reel (4-pound test, in angling parlance). What's 4-pound line? That means you should be able to land a fish weighing up to 4 pounds before it breaks, though that's not really true. Skilled anglers can land much heavier fish.

Now set your drag (ask for help on this if you can't figure it out) to 1 pound. The drag controls the tension on the line. Imagine a game of tug-o-war: 10 guys on one side and one on the other (the one being the fish) is a heavy drag, two guys on one side and one on the other is a light drag.

The proper way to set your drag is to hang a 1-pound weight to your line; when it starts the reel spinning, you're there.

--Why does that matter? Lighter line means less line that's visible to fish; also the lighter the line and the lighter the drag, the better the fish's fight.

Why do you want the fish to fight? Because that's the fun of fishing. If you want only to pull the fish out of the water easily, go to Ralphs.

--What do I wear? Whatever you want, but the key is to be prepared for everything. It can be sunny and 85 degrees in L.A. and snowing in the Eastern Sierra. It also can be sunny and 85 degrees there. Be prepared for snow, rain and sunshine. Bring sunscreen. Skin-burning UV rays bounce off the snow and water; it can be 45 degrees while you're being seriously burned.

--Where do I go? The Eastern Sierra is a straight shot up Highway 395, which is off the Antelope Valley Freeway (14). If you don't know where to go, head for Crowley Lake. It's the most accessible, most well-stocked and largest fishery. Figure six hours to drive there, and figure plenty of CHP presence.

--I'm there, now what? Toss in your line with PowerBait, and wait. You will feel your line tug when a trout is nibbling. When the pole bounces, ``set'' your hook; that is, hook the fish. Do that easiest by yanking upward. Remember this is a trout, not a shark; you don't need to yank too hard.

--I have nothing: Give a spot 15 minutes; if you don't have anything, move on. PowerBait will work if there's fish, generally. Still no luck? Switch baits and lures. You never know the mood of the fish.

--I've got one: Play the fish. Reel gently and steadily. If the fish fights, let it go. Wait until it tires and reel again. Keep pressure on the line. If the fish swims right, point your rod left and vice versa.

--Fish aren't stupid: Fish do have eyes. If you make a commotion as you approach, they will probably swim to somewhere where things appear calmer. Skilled anglers actually sneak up to their spots because they know big fish don't get that way by sticking around when there's trouble.

--But some people are: It is most definitely uncool to intrude upon someone else's fishing space - defined here as the distance one can cast on all sides. If that person is catching fish after fish, and you're not, that's too bad. Get there earlier next time.

--Need a bribe? Mammoth Mountain has a small, yet respectable outlet mall. And spring skiing is great, with a 7- to 10-foot base at Mammoth.

--And lastly: Fishing is like anything else: It takes a little knowledge and practice. Give yourself some time.

THE BASIC GEAR

--License

--Sunscreen

--Rod and reel

--Hooks/baits/lures

--Weights/floats

--Clippers

--Pliers

--Tackle box/bag

--Stringer

--Knife

THE TIE THAT BINDS

Camarillo fishing expert John Henkelman demonstrates the steps of tying the Palomar knot, fishing's most basic.

1: The ring represents a swivel snap or whatever the angler would be tying the knot to.

2: Double 4 inches of line and pass the loop formed through the ring.

3: Pull the loop far enough to pass it completely over the ring.

4: Tighten.

5: Wet the line. Hold the ring and pull the loose end with the standing line slowly to tighten the knot.

6: Continue to tighten.

7: Clip the loose end. The knot is ready.

EASTERN SIERRA LODGING GUIDE

BISHOP

Best Western Bishop Holiday Spa Lodge [phone] $66-$145

Best Western Creekside Inn [phone] $89-$139

Bishop Days Inn [phone] $59-$79

Bishop Rodeway Inn [phone] $50-$90

Bishop Townhouse [phone] $39-$67

Chalfant House B&B [phone] $60-$100

Comfort Inn [phone] $70-$90

Elms Motel [phone] $30-$45

El Rancho Motel [phone] $38-$58

Holiday Inn Express [phone] $79-$159

Lakeview Motel [phone] $35-$63

Matlick House B&B [phone] $75-$85

Motel 6 [phone] $44-$94

Mountain View Motel [phone] $50-$79

Outdoorsman Motor Lodge [phone] $40-up

Starlite Motel [phone] $36-$45

Sunrise Motel [phone] $28-$39

Super 8 [phone] $55-$95

Thunderbird Motel [phone] $36-$50

Trees Motel [phone] $40-$60

Vagabond Inn [phone] $66-$75

Village Motel [phone] $35-$60

BIG PINE

Big Pine Motel#[phone]

Glacier Lodge [phone]

BRIDGEPORT

Walker River Lodge [phone] $65-$120

CROWLEY LAKE/ROCK CREEK

King's Rock Creek Lakes Resort [phone] $90-$215

Rainbow Tarns B&B [phone] $95-$140

Rock Creek Lodge [phone] $70-135

INDEPENDENCE

Winnedumah Hotel [phone] $49-$75

Ray's Den Motel [phone] $42-$56

Courthouse Motel [phone] $33-$56

JUNE LAKE LOOP

Rainbow Ridge [phone] $80-$300

MAMMOTH LAKES

1849 Condo Rentals [phone] $90-$545

Convict Lake Resort [phone] $70-up

Mammoth Mountain Inn [phone] $99-$195

Mammoth Reservation Bureau [phone] $50-$450

CAPTION(S):

8 photos, 3 boxes, drawing

Photo:

(1) Some of the basic supplies to get you ready for trout fishing.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

(2 -- 8) Step-by-step knot tying illustrations

Box:

(1) The Basic gear (see text)

(2) The Tie that binds (see text)

(3) Eastern Sierra lodging guide (see text)

Drawing: Basic tour setups for spinning and bait gear/Tie one on