OPENER REEL FUN FOR MOST LAKE ANGLERS REALIZE MORE ON THE LINE.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

MAMMOTH LAKES - For once, the weather cooperated. And sometimes, the fish did, too.

With temperatures hovering in the mid-70s, the skies cloudless and the previous day's gusty winds down to a whisper at sunrise, thousands of anglers turned out at Crowley Lake for the Eastern Sierra trout opener Saturday.

Many anglers were bagging their five-fish limits from the lake, which is generally the most popular gathering spot on opening day. However, more anglers seemed to have success catching one or two fish but not filling up their stringers.

``It's been OK, but a little slow,'' said Ron Bone of Santa Rosa, who was calling it a day without a full stringer. ``Maybe I bought into the hype too much.''

Mike Haynie, Department of Fish and Game hatcheries supervisor, watched the fish-cleaning station with trepidation.

``By now, these tables should be full,'' he said, wishfully. ``I don't know why they're not biting.''

On the eve of the opener, Haynie said it would be the best in recent history. The DFG had planted 550,000 trout for the opener and the mild temperatures kept the lake from freezing, supposedly putting the trout in a summer-like feeding frenzy. However, boat anglers - who were able to troll in deeper water - seemed to have more success than the shore anglers.

``We've done a better job of managing (Crowley),'' Haynie said. ``We had a lot of holdover fish, and because of the weather, the fish (planted in the winter) have grown faster and are bigger. That's why this season should be so good.''

Some anglers, like Azusa's Ken Kapitan and Ridgecrest's John Tross and Bill Wilcox, had little trouble reaching their limits quickly. It took Kapitan 90 minutes and the Ridgecrest anglers three hours.

``This is excellent,'' Kapitan said. ``This is the first time I've been here for the opener.''

Wilcox said there were a lot more anglers this year.

``We got our limits in three hours, but usually we're done by 8 a.m.,'' he said. ``Fishing is a little tougher this year.''

Across the region - from Bishop to Bridgeport, about a 100-mile valley brim-to-brim with streams, alpine lakes and reservoirs - fishing conditions were generally good to excellent. The DFG planted 47 waters with more than 100,000 trout of at least one-third pound and 1,400 trophy-size trout. Phillip Schumaker, an 8-year-old from Gardenville, Nev., had the largest fish of the day, a 9-pound, 3-ounce rainbow trout.

Perhaps the hottest spot was Convict Lake, just north of Crowley. More than 25 anglers caught fish of 4 pounds or more, including a 7.15-pounder by Jerry Repiequet of Winnetka. Repiequet used Captain America Power Bait from the north shore.

Richard Alexander of Moorpark left his Convict Lake Camp at 4 a.m. to fish the lake's inlet. He was rewarded with a 4-pounder.

``If I don't catch another fish the rest of the year, I'll be happy,'' he said. ``I've never caught a fish that big before. I've seen other people catch that size fish, but you never think you'll catch one that big.''

There were trying times to catch it.

``It was freezing,'' Alexander said. ``I had to put my hands on my lantern to keep warm. I never use bait, and I caught it on Power Bait. I have no idea how to cook it. I know I can put two trout on the skillet, but one?''

Adrianne DeSurra of Convict Lake Resort credited the mild weather and the 2,000 plants in the last week, including 500 of Alpers Trout, for the lake's success.

``There was a lot of great fishing,'' she said. ``I think the warm weather has brought the fish up, and they're ready to feed.''