OUTPOST.

Byline: Daily News and Wire Services

What a finish: Despite falling in the drink a half-dozen times - once while television cameras were rolling - Simi Valley angler Ken Holder helped Team USA Flyfishing to its best ever finish at the World Flyfishing Championships.

Wading the treacherous Dunajec River, one of the sites near Zakopane, Poland, where the 18th annual tournament was staged last week, Holder wound up on local TV.

``I was in quite a fast section. The pool was eight- to 10-feet deep,'' Holder said. ``All of a sudden, I got swept down the river.'' He went ``swimming'' several more times and was also caught on film by a local newspaper, but remained unfazed.

Six-member Team USA placed 12th among a field of 22 teams and 116 anglers who landed and released a whopping 6,000 fish during the six-session, three-day event.

The U.S. squad was seventh after the second day, but, according to member Dick Recchia of Long Beach, ``We kind of let it slip the last day in lake fishing.''

You take the high road: The 33rd annual Mount Baldy Run-to-the-Top kicks off Monday at 8 a.m.; registration begins at 6 a.m.

The overall champ and three winners from each division will receive awards. Fruit and water are provided every 2 miles of the 8-mile race, which is sponsored by The San Antonio Canyon Town Hall. Information: [phone].

Under the stars: A 1-1/2-hour moonlight hike is being offered Saturday at 8 p.m. at Vasquez Rocks County Natural Area, 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Road in Agua Dulce.

Rain cancels. Parking is $3 per vehicle. Information: [phone].

Holiday safety: About 40 people may die in boating and personal watercraft accidents over the Labor Day weekend, according to the Boat Owners Association of the United States. But fatalities can be avoided by following a few safety tips:

Passengers should always wear a life jacket.

Never drink and drive; up to 50 percent of accidents involve drivers under the influence.

Drivers should watch their speed, especially in congested areas.

Boaters should study the weather forecast before going on an outing.

Overloading with passengers or equipment should be avoided.

Fish fest: On Sept. 13 the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers hosts their annual barbecue at the Andres Pico Adobe, 10940 Sepulveda Blvd. in Mission Hills. Festivities run from noon to dusk and include games, entertainment, auctions and drawings.

The price is $20 for adults and $10 for ages 11-13; children 10 and under will be admitted free of charge. Reservations must be made by Sept. 11. Information: [phone].

Local talent: A couple of Southern California anglers were recently recognized for two world-record catches by the International Game Fish Association.

It must have been a good Valentine's Day for San Diego's Stephen D. Grossberg. That's when, while angling at San Clemente Island, he boated a 4-pound, 6-ounce bank rockfish and a 2-1/2-pound chilipepper (rockfish), both of which are now recognized as all-tackle standards.

Meanwhile, Cecil F. Gamble of Pico Rivera, owns the 6-pound and 12-pound tippet-class fly-rod records for California halibut for respective catches of a 9-1/4-pound flatfish and a 7-pound, 13-ounce flattie he made in early January out of Long Beach.

Add records: One fishing record keeper is taking a page from the other's book.

For years the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wis., has kept state-by-state all-tackle sweetwater records along with its international records. Starting in 1999, the International Game Fish Association of Pompano Beach, Fla., will do the same.

Not to be outdone by the Hall of Fame, in addition to all-tackle standards the IGFA will post line-class records - the first time such a venture has been undertaken, according to the IGFA. Information: [phone].