OUTPOST.

Byline: Daily News

Young anglers unite: A special, free, fishing derby designed for kids - but at which adults can try their luck, too - will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Hollenbeck Lake in Boyle Heights to celebrate the reopening of the lake.

More than 1,800 trout will be planted for the biggest-fish contest. Trophies will be awarded in four age categories.

Bait and tackle will be provided free to those who attend the Department of Fish and Game's angling education project while at the event. The program aims to teach beginners how to fish successfully and includes information about releasing fish, angling safety and facts on aquatic life. Fishing gear is also available on loan.

Aside from trout, the lake contains populations of black bass, bluegill and crappie. Anglers 16 and older must possess a valid state fishing license.

Hollenbeck Lake is in Hollenbeck Park, 415 S. Saint Lewis St. in Los Angeles, east of the Golden State Freeway (5). Information: [phone] or [phone].

Not all angling requires water: What's the next best thing to fishing?

Virtual fishing, of course.

Visitors to Fred Hall's Tri-County Sports Show will get a chance to see and feel what it's like to catch a sailfish without actually flying to Cabo San Lucas and strapping into a fighting harness. The Virtual Fishing Challenge is one of the many highlights of the annual fishing tackle and boat show, which kicks off today and runs through Sunday at the Ventura Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura.

A saltwater aquarium features several inshore species and kids can target trout for free.

Show hours are 2 to 9 p.m. today and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Information: [phone].

Contribute by fishing: The sixth annual Bassing For Abused Kids charity team tournament will be staged April 11 at Castaic Lagoon.

The event raises funds to benefit Royal Family Kids Camp and the Santa Clarita Child and Family Center - Southland organizations that provide assistance for abused children. Last year's contest raised more $22,000.

The event's winners are guaranteed a take of $1,000 and the top prize in a drawing is a fully equipped bass boat. Entry is $100 per team.

A free trout derby for ages 15 and younger also will be featured, along with carnival games, face painting and clowns. Sign-ups for the kids' derby are at 8:30 a.m.; fishing is from 9 to 11 a.m.

Information: [phone] or [phone].

Kayaking school: The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks is offering kayaking lessons beginning Monday. The five-part introductory course will be held at Venice Pool, adjacent to Venice High School, 13000 Venice Blvd., from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

The course stresses paddling skills for flatwater and ocean kayaking, and the $45 fee includes equipment use and admission to the pool. Information: [phone].

Tourney results: More teams registered five-fish limits during the March 21 WON BASS-Southern California Region team tournament at Lake Casitas than at any prior regional event. In a field of 95 teams, 69 caught limits; the old standard had been 60 teams.

Todd Holder of Oak View and Louie Marietta of Oxnard weighed their limit of largemouths in at 23.19 pounds - a remarkable average of 4.64 pounds per fish - to win the event and take home $2,510. The largest specimens were fooled on Jake Baits plastic crawdad imitators.

The Long Beach father-and-son squad of Joe Uribe Sr. and Jr. placed second with a 22.42-pound limit - including a tourney-best 8.91-pounder - for $2,275. In a game of ounces, third place and $2,140 went to Jesse Gonzales of Sylmar and Calvin Chin of San Pedro for their 20.07-pound limit - one-hundredth of a pound (and $1,100 in winnings) better than fourth-place finishers Scott Ziegert of Newbury Park and Jon Kraft of Van Nuys.

The next contest is slated for April 25 at Lake Cachuma. Information: [phone].

Congratulations: The state Department of Boating and Waterways has named Roger K. Scaife of Long Beach as its Boater of the Year.

A former lifeguard, Scaife spent more than 30 years with the Long Beach Marine Bureau, where he operated a rescue vehicle, helping boaters and others in trouble. He is in his third term as commander of the Long Beach chapter of the Power Squadrons, which teaches and promotes boating-safety education.

Club meeting: Loveland, Colo., fishing guide, fly-tying instructor and wildlife photographer Don Davis will speak to the Pasadena Casting Club during its April 9 meeting at the Masonic Temple, 3130 Huntington Drive in San Marino. The get-together commences at 7:30 p.m.

Information: [phone].

Trout die-off: On the eve of last week's $100,000 tagged-trout derby, nutrient rich runoff from nearby dairy ranches caused a massive fish kill at Orange County's Santa Ana River Lakes.

The organic matter created an oxygen depletion problem, killing most of the lake's fish and forcing an indefinite closure of the lake March 26.

Lake officials promise to reschedule the tournament when the lake reopens after being aerated. Information: [phone].

Holy cowcod: Fishing the party boat Pide Chang out of San Pedro on March 22, Richard Bean of Bakersfield set a state record for cowcod, or cow rockfish, with the 18-3/4-pounder he boated at the Cherry Bank - midway between San Nicolas and San Clemente islands.