OUTPOST.

Castaic update: The Castaic Lagoon privatization proposal is next scheduled to be heard Tuesday by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors at the Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple St. in Los Angeles.

The item was postponed from March 14 to allow Outdoor Safaris International - the Corona outfit pursuing a contract to manage the fishing, boating and camping concessions at the county-run lake - to meet with various community groups that will be affected by the decision.

Halibut derby signups: Considering last year's record turnout of nearly 1,600 anglers competing on more than 450 boats, organizers of the 11th annual Santa Monica Bay Halibut Derby are encouraging participants to register early in order to avoid the usual onslaught of late entrants. The competition is slated for April 12-13.

The derby is a nonprofit, charitable event that raises money for youth fishing programs throughout Los Angeles County. Since 1986, more than $200,000 has been raised to introduce inner-city kids to the joys of saltwater angling.

Proceeds are also used for halibut research, including tagging and hatchery projects overseen by the county Museum of Natural History.

The all-time derby record halibut is a 45.1-pounder taken in 1989 by Southern California angler Mike Rozella.

The fee is $70, including entry to the awards banquet on April 19, or $40 for the derby only. Team entry is $15 per person. Information: Halibut Hot Line, [phone].

Speaking of derbies: The Spring Special Float Tube Derby will be staged April 5 from 7 a.m. to noon at Castaic Lagoon.

Presented by the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation and Sport Chalet, the contest is limited to the first 200 entrants. No bait is allowed.

Sign up at any Sport Chalet store; cost is $30 per person. Information: derby chairman Gary Harrison, [phone].

For kids only: The fourth annual Becky Thatcher/Tom Sawyer Fishing Derby at Echo Park, 1020 Glendale Blvd. in Los Angeles, has been postponed until April 5.

More than 900 pounds of trout will be stocked for the event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to fishing, kids can participate in tug-of-war, egg-toss and pie-eating contests, as well as a spelling bee and an Easter egg hunt. Information: [phone] or [phone].

Hall of a show: Fishing-tackle and boating-expo guru Fred Hall will bring his second annual Tri-County Sports Show to the Ventura County Fairgrounds Wednesday through April 6.

The fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, will host what is billed as the world's first mobile saltwater bass tank - a 3,500-gallon aquarium containing calico bass and halibut. Fishing pros will offer hourly seminars.

Show hours are 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 5 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 6. Admission is $6 for adults; free for children 11 and younger. Information: [phone].

Angler recognition: Brandon Begley, a 15-year-old Northridge angler, was honored in the April edition of Sports Afield magazine for the 44-pound, 3-ounce king salmon he landed on squid in October in Sitka, Alaska.

Begley, the nephew of actor Ed Begley Jr., bested all other chinook anglers entered in the periodical's 1996 adult fishing contest.

He is in good company. His father, Tim, received a ``Best in State'' award from Sports Afield in 1987 for boating a 35-1/4-pound striped bass at Pyramid Lake.

Meanwhile, Allan Cole of Lancaster, the originator of the A.C. Plug, took the magazine's 1996 award for largest largemouth bass for the 17-1/4-pound hawg he caught in September at Castaic Lagoon on one of his lures. And Russ Jackson of Hesperia snared a commendation for landing a national-best 16-1/2-pound walleye in September on Kings River's Middle Fork using a frog lure.

Bicycling news: Miles Jay, a 16-year-old honors student at Newbury Park High School, captured the junior (14 to 18 years) expert class at the Cactus Cup mountain bike stage race held March 15-16 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Conejo Velo Club member trains in local parks.

Bass contest: An American Bass Team Tournament event in the Central Coast Division will be staged Saturday at Lake Casitas. Team entry is $100. Information: [phone].

Add bass: West Hills angler Aaron Martens scored his second career victory on the WON BASS Pro Circuit during a weekend tournament at Lake Havasu with what likely is the all-time best two-day tourney weight.

Martens, 24, twice the WON BASS/Daiwa Cup Angler of the Year, brought six-fish limits of largemouth bass to the scales Saturday and Sunday for a total of 33.93 pounds to secure a stocked fishing boat and trailer valued at $27,000. Two-day events at Havasu are usually won on a tally between 20 to 25 pounds.

John Suzow of Newbury Park placed sixth with 28.44 pounds for $2,000.

Goodwill gesture: While the Los Angeles Rod & Reel Club's annual Disadvantaged Youth Fishing Trip is some four months off, its members are encouraging other organizations to also sponsor kids' outings by making available rods and reels at no charge.

Furthermore, the LARRC will, on a request for grant basis, provide financial assistance to any sponsoring fishing clubs, and its members will volunteer their expertise to assist in arranging such trips.

Information: Dan Felger, [phone].

Fishy business: The L.A. County Fish and Game Commission will host the annual meeting of the Southern California Region County Fish and Game Commissions on April 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the county's Fire Suppression Camp 2, 4810 North Oak Grove Drive in La Canada Flintridge.

The meeting is open to the public, but seating is limited. Registration is $15. Information: Rita Thomas, Commission Services, [phone].

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Map

Map: SKI REPORT

Bear Mountain - machine-groomed snow, 12- to 36-inch base, 22 trails, seven lifts, 70 percent open;Mountain High - machine-groomed snow, 12- to 36-inch base, three lifts; Snow Summit - spring snow, 12- to 36-inch base, 25 trails, 11 lifts; June Mountain - machine-groomed snow, 48- to 84-inch base, five lifts; Mammoth Mountain - machine groomed snow 96- to 168-inch base, 22 lifts, 100 percent open; Kirkwood - spring snow, 120- to 216-inch base, 70 trails, 12 lifts, 100 percent open.