OUTPOST.

Trout and about: Four regional fishing contests are slated for this weekend.

The 22nd annual Huck Finn Fishing Derby will be held from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at Rancho Simi Community Park, 1765 Royal Ave. in Simi Valley. The 25th annual free Youth Fishing Derby takes place from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Apollo County Park, 4555 W. Ave. G in Lancaster. The second Cachuma Lake $25,000 Trout Derby kicks off at 6 a.m. Saturday and runs through noon on Sunday. Also on Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., the first Kids Free Fishing Day will be held at Irvine Lake.

Some 2,000 pounds of catfish and 200 pounds of trout will be stocked for the free Simi Valley contest, which is open to all anglers ages 15 and younger. Prizes will be awarded for largest fish landed. Information: [phone].

More than 3,000 anglers ages 5 to 15 are anticipated for the Lancaster derby. The heaviest trout will fetch mountain bikes for winners in five age and ability categories. Runners-up will receive cash awards and fishing equipment. The derby is free and no fishing license is required, however competitors must bring their own tackle (one rod per angler). Registration begins at 6 a.m. Information: [phone].

Up at Santa Barbara County's Cachuma Lake, anglers can spend $25 beginning at noon Friday at the site for the chance to reel in a tagged trout worth $25,000. They can also vie for several other prizes, including an aluminum boat and trailer, and awards in several categories. Proceeds benefit the Cachuma Lake Nature Center. Information: [phone].

Prizes will be given away in three kids categories and for adults who catch the largest fish at Irvine Lake, 4621 Santiago Canyon Road in Silverado. Children 15 and younger will be admitted free with a paid adult (a special reduced $10 charge) at the Orange County fish-for-a-fee lake. A complimentary lunch will be served from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Information: [phone].

Tourney results: More than $20,000 was raised for three children's charities last Saturday during the fifth annual Bassing for Abused Kids team-fishing tournament at Castaic Lake. Money was donated via a drawing and auction.

Stephen Ashworth of Fullerton and Paul Shepherd of Santa Monica took first place and $2,185 in earnings for their five-fish limit of largemouths weighing 16.23 pounds, which included a contest-best 5.02-pounder.

The duo of Simi Valley's Dennis Taylor and Bob Roady of Seal Beach came in second for $815 on 13.03 pounds, while Jim Olivarez of Anaheim and Glendale's Jay Poore were third on 11.96 pounds for $850, including options.

Shhhhhhhh: An annual silent auction and conservation raffle are on tap during the May 8 meeting of the Pasadena Casting Club at the Masonic Hall, 3130 Huntington Drive in San Marino.

Proceeds from the 7 p.m. get-together will benefit several conservation projects, including Trout in the Classroom. Information: [phone].

Running event: Pre-registration forms for the sixth annual Castaic Dam Race are due Friday.

The event, to be held beginning at 8 a.m. May 10 at Castaic Lake, will feature 5K and 10-mile races for competitive and leisure runners in nine age divisions. Registration is $16 in advance or $19 on race day. Information: [phone].

Get your licenses: It's not too early to start planning this year's big-game hunting trips.

State hunting licenses and deer-tag applications should be available at most licensing agents and Department of Fish and Game offices starting today.

The license cost is $27.05 for residents and $94.75 for non-residents. The fee for a resident one-deer tag application is $17.85; a resident second-deer tag application is $22.60. Non-resident one-deer and second-deer tag applications are $162.50 apiece.

The deadline is June 2 to apply for 1997 big-game tag drawings, including antelope, elk, bighorn sheep and premium deer tags. Information: [phone].

Busted: The DFG poacher and polluter hot line has a new number, [phone]. The department's Internet web page is located at the following address: www.dfg.ca.gov.

Shooting event:The Inland Fish and Game Conservation Association will have small bore pistol and small bore hunter's pistol matches Saturday at its range on Orange Street north of Redlands in the Santa Ana River wash. Information: [phone].

On to biking: In the second event of a series of seven, the California Mountain Bike Championship moves to Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on Sunday.

Races will feature U.S. Olympian Tinker Juarez and reigning state champion David Bly competed against a formidable field of 1,500 mountain bikers. Information: [phone].

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Photo

Photo: Larry Reed displays a 2-3/4-pound Bass he caught during the Bassing for Abused Kids event at Castaic Lake last Saturday.

Tom Mendoza