OUTPOST.

Classic bass: Under a moonless sky Saturday, Blake Fraley of Bakersfield and Tracy Bright of Taft lit up a field of 96 teams to top the second Friends of Castaic Lake Night Bass Classic benefit team tournament.

Shaking 9-inch black and chartreuse Bass Tactics worms, the duo snagged a five-fish limit of largemouth bass that registered 20.74 pounds, including a tourney-best 9.20-pounder, to take $3,055 in winnings.

Runners-up at the evening event were the father-and-son team of Andy and Pete Vincioni of Moorpark, who are leaderboard regulars at regional bass tourneys. Their limit weighing 16.02 pounds earned them $1,625.

Third place went to Larry Priemer of Canyon Country and Gary Mendenhall of Stevenson Ranch, who landed a limit of 15.38 pounds for $1,460.

The final contest in the three-part series that benefits Friends of Castaic Lake is slated for Aug. 24. Information: [phone].

Casitas happenings: Hundreds of Florida-strain bluegill fingerlings will be released at 4 p.m. Saturday in a section of Lake Casitas known as Station Canyon, where a new set of screened structures called ``crappie condos'' have been submerged.

The structures, which protect fingerlings from predators, are the latest attempt to enhance the lake's fishery. Officials are hoping that the bluegills will inhabit the crappie condos until they reach catchable size.

Also on Saturday, an American Bass Association Night Fishing Tournament will he held, along with the All Era Sports Scale Air Show at the recreation area's aerodrome. The air show is conducted by the Ventura County Comets Model Airplane Club.

Information on all events: [phone].

New beginnings: After more than two decades of meetings, planning sessions, map plotting and partnering with various government agencies, the California Back Country Discovery Trail has become a reality.

The first segment - a 105-mile section in Mendocino National Forest - of the motorized trail system that will eventually extend from Mexico to Oregon will be marked with a dedication ceremony on Saturday.

``There will be very minimal new construction on the trail system, as we have identified existing roads and trails which have been in use for years,'' said Cliff Glidden, deputy director for the state's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division.

He said that money for the project comes from a grant program - not from the state's general fund - and that trail maintenance and sign construction will be completed by volunteers. Apart from off-road vehicle enthusiasts, the Discovery Trail will also benefit hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians.

Information on the project: [phone].

Prescribed burn: A 120-acre prescribed burn is planned for Tuesday and Wednesday in Malibu Creek State Park.

The objective of the burn is to remove exotic plants and allow fire to play its natural role of enhancing native plant species and helping with restorative management of native grasslands.

Ignition is slated for 8:30 a.m. National Park Service officials anticipate smoke production will be minimal and the impact on air quality and traffic negligible. Information: [phone].

Cat woman: Santa Ana River Lakes has become like a second home to Ethel Simmons of Compton, who backed the 33.2-pound trophy catfish she landed early this month with a 40.9-pounder she took a week later from the same spot on the same bait - mackerel at the spillway.

Granny skier: Mary Murphy is proof that you're never too old to take up water-skiing. The 78-year-old grandmother will ski barefoot with her grandchildren Friday to kick off the 13th annual American Boating Jubilee at the Long Beach Greenbelt in the Downtown Long Beach Marina.

The outdoor show that runs Friday through July 28 at the marina will feature some 600 new and used boats and more than 150 recreational vehicles.

Show hours are noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $7; children 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. Information: [phone].

NRA dinner: The Tri Valley Friends of the National Rifle Association dinner will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Callaway Winery in Temecula. Tickets are $25 per person or $250 for a table of 10. Information: [phone] after 5 p.m. or [phone] from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Hunting tags: The following deer and bear tag numbers were available as of Wednesday for Southern California hunts after the drawings last month. They are being filled on a first-come, first-serve basis at Department of Fish and Game regional offices and through the mail via the Sacramento office.

Deer archery-only hunts: A17 has 271 tags, A18 has 488, A19 has 17, A22 has 662, A23 has 1,628 and A24 has 324.

General zone deer hunts: D7 has 7,036 tags available, D8 has 8,832, D9 has 1,113, D10 has 553, D11 has 4,971, D12 has 145, D13 has 3,350, D14 has 1,623, D15 has 1,354, D16 has 2,301, D17 has 274 and D19 has 1,248.

Bear tags: 9,226 tags of the 15,000 statewide tag quota remain available.

Until Sept. 1, D-zone deer tags are only available on a first-deer application, but beginning Sept. 1, the DFG will issue any remaining tags on first-deer and second-deer applications.

Wildlife management awards: Aug. 1 is the deadline for entering the Progressive Farmer/Rural Sportsman Wildlife Stewardship Farm Awards.

Any farm or ranch in the country that allows hunting or fishing by the public on some basis, either commercially or otherwise, may be entered. Eligible entrants will be the actual stewards of the lands, those responsible for planning and implementing management practices whether or not they own the land.

Winners in each of four categories - upland game, waterfowl, big game and farm pond - will receive various products, plaques and an expense-paid trip for two to Birmingham, Ala., for the awards presentation.

To request an entry form, call Progressive Farmer/Rural Sportsman magazine at [phone] or fax [phone] or write to: Farm Awards, P.O. Box 157, Heflin, Ala. 36264.

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Photo

Photo: Andy, left, and Pete Vincioni of Moorpark took secon d at the Saturday's Castaic Lake Night Bass Classic.

Gus Ruelas / Daily News