OUTPOST.

Castaic update: The proposal to privatize the fishing, boating and camping operations at Castaic Lagoon has been continued by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors until March 18.

The county Department of Parks and Recreation, which requested on Tuesday that the board push back the item two weeks, is mum about its reasons.

``There is no other information I can give you at this time,'' said Steve Duron, administrative services manager for the department's Contracts Management Division.

The kings are coming: Southern California salmon season opens March 15. To mark the event, the sixth annual Salmon Fishing Seminar will be hosted by Virg's Landing in Morro Bay the night before fishing boats hit the sea.

It may be a bit of a haul, but the free workshop - to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 14 at the Morro Bay Vets Hall, 209 Surf St. - is well worth it. Experts entertained an audience of 240 last year with tips on using spoons, lures, hoochies, flashers, bait rigs, sinker releases and downriggers. Mooching and trolling will be covered extensively, as will recommended salmon reels and rods.

Information: [phone].

Casting for students: The Sierra Pacific Flyfishers' beginning fly-casting school begins Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Reseda Park, 18411 Victory Blvd. in Reseda. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Classes are free and run through March 29.

Information: [phone].

Fishing trips: The California Fishing Association - a group that organizes fishing trips for seniors, handicapped, and troubled youth, for a minimal fee - has trips planned to Puddingstone, Prado Park Lake, Evans Lake, and Cucamonga-Guasti Park lakes in the coming week.

All trips have open slots.

The CFA provides all transportation to and from the trip site, bait and terminal tackle, and park entrance fees. Information: Mike Johnson, [phone], or leave a message at [phone].

Bass tourney: An American Bass team tournament is scheduled for Saturday at Lake Perris. Team entry fee is $100. Information: [phone].

Wildflower talk: Canoga Park author and naturalist Milt McAuley will present a slide show on the wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Franklin Canyon's Sooky Goldman Nature Center, 2600 Franklin Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills.

``The timing of this lecture could not be better. With the latest Southern California rains concluding, the mountains will offer a spectacular show and colors through the spring,'' said Arthur E. Eck, superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

The discussion is the second in a series of five public lectures on the mountains to be held through September. Information: [phone], ext. 201, or [phone].

Skiing event: The 1997 Southern California Special Olympics will be held Monday through Wednesday at Bear Mountain Ski Resort in Big Bear Lake.

Opening ceremonies, highlighted by a march of more than 130 athletes and a moonlight descent of the Special Olympics' torch down the mountain, will commence at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Competition in Alpine and Nordic events is slated from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday - followed by closing ceremonies from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Volunteers are needed. Information: [phone], ext. 121.

Quail dinner: The Santa Clarita Valley chapter of Quail Unlimited will hold its fifth annual dinner banquet and auction at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Santa Clarita Elks Lodge, 17766 W. Sierra Hwy. in Canyon Country.

The event benefits the chapter's program of habitat improvement for upland game birds and large animals in area mountains.

``We work hard to make the annual banquet a fun event for everyone, but the real purpose is to generate the resources needed to expand our conservation projects,'' said event chairman Michael Brinkman.

Information: [phone] or [phone].

Gun show: The Pomona Gun, Knife and Collectors Show and Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona.

New and antique rifles, handguns and shotguns manufactured by Colt, Remington, Winchester, Smith & Wesson and other gun companies will be displayed.

Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for juniors 12-to-18 and seniors 60-and-older, $4 for ages 6-to-11 and free for children 5-and-younger. Information: [phone].

Hunting deadline: Postcard applications for the April and May weekend wild pig hunts at the Tehama Wildlife Area east of Red Bluff must reach the Department of Fish and Game's Redding office by March 14.

Information: [phone] or [phone].

They're all wet: ``Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About White Water Rafting,'' a free slide and video show about rafting the Kern, American, Kings, Merced and Colorado rivers, will be presented at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Adventure 16, 5425 Reseda Blvd. in Tarzana. Equipment, river classifications and trip lengths will also be discussed.

Information: [phone].

Whale of a ride: Seats are still available for the American Cetacean Society's 19th annual Around Catalina Island Cruise and whale-watching trip.

The daylong expedition departs Saturday at 9:30 a.m. from the Catalina terminal in Long Beach. Passengers may see various species of cetaceans, including gray whales, orcas and dolphins.

Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for ACS members and seniors 55-and-older and $20 for children 12 and younger. Proceeds benefit the 30-year-old ACS, the country's oldest cetacean conservation and education organization. Information: [phone].

CAPTION(S):

Map

Map: (color) SKI REPORT

Bear Mountain - packed powder, 30- to 54-inch base, 31 trails, eight lifts, 100 percent open;Mountain High - packed powder, 24- to 48-inch base, six lifts; Mount Baldy - packed powder, 18- to 30-inch base, three lifts; Snow Summit - packed powder, 18- to 48-inch base, 32 trails, 11 lifts, 100 percent open; Snow Valley - packed powder, 24- to 48-inch base, 25 trails, nine lifts, 100 percent open; June Mountain - packed powder, 72- to 108-inch base, six lifts; Mammoth Mountain - packed powder, 132- to 180-inch base, 22 lifts, 98 percent open.