TROUT OPENER HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

Byline: Tom Stienstra San Francisco Examiner 

Fishermen always cast a wary eye to the sky in fear of rain prior to the annual opening of trout season, but this year they will be better served with a close look at their windshields.

That is because there's a correlation between the number of splattered bugs on windshields and the success of the opener.

There is nothing like a fresh insect hatch in the spring to inspire the first major trout feeding activity of the year, and Saturday's opening of trout season in California has all the factors aligned for a great day, as well as one of the best seasons in the past 25 years. All you need are some bugs and you're in business.

Water conditions in lakes, reservoirs and streams have stabilized at high, productive levels. Three wet winters in the past four years have completely overcome the previous drought and boosted trout populations from natural spawning and high survival rates of planted fish from hatcheries.

This will also be one of the great summers in this generation for camping in California. The state's 373 drive-to lakes and 483 hike-to lakes will virtually all be full throughout summer, and the state's 185 trout streams will also have good flows from the meltoff of a decent snowpack, perfect for camping and trout fishing.

Like a lot of people excited over these prospects, I have recently contracted a terrible case of cabin fever. This past week, when it rained lightly across much of California, it got so bad that I turned on a faucet to simulate a stream, walked up and down the stairs to pretend I was hiking, then pulled out my sleeping bag and slept on the floor. It didn't help. Only the trout opener will help.

The trout opener marks the first day trout fishermen can fish in mountain streams, as well as many lakes in the Eastern Sierra near Mammoth Lakes and Bishop. Though many lakes and reservoirs in the San Francisco Bay area and mountains are now open year-round, Saturday's opener will be observed anyway with either bonus trout plants or, in the mountains, with the first major trout plants of the year. It is one of the most popular events of any kind in America, with an estimated 1 million anglers taking part across California.

Here is a synopsis of my 75 favorite spots, as well as contacts for trip planning:

Bishop/Mammoth area: Owens River, Bishop Creek, Reverse Creek, Lee Vining Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Crowley Lake, Twin Lakes, Horseshoe Lake, Lake Mamie, Lake Mary, June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, Grant Lake. Information: Kittredge Sports, [phone]; Inyo National Forest, [phone].

Burney area: Lower Hat Creek, Upper Hat Creek, Fall River, Baum Lake, Burney Creek, Pit River, Iron Canyon Reservoir. Information: Vaughn's Sporting Goods, [phone]; Lassen Forest District Office, [phone].

Chester area: Deer Creek, Butt Creek, Yellow Creek, Mill Creek, Gurnsey Creek, Butt Lake, Lake Almanor. Information: Lassen View Resort, [phone]; Lassen National Forest, [phone].

Emigrant Gap area: North Fork Yuba, South Fork Yuba, Bowman Lake, Faucherie Lake, Sawmill Lake, Weaver Lake, McMurray Lake. Information: SPD (camera and fishing department), Nevada City, [phone]; Tahoe National Forest, [phone].

Mount Shasta area: Upper Sacramento River, McCloud River, Castle Creek, Lake Siskiyou, Lake Shastina. Information: Ted Fay Fly Shop, [phone]; Shasta-Trinity National Forest, [phone].

Pinecrest area: Stanislaus River, Tuolumne River, Beardsley Reservoir, Donnells Reservoir, Pinecrest Lake, Spicer Meadow Reservoir, Kirman Lake. Information: Rich & Sal's, [phone]; Stanislaus National Forest, [phone].

Quincy area: Middle Fork Feather, North Fork Feather, Jamison Creek, South Fork Rock Creek, Bucks Lake. Information: Sportsmen's Den, [phone]; Plumas National Forest, [phone].

South Tahoe area: South Fork American River, Silver Fork, West Fork Carson River, Rubicon River, Silver Creek, Bear River Reservoir, Silver Lake, Ice House Reservoir, Loon Lake, Hell Hole Reservoir. Information: Sorensen's Resort, [phone]; Eldorado National Forest, [phone].

Truckee/North Tahoe area: Truckee River, Little Truckee River, Martis Creek Lake, Stampede Lake, Boca Lake, Donner Lake. Information: Tahoe Truckee Sports, [phone]; Tahoe National Forest, [phone].

Weaverville area: Upper Trinity River, Clear Creek, New River, Lewiston Lake, Trinity Lake, Whiskeytown Lake. Information: Brady's Sportshop, [phone]; Shasta-Trinity National Forest, [phone].

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