Is there anyone out there that does any fly fishing? I'm fairly new to the sport & was wondering if anyone else was into it. I have fished Castaic upper a few times & did manage to catch 1 striper @ 4 lbs. on a clouser minnow. I would appreciate any info. on the subject.<BR>Thanks,<BR>Randy

Yeah, I'm a novice, but love pulling out the 9 ' rod and cast to my heart's delight. Santa Margarita Lake is a blast and I hear Lopez is really good as well. Lopez has a bit more wind than Margarita, but the enjoyment is just the same. <BR>For equipment, flies, etc, I head down to Wilderness Outfitter's (unsolicited plug) in Arroyo Grande, as Pete, the owner, has good knowledge about what to use and where for fly fishing. <P>Happy casting!

Randy, there is some good flyfishing around here and Marg and Lopez are both good bets with the water warming up and the midges starting to hatch. I was out last night and there were a few fish on the surface but the best results will be had on subsurface stuff. Any buggy looking nymph pattern would be a good place to start and keep changing up until you find the right pattern. one of my favs is a green bead body nymph with sparse hackle. There is some good stream fishing going on right now, too. The summer will be good for bluegill and crappie in the lakes and you can catch fish until you are tired of it! <BR> Keep fishing, Pete<BR>

Pete-<P>Where's a good spot to stream fish? I didn't know we had streams alive long enough to support a fish habitat around here.<P>Mick

Mickster, <BR>The only stream I know of (& I'm no guide by any means) is Piru Creek that flows out of Lake Pyramid. I've never fished it, but I heard from the guys at Sports Chalet that there is some nice trout in it. I plan on trying it soon now that I'm starting to fly fish.<BR>Pete,<BR>Do you have a recipe for the green bead body nymph?<BR>Thanks,<BR>Randy

Right now, TODAY!!, would be a great time to get out to Manzana Creek behind Figeroua Mt. out of Los Olivos. Right at Matties Tavern watch for the sign that says Figeroua Mt. Rec Area and turn left and follow that road all the way over the Mt. and follow the signs for Sunset Valley. You will first hit Davy Brown Creek which is planted and holds lots of fish and as you continue you will hit Manzana Creek which has fish all year in the areas that flow, upstream and down. 14-16" fish are not all that uncommon as most people that take the time to hike in release their fish. You leave the styrofoam bait cups less than a mile in. You can catch fish 100 yards from the trailhead but keep going, the whole canyon is paradise. Speaking of Paradise, there is good fishing in the Santa Ynez River off Paradise Road which you find past the lake on hwy 154. Drive to the end of the road and start fishing. You will see more bait fishermen here but upstream there is some great fishing in Gibraltar and in the streams flowing into it esp. Indian Creek. That ought to get you started, but there are more and some are SECRET! Pete

I do a fair amount of local flyfishing when I can't get out after the saltwater stuff. There is some excellent catch and release wild trout streams in areas like:<P>Piru Creek-Frenchmans Flat - this is the tailwaters of Pyramid lake that flow to Piru lake. The exit is off of I-5 past Magic Mt. "Templin Highway". You can fish dry flies here as well as nymphs. DFG stocks it on a regular basis as well as the wild trout.<P>West Fork of San Gabriel River - this is up Azuza Canyon in the Angeles Natioal Forest. Same situation. <P>Just talk to guys a the local flyshops like Fishermans Spot in San Fernando Valley or Mike Scotts in Orange. You can get some maps of all the local streams. There are many that you can get to within an hour. I usually go a few times a week after work.<P>Have fun.