Anglers needed: The Department of Fish and Game's Fishing in the City program, which brings special fishing clinics to young anglers and novice adults at 22 suburban and city park lakes in Los Angeles and Orange counties, is seeking volunteers to conduct the clinics, prepare gear and participate in various other assignments.
``We provide the opportunity to learn fishing in an environmentally friendly setting,'' said Jackie Kourassis, a DFG fish and wildlife interpreter. ``The program gives the beginning angler hands-on experience through education and a tackle loaner program.''
Prospective volunteers can attend an orientation session from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at DFG regional headquarters, 330 Golden Shore Blvd., Suite 50, in Long Beach. Information: (310) 590-4835.
Talk about fish stories!: How big was the one that got away? Better yet, how big was the one you landed?
Tell us your fish stories and send a photograph of the catch, and we'll post them in the coming weeks on the Daily News' new interactive entry, ``The Great Outdoors,'' on America Online. (Key word: Daily News.)
The Online crew here will create a page all about you in our weekly fishing report, and you can log onto it via your computer.
Send your story and photo, along with your name, address and phone number (for verification purposes only) to our offices at: Daily News Los Angeles, 21221 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills, Calif. 91367, Attn.: Laurie Beasley, Online Content Editor. Or you can e-mail your submissions to Beasley at screen name ElsieBeezaol.com.
Brand name speaker: Press Powell, grandson of the founder of Powell Rod Co. and an original member of the Federation of Fly Fishers casting panel, will be the keynote speaker at today's dinner meeting of the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers.
Powell, who was the subject of a National Geographic special for his international angling prowess, is the chief executive officer of the Chico-based rod manufacturer, which began operation in 1910.
His discussion, which will be accompanied by a slide show, will be ``The Evolution of Fly-Fishing: The Last 100 Years.''
A reception for Powell begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Encino Glen, 16821 Burbank Blvd. in Encino. Guests can attend the lecture for free or reserve a spot for a $22 dinner that follows an hour later by calling the restaurant at (818) 789-1919.
Let that cat cross your path: Catfishermen will be testing their skills from Saturday through Oct. 26 during an angling derby at Orange County's Irvine Lake.
More than $1,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to those who weigh in the largest cats.
The lake will also be stocked with albino catfish, dubbed ``the ghosts of Irvine Lake,'' and anglers will win $25 for each one boated.
Information: (714) 649-9111.
Jailhouse trout: Starting Friday and continuing through Oct. 31 - the end of the Eastern Sierra trout season - anglers can toss Kastmaster lures, night crawlers or whatever bait they prefer to lure giant Alpers rainbow or brown trout out of Convict Lake and vie for prizes during a late-season fishing derby at the famous site north of Bishop.
Entry is $5. Information: (619) 934-3800.
On the road again: The 44th annual California RV Show, billed as the largest event of its kind, will be held Friday through Oct. 20 at Fairplex, the Los Angeles County Fair and Exposition Complex in Pomona.
The show features displays of more than 1,000 1997-model RVs.
Show hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $6, $5 for seniors or free for children 12 and under. Limited RV camp sites are available; call (909) 593-8915 or (909) 599-8355 for reservations.
General information: (714) 532-4985.
Water wizard: The Merlin Transpac racing yacht, a dominate force on the Pacific Ocean sailing circuit, will be the featured attraction at the 28th annual Long Beach Boat Show to be held Wednesday through Oct. 27 at the Long Beach Convention Center and Downtown Marina.
The Merlin has recorded 10 wins in the three major races to Hawaii - the Transpacific Yacht Club Race, Vic Maui Race and Pacific Cup. The 69-foot yacht has 17 Pacific Ocean crossings in her wake and more than 240,000 miles under her keel.
Show hours will be 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $7 for adults and free for ages 12 and younger; The cost is $2 on opening day only. Information: (714) 633-1427.
Last call for grants: Nov. 1 is the deadline for nonprofit volunteer organizations to submit applications for grants of up to $5,000 from the Boat Owners Association of the United States' Foundation for Boating Safety. Grants will be awarded for recreation boating-safety projects in January.
To receive a ``Grassroots Grant'' application packet, call (703) 823-9550, ext. 3016; e-mail a request via the BOAT/U.S. home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.boatus.com; or fax a query to (703) 461-2855.
Since 1988, the foundation has awarded more than $300,000 to about 250 groups in support of local boating-safety projects.
