9 6 Life in the Open 



tells me that his largest rainbow, taken in Bear Valley 

 Lake, weighed ten and one half pounds, while another 

 weighed twelve and one half pounds. 



The fame of the rainbow trout has travelled wher- 

 ever rods are known, and the fish has been distributed 

 far and wide, even introduced into England ; and almost 

 everywhere, it is said, retains its wonted vigour and 

 game qualities. The open season in California is from 

 April first to November first, and in San Bernardino 

 County from May fifteenth to November first. 



A feature of fishing in Southern California is the 

 ease with which the mountains are reached. Los 

 Angeles is but thirteen miles from the mouth of the 

 Arroyo Seco, Millard, and other attractive canons ; the 

 Ojai Valley, Santa Paula, or Santa Barbara streams 

 are but a few hours distant, while the San Gabriel 

 River can be reached from the city by train to Azusa in 

 less than an hour, where a stage takes the angler into 

 the mountains to any of the camps along these typical 

 Southern California streams. The camps are at an 

 altitude of several thousand feet, where hot weather is 

 practically unknown ; indeed, one of the surprises to the 

 angler in this country is the summer climate : warm 

 days come in trios and pass, but sunstroke and heat 

 of the character that is experienced in Chicago, New 

 York, and other Eastern cities is unknown. 



The available waters of Southern California lakes 

 and streams are stocked yearly by the State Board of 

 Fish Commissioners with rainbow, Eastern brook trout, 



