Hey if i may intercede I was born in LA and lived in Coranado,Redondo,Imperial,and long Beach while my dad was in the service 1966-73.My grand mother and aunts on my mom's side lived there and still live there gram is gone Aunts are still there.
The Los Angeles River has among other things,Tilipia, Largemouth Bass, Several types of Carp, Sunfish,Bowfins.
There was a special on this a few eeks back on one of the good channels on tv,im not sure if it was animal planet,history,or tlc.I also know they talk about it on that show cities of the underworld too.
Believe it or not they used to have a great steelhead run and i believe it was the southernmost run in the lower 48.
If i were you skip The Flyshop for info.use Bob Marriot's.heres a link:
http://www.bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com/
this store is probably the single largest flyshop in the United States.I love the Flyshop too,but Marriots is right there and they have the Southern California thing also Mexico down to a "T".i have also purchesed from both shops and service is the best .If you go north use the Flyshop or Kiene's they know their stuff.
Tight Wraps & Tight Lines
Rick Wallace
I never flyfished this river,but as a kid my cousins and i would hop the fence and use spinning gear aand catch some wicked good bass and panfish.
