FISHERMAN'S CALENDAR
KEY TO SYMBOLS
FG=fishing good; FF=fishing fair; FP=fishing poor. OG=outlook good; OP=outlook poor.
STEELHEAD TROUT: OREGON: All coastal streams high and discolored: FP and OP as new storm front moves in.
BRITISH COLUMBIA: Most streams slightly high but fishable: a good run has worked into the upper reaches of the Quinsam and fish are well up French Creek; the Puntledge is producing, and the Campbell has some fish; the Capilano (on mainland) is in fine shape and giving limits; no fish yet reported from the Vedder, but the South Thompson has a new run. OG unless rain and storms continue.
CALIFORNIA: Between rains most coastal rivers are producing steelhead on roe and spinners. South Fork of Eel below Benbow yielding many limits on bait and flatfish; Russian River experts recommend orange wobblers and cherry bobbers for Mirabel Park area; Trinity River is spotty but some big fish were taken last week near Junction City. Fish are thick in lagoons off southern California creeks but more rain is needed to open sandbars; meanwhile surf fishermen are picking up a few.
SAILFISH: MEXICO: FP at Acapulco as warm water and fish are far offshore (but a 300-pound silver marlin was brought in last week).
FLORIDA: Sails are abundant from Fort Pierce to Miami Beach; most anglers are releasing nontrophy fish; OG through December.
BLACK BASS: MISSOURI: Lake Bull Shoals low but fish don't care; they're hungry; OG next two weeks. Lake Taneycomo is good bet for live bait or slow-trolled diving plug.
TENNESSEE: Center Hill, Dale Hollow and Cherokee lakes are rewarding die-hards with occasional whoppers; minnows outproducing plugs (but sink them deep enough and you'll connect).
LOUISIANA: Shreveport area in winter doldrums, but Cross and Caddo lakes are lukewarm.
CALIFORNIA: Try Clear Lake (in Lake County) for one of those 4-pounders; it's open all year.
FLORIDA: Little Lake Lena in city of Auburn-dale produced six bass of over 10 pounds last week; one brace weighed 26 pounds. Other central Florida lakes fair to good, with Kissimmee River and headwater lakes your best bet in this section. In Tallahassee area, Lakes Jackson and Talquin are most productive.
BONEFISH: BAHAMAS: OG from now to mid-March as heavy bonefish prowl shallows; live shrimp bait available at Bimini, but fly and spin fishermen will get fast action at Joulter Cays and Abaco area.
CHANNEL BASS: LOUISIANA: Reds are running in protected bays and bayous from Delacroix Island section westward (but check to make sure northwester hasn't blown them out).
FLORIDA: Two anglers fishing just north of Clearwater-Tampa causeway took 26 reds from 5 to 8 pounds on live shrimp last Saturday (and 11 speckled trout to 3 pounds). A few bulls to 15 pounds reported from mouths of St. Marks and Carrabelle rivers; best bait for bruisers is whole pinfish.
NORTH CAROLINA: Jumpy barometer has knocked drum off their feed; OP until weather betters.
CATFISH: FLORIDA: If you hanker for a heaping plate of fried channel cat, dunk a hookful of mullet guts in the Ochlockonee River along around midnight tonight.
TROUT: NEW MEXICO: 6,500 legal trout were poured into drainage canals paralleling the Rio Grande River last week and left to fend for selves in chilly water; no closed season in this valley.