FISHERMAN'S CALENDAR
KEY TO SYMBOLS
SO=season opened (or opens); SC = season closed (or closes); SV=season varies by district or water.
C=clear water; D=water dirty or roily; M = water muddy.
N=water at normal height; SH = slightly high; H=high; VH=very high; L=low; R=rising; F=falling.
WT50=water temperature 50°.
FG=fishing good; FF=fishing fair; FP=fishing poor. OG=outlook good; OP=outlook poor.
TROUT: PENNSYLVANIA: Most streams in Allegheny National Forest and northern-tier counties were L, C last week but fly hatches were skimpy and bait-fishers had best of it (although nymph and streamer experts had fair-to-good sport). David Wallace of Lock Haven dangled a nightcrawler in Big Fishing Creek near his home town and spent 75 minutes subduing a 26½-inch brown trout. Cold spell slowed action in most Potter County waters but on Cross Fork (tributary of Kettle Creek) browns to 17 inches were rising to #12 Ginger Quill dry flies. In central counties. FG on West Branch of the Octoraro, Fishing and Quittapahilla creeks, and OF/G with streamers and wet flies; Yellow Breeches FP last week but upswing may have started.
NEW YORK: Beaverkill agent reports WT54-60 with heavy Hendrickson hatches on upper river, scattered Hendricksons and March Browns on "big river" below Roscoe, and March Brown hatch expected shortly; fishing was poor despite N, C water last weekend but should improve; larger "river fish" should be moving up B'kill and Willewemoc from winter holes in Delaware but few had shown at press time. West Branch of Ausable was N but too cold for fly hatches; bait and bucktail fishermen were taking a few good trout below Wilmington and a 24-inch 5½-pound brown was hauled from the dammed water at Wilmington after eating wrong worm; OF/G when warm days boost WT into mid 50s. Saranac is still VH and unfishable.
OREGON: FG in central and western areas; Deschutes reports best fishing in Bend area; Metolius and Crooked rivers L, C, FG with flies and worms; coastal streams H, C, FF with bait or troll, FP with fly, OG.
WISCONSIN: State enjoyed best trout opening in years, and Brule River still L, C, FG as some "steelhead" drop downriver to Lake Michigan.
IDAHO: SO May 1 in northern part of state but FP until weather warms. Snake River spy reports FG below Strike Dam and in American Falls area.
MONTANA: Most open streams starting into high-water period and OP; Canyon Ferry Lake still producing busters to 10 pounds on spinlures.
BRITISH COLUMBIA: FG for cutthroats in Oyster, Qualicum and Campbell tidewater. Trout showing well near surface in most lakes; 20-inchers frequent in both Campbells. FF on Cheakamus. Harrison and other mainland rivers; all interior waters should improve steadily.
MAINE: Rangeleys and Moosehead are ice free; OG for brook trout but landlocked salmon and lakers will get biggest play.
CALIFORNIA: Storms were still spoiling sport last week with snow above 7,000 feet making high waters inaccessible and lower creeks H, D. FG in lakes and reservoirs with trolled lures; Crowley Lake produced 17-pound 15-ounce brown on red-and-white wobbling plug for Jack Leavitt of Northridge. Because of heavy stocking in open water, OG when unusual weather clears. Best bets this week: Crowley, June & Bridgeport lakes, Kern and Kaweah rivers. Owens Hot Creek (where fly fishers took limits on stonefly nymphs last week). Northern California streams SH, D, but OF/G on Trinity, Pit, upper Sacramento, Stanislaus and Tuolumne. SO May 14 in Alpine, Butte, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra and Quba counties; best bets are South Fork of American River, main Feather, Truckee, Little Truckee and Donner Creek (but recent storms have made some roads risky). Bucks and Gold lakes should be good, or try Humboldt County lagoons.
NEW MEXICO: FF/G over most of state; Red River and Cimarron SH but producing on flies and salmon eggs; on upper Rio Grande and ice-free high lakes some big browns were taking bait and woolly-worm flies; OF/G through next week.
ONTARIO : Shoofly lake (N of Sudbury) was most popular spot in province with nearly all anglers landing trout on bait, flies or spin-lures but few fish over four pounds reported. Most streams in Sudbury area are L, C, W.T50-55, OG.
CHANNEL BASS: NORTH CAROLINA: On Emerald Isle near Morehead City, surfcasters saw a strange fisherman leave beach with several fair-sized drum, later found he'd left a huge one on the beach; after weighing it in at 75 pounds they offered reward for name of nonchalant nimrod. When high winds slack off in middle of month offshore trollers should find excellent fishing in this area. At Ocracoke Island, bass are spotty in surf, with islander Mrs. C. F. Boyette's 48-pounder leading last week's list; OF.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Some fish in 20-pound class being caught at Edisto Beach. FG at Georgetown's Winyah Bay jetties (but charter boats are neglecting bass for red-hot bluefish and mackerel fishing); OG.
ATLANTIC SALMON: NEW BRUNSWICK: After three days of highwater and poor fishing last week the Little Northwest, Southwest and main Miramichi, Renous and Tabusintac rivers were clear and at normal spring level Sunday, with blacks still plentiful but getting finicky about flies and anglers going to smaller sizes; OF/G through next week.
NOVA SCOTIA: FF/G in St. Mary's and Annapolis rivers as rains raised levels last week; OG.
TUNA: BAHAMA ISLANDS: Bluefins have appeared off Cat Cay and Bimini and will dominate area fishing through June 10; yellowfin (Allison) and blackfin tuna were smashing tackle in Nassau waters last week, and guides reported many of the Allisons topped 70 pounds; OG for all three species through August.
BLACK BASS: TEXAS: On privately owned Lake Benson "fishermen" cruise at night in shallow water alongshore in high-speed outboard motorboat with bright spotlight aimed at shore; scared, confused bass often jump into boat.
FLORIDA: Veteran bass angler Mrs. Elizabeth White of Howey-in-the-Hills (near Leesburg) took usual limit of bigmouths to nine pounds last week; pressed for secret of success Liz revealed she doesn't pay for bait (live shiners) until after she comes in.
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