FISHERMAN'S CALENDAR

SO—season opened (or opens); SC—season closed (or closes).
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; OF—outlook fair; OP—outlook poor.

TROUT: MAINE: Big browns are big news. Sebago Lake has served up three over 10 pounds, Branch Lake has produced 9 over 6 pounds (to 10½ pounds) and reports of whoppers continue to come from ponds once sacred to the square-tail; OG for Branch Lake through June.

MONTANA: Canyon Ferry Lake is still the hot spot as 5-pounders assault red-and-white wobbler spoons. Madison River fished well last week on nymphs and streamers, as did Firehole River in Yellowstone (Wyoming), but OP for all streams as first warm days will flood and muddy them.

NEW YORK: Portal from Gilboa Reservoir into Esopus is about 1/3 open, maintaining good height and WT50-55 in "big river," but side streams are low and need rain; OF/G for evening fly fishing in main river, OP in tribs. On Beaverkill, green drake hatch came and went last week with 8- to 11-inch hatchery trout providing fair action but few good fish showing; Roscoe fly-tier Harry Darbee says low May levels have slowed upstream movement of wintered-over browns, predicts fair-to-good fishing through June. Light Cahills in smaller sizes to #18 should produce well, with little action during midday.

MICHIGAN: After SH, SD conditions last week the Au Sable, Muskegon, Platte, Sturgeon and lower peninsula rivers are producing well on flies and worms, and OF/G.

IDAHO: Main Salmon River, H, D, FP but some of smaller tribs report FG during early morning fly hatches. North Fork of Boise H, D, FP; Robie, Rattlesnake and Wild Goat creeks FG with flies and bait.

COLORADO: Most streams are H, SD, but some are clearing; trout are beginning to show mild interest in flies but bait and hardware are still quickest way to smelly creel. Colorado River (Rifle area) SH, D, FF/G with bait and lures, OG; (Glenwood Springs area) H, D, FP, OF. Gunnison River H, D, FF with bait and lures, OF. Platte River (North, Middle and South forks) lowering and clearing but FP, OP/F. St. Louis Creek H, C, FF/G, OG. Blue River H, D, FF/G, clearing and OG. Grand Mesa lakes are still frozen but FG through ice.

CALIFORNIA: Unusual weather, including 6-inch snowfall in northern Sierras, failed to foil fishermen on lakes and streams off beaten path but roadside fishing is in slump since Memorial Day. Our spy says FP, OP, except for Owens River at Birchims Canyon, and Silver Lake. Lakes above 10,000 feet should be ice-free by June 15; SO July 1 for golden trout in Cottonwood lakes and tribs, OG. Packers on both slopes of Sierras start regular trips to back-country waters June 24. In general OG for late June fishing.

PENNSYLVANIA: Allegheny Forest streams still L, C, WT62-70, FP and best bets for fly fishers are such small shaded streams as Tubs Run, Salmon and Spring creeks in Forest County. Tionesta and Oil creeks have had heavy hatches but zooming WT makes midday sport skimpy. In northern-tier counties streams are low again after last week's rain and trout were huddling in spring holes at press time; one good rain can revitalize this area. In central state the Yellow Breeches was producing some big browns on dries last week between dusk and dark but FP in most streams and rain is needed; OF/P.

NEW MEXICO: Rio Grande N, C, FG with flies and bait, OG; Red River SH, D, FP, OF; Chama and Brazos rivers SH, D, FF/G with bait, OG; FP through entire Farmington area.

OREGON: OG for most of state as central Oregon rivers are warming and clearing. Wickiup Reservoir is best bet for big browns on spin lures and king-size wet flies.

ONTARIO: Most trout streams in Sudbury area L, C, WT58-64, worms and spinners favored, OG but few big fish reported.

BRITISH COLUMBIA: As warm weather dries roads and makes most lakes accessible, big Kamloops trout are showing frequently and smaller fish are abundant. In general, OG and improving with warmer weather.

COBIA: LOUISIANA: As Henry Parra fished near an oil rig for cobia, now running abundantly along the coast, a rigger pointed out grandpaw; "It was among a small school and looked like a porpoise," said Henry. "We could see it clearly, and its head is as big as a 5-gallon oil can." It's still there. OG.

NORTH CAROLINA: Ocracoke Island reports sensational run of 25- to 50-pound cobia from sloughs near Ocracoke Inlet and Pamlico Sound; OG.

MUSKELLUNGE: WISCONSIN : Although heavy rains improved lake and flowage levels, muskies are playing hard to get in most areas. (Exceptions: Ashland, Iron and Oneida counties—latter's Moen Chain and Sugar Camp Chain are producing some fish but no lunkers.) In Vilas County a few barely-keepers were caught from Fish Trap Flowage on bucktails. OG as water warms.

MICHIGAN: Nothing over 36 inches reported from Lake St. Clair but action is improving and should be at peak about June 15. Experts advise medium-size silver spoon trolled at 12- to 14-foot depth near shore, over weeds.

STRIPED BASS: MASSACHUSETTS: Only bright spot is Cape Cod Canal, as NE wind and roily water drives bass off beaches. But 17 bass, 30 to 41 pounds, were taken from canal at Herring Run last Friday, 10 more on Saturday morning. Most local experts favor live herring bait but some are flinging eelskins and plugs; FG at two hours before tide-turn to east, one hour before turn to west. FG for school bass at Wareham River, Pamet River, Truro with tin plus porkrind.

CALIFORNIA: As muddy water clears in San Joaquin and San Pablo bays, OF/G for small (and temperamental) stripers.

TARPON: FLORIDA: High-jumpers are putting on good show from Keys to Apalachee Bay; last week's top fish was 149-pounder.

TEXAS: 4-foot 8-inch Wayne Morris of Corpus Christi caught 6-foot 9-inch tarpon last Friday from Bob Hall Pier on Padre Island; fishermen on South Pier at Port Aransas had 9 tarpon strikes on same day, lost 8. OG through July.

BLACK BASS: MISSOURI: Upper White River C, N, OG with limits the rule. James River N, C, fishing about as excellent as anyone can recall as bass light into plugs, flies and spin lures without provocation.

FLORIDA: Don Murray, Lake Wales druggist, went bream fishing with a fly rod last week at Lake Kissimmee, came home with 11¾-pound bigmouth bass and pleased expression.