Skip to main content

FISHERMAN'S CALENDAR

C—clear water; SH—slightly high; FG—fishing good; FF—fishing fair; FP—fishing poor; OG—outlook good; OF—outlook fair; OVG—outlook very good.

STRIPED BASS: NEW JERSEY: One of best fall runs in years is under way from tip of Sandy Hook clear through to Beach Haven, and surf casters and trollers are taking many bass in 35-pound class. Most trolling now is by daylight, with big Jersey bunker spoons favored lure. Fastest surf action last week was from Seaside Park through Island Beach, but trolling in tide rip below Sandy Hook produced some big fish: OG/VG next 10 days.

MASSACHUSETTS : FVP last week and OP as most bass headed southward, but some school-stripers should remain in rivers through December.

VIRGINIA: Stripers to 17 pounds are striking nicely in the lower Rappahannock, and OG.

SOUTH CAROLINA: FG in both Santee-Cooper Lakes, with heavy concentration at tailrace of canal below sanctuary area; OG through November.

STEELHEAD TROUT: IDAHO: OVG for November and December as fishing hits full stride in most steelhead waters.

OREGON: FG on Rogue River; fastest action in Agness area and fly-fishermen taking one to five fish daily; river L, C but R, as some larger fish move in; OG as long as river stays clear. Rains in northern Oregon have sparked a minor steelhead run, and a few were taken last week from the Nestucca, Siletz, Salmon and Alsea rivers; OF/G.

CALIFORNIA: Upper Klamath FVG as second fall run brings in bigger steelhead; best fishing is on weekends when Copco Dam flow is shut off. Tom Kemp, Los Angeles broker, took limits to 9½ pounds last week on brand-new local fly called "Burlap" (on size-4 hook); Royal Coachman on same size gets fish. OVG for all coastal streams where sand bars are open. Heavy rains in headwaters of the Eel River last week should start new run. Winter steelhead SO Nov. 1, SC Feb. 28.

MUSKELLUNGE: WISCONSIN: FG/VG in most musky waters despite cold, snowy weather, but only hairy-chested fishermen are having any. Spy says two Milwaukee anglers took 175 pounds of muskellunge from Big Round Lake in Sawyer County in four days last week.

PENNSYLVANIA: Experts say unsettled weather has driven muskies into deeper water, advise deep-diving plugs or minnows fished near bottom; FP, OF.

CHANNEL BASS: TEXAS: Redfish have moved into mouths of rivers and channels all along the coast; Arroyo Colorado in Rio Grande valley held big redfish last week, and mouths of Carancahua and Tres Palacios rivers produced good catches. Port O'Connor fishermen found reds along Brown Cedar Cut, the Colorado River and Intracoastal Canal, while flats of Laguna Madre were yielding scattered bulls, and OF/G.

FLORIDA: Big reds (to 22 pounds) were still loitering around Venice Inlet last week, with some taking bait fished off open beach below jetties. Old-timers say redfish are due soon in St. Marks, Aucilla, Apalachicola and Ochlockonee rivers.

NORTH CAROLINA: Mrs. O. B. Cunningham of Haddonfield, N.J. landed 49-pound bass from surf near Hatteras last Sunday as season moves toward November peak; OVG.

LOUISIANA: FG and OG for Fort Livingston Pass and other passes near Grand Isle and Venice.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Exceptional run reported at Georgetown jetties. Charter boats bringing in large catches of fish to 40 pounds.