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.
STEELHEAD TROUT: OREGON: Cold weather and snow in coast range has put damper on steelheading as streams are L, C and too cold for good sport. Warmup period will mean snow runoff and milky water. Any way you figure it, OVP.
WASHINGTON: Most rivers closed, but early runs reported in Nisqually, Quinault, Hoh and Cowlitz. SO Dec. 4, and watch for fine opener if one more heavy rain is followed by week's dry spell before that date.
CALIFORNIA: Steelies are hitting at mouths of coastal streams, but rain is needed to bring fish inside bars. Best bets are Klamath River and mouth of the Noyo; OF.
BRITISH COLUMBIA: Thompson River produced three-fish limits to 22 pounds last week, and OG as water below Nicola has cleared since. Cold snap has set back Vancouver Island and mainland coastal streams sharply, but fish are already in and OVG for next week, with Quinsam, Oyster, Qualicums and French Creek among best prospects.
BONEFISH: BAHAMA ISLANDS: FG, OG and improving through April, says Andros spy, citing Dr. and Mrs. K. Hazen Scott of Plainfield, N.J., who, with two friends, landed 207 bone-fish on spinning tackle and fly rods in 12 days; largest fish weighed 9 pounds.
CHANNEL BASS: NORTH CAROLINA: Outlook continues VG for bass in surf, with biggest fish coming from points between Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke, and top bass reported last week weighing 42 pounds.
FLORIDA: On east coast, good catches reported from Marineland north; on Gulf Coast, 10- to 20-pounders showing from St. Marks to Panama City, with most action at river mouths and fish due to move far upstream as weather grows colder. Best bait: live shrimp.
TEXAS: Surf along Mustang and Padre islands producing some redfish from 2 to 30 pounds; a few have showed at Matagorda and Port Isabel; average weight is 6 pounds, and OF.
STRIPED BASS: VIRGINIA: Potomac River is jammed with small fish (to 3 pounds) and several heavy catches reported off Colonial Beach; OF/G.
CALIFORNIA: OF and improving as fish migrate into Delta waters and up rivers, providing one bright spot in otherwise dreary fishing picture. Trailers and bait fishermen are taking limits, and hottest spots are Sherman Lake and lower Sacramento River from lake up to Rio Vista, and in San Joaquin River area from Buoy 9 to 15 and mouth of Three-mile Slough.
NORTH CAROLINA: OVG for school fish in Croatan, Roanoke and Albemarle Sound waters N to Currituck; top fish last week was 8 pounds.
NEW JERSEY: Surf fishermen still enjoying best run of stripers in many years, as fish are abundant along beach from tip of Sandy Hook to Beach Haven Inlet; block tin effective by daylight but rigged eels are taking many large fish by day and night.
SNOOK: FLORIDA: 88-year-old Harry Weren of Old Greenwich, Conn., in Florida for his 26th season, was one of many anglers enjoying fairly hot snook fishing in the Myakka River; he got five; OG.
BLACK BASS: LOUISIANA: Upper Calcasieu River reports FG, OG; shrimp is most popular lure with fish and fishermen, but one of Tom Nixon's Calcasieu Pigboat wet flies should snag some nice bass.
MISSOURI: Current River (upper section) C, N; bass are in deep holes, and a live minnow will get you one; OG. Jack's Fork River C, N, OF; best lure is deep-running plug.