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

STEELHEAD: BRITISH COLUMBIA: Fishing slowed last week as runs lagged but OG for this week and next. Smaller streams, muddy last week, are fishable and clearing fast. On Vancouver Island, Bear, Campbell, Quinsam, Puntledge, Qualicum, Nanaimo and Cowichan are all producing, but Thompson still best, with limits to 20 pounds reported. In general, OG unless heavy rains continue.

WASHINGTON: Oldtimers annoyed as Samish River steelhead take outsize bobbers and spinners while orthodox lures fail. Most rivers H, dirty as rains continue and mountain snows melt. North fork of Nooksack River, in Bell Creek area, is only clear stream reported. Quinault is good bet, and some worthwhile sport reported from upper Puyallup, Green and Snohomish. Still-fishermen taking a few fish from murky streams, especially lower Cowlitz, Humptulips and Snohomish. In general FP on west side, but should be sensational when waters clear and drop.

CALIFORNIA: Heavy seas closed bars at mouths of Russian and Gualala rivers last week, but former has been opened by bulldozers to restore runs, and clearing weather should improve fishing. Garcia, Navarro and Ten-Mile rivers are open and worth the trip; Eel, Klamath and Smith clear and OG; Trinity H, muddy, OP.

OREGON: After excellent fishing early part of last week, rains raised and roiled most coastal rivers; fish are in but high, murky water keeps anglers idle; OVG if rains let up for four or five days, as they may have by time you read this.

BLUEFISH: LOUISIANA: Scrappy 2-pound blues are abundant around oil rigs off Grand Isle and so are other species (pompano, weakfish, redfish, groupers, mangrove snappers and sheepshead) as winter season starts in earnest. OG.

FLORIDA: Blues are on scheduled run past Panama City beach, and surfcasters are taking numbers on bait, with shrimp best.

WAHOO: BAHAMA ISLANDS: Fourth Annual Bahamas Wahoo Roundup proceeds apace as Anton Topic of Montreux, Switzerland, won first week's award with 45-, 40-and 30-pounders. OG.

STRIPED BASS: NEW JERSEY: After best striper fishing in many years along Jersey coast, bass disappeared almost entirely last week; SO until December 31 but OVP.

SOUTH CAROLINA: In Santee-Cooper waters OF with deep-trolled needlefish best lure.

CALIFORNIA: Light-tackle addicts having picnic on stripers to 20 pounds in delta, with Orwood and Frank's Tract areas best bets; OG through this week.

NORTH CAROLINA: Commercial fishermen still taking lots of stripers but cloudy water has deviled sport fishermen in fresh and brackish sounds, and OP/F.

VIRGINIA: Several stripers in 15-20 pound class reported last week from Rappahannock near Urbana and OG in most coastal rivers.

TROUT: IDAHO: Many rod-and-gun clubs up in arms against Fish and Game Department on question of outlawing salmon eggs as trout bait, considered too deadly when steelhead and salmon are migrating. Bitter fight predicted as most fishermen oppose this restriction.

NEVADA: Allen Pease of Pasadena took straight flush of cutthroat in two days trolling on Walker Lake. Fish weighed 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 pounds, took unweighted black and white wobbler trolled 150 feet behind boat. Mercury near zero but fishing near peak, and OG.

ILLUSTRATION

"You mean you're here on a scholarship and you don't have to play anything?"