FISHERMAN'S CALENDAR

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

STEELHEAD TROUT:WASHINGTON: Weatherman holds all aces as all rivers were bank-high at presstimeand may be unfishable now. In coastal area best bets are Skagit River aboveBaker River, Sauk River near mouth at Rock-port, Dakota Creek, Fisher Sloughnear Conway-Stanwood highway crossing, Nooksack River below Guide-MeridianBridge. Hot streams last weekend were Humptulips. Snoqualmie, Toutle and Greenrivers. Lower Puyallup, Chehalis and Willapa should produce well for plunkersif water levels permit fishing. Central and eastern Washington still iced in,but some steelhead taken from Columbia River near Pasco and at mouth of Yakimaand Wenatchee rivers last Sunday, and OF/G.

BRITISH COLUMBIA:Cowichan, Qualicums, Puntledge, Quinsam and Campbell rivers on Vancouver Islandand Vedder on the mainland all showed good fishing last week until heavy rainsbrought short rises and muddy water. Most rivers have good runs but outlook isuncertain unless cold weather stabilizes levels.

CALIFORNIA:Garcia, Navarro, Noyo and Gualala may be fishable and producing by now, butpicture is dismal elsewhere. Flood damage to steelhead habitat, spawn and youngfish won't be known accurately for months.

OREGON: FVP,OVP.

CHANNEL BASS:FLORIDA: This species dominating northwest as cold snap chases reds upfresh-water rivers; St. Mark's, Waccasassa and Ochlockonee best, live shrimpbest bait.

OCTOPUS: FLORIDA:Party boaters fishing for groupers in Gulf west of Clearwater are bringing inas many as 50 octopi to the boat. Normally a party boat might get one or two amonth, and outbreak has skippers baffled.

BLACK BASS: SOUTHCAROLINA: Many limit catches reported from Cooper River above Charleston,particularly in Rice Hope section. Plug casters doing especially well, andOF/G.

MISSOURI: Lake ofthe Ozarks (Gravois Arm area) C, N, FG, but small fish are rule. Live baitbest, and OG. Osage region about same, except that water is slightly murky, andOF.

NEVADA: LowerColorado River reservoirs fairly hot, as Mrs. George Mueller of Los Angeleslanded 10½ pounder to set new Mohave Lake record last week, and several limitsto 7 pounds taken from Cottonwood Cove near Searchlight. With temperature in70s and air calm, OVG.

LOUISIANA: Goodaction reported in Hog Lake and Gin Lake, east of Alexandria, Black River nearJonesville and Anacoco Lake near Leesville: OF/G.

FLORIDA:Oldtimers blame low, cold water for poor fishing, and OP through January inmost central Florida waters.

BONEFISH: BAHAMAISLANDS: Bimini agent says bonefish are plentiful on local flats and at CatCay; a 10½-pounder on live shrimp and spinning tackle was heaviest reportedlast week, and OG through January.

TROUT: IDAHO:Report in Dec. 19th issue that "many rod and gun clubs are up in armsagains the Fish and Game Department on question of outlawing salmon eggs astrout bait" was in error, as department has made no move to ban eggsdespite pressure developing in Ada County sportsmen's group.

CALIFORNIA: Fishand Game Department recommends year-round season in eight southern countieswith creel limit reduced from 15 to 10, and to 5 between November 1 and May 1.Reasons: fire hazard and low water upset regular seasons in many southernstreams.