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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; OVG—outlook very good; OG—outlook good; OF—outlook fair; OP—outlook poor
STEELHEAD: BRITISH COLUMBIA: FG/OG but if forecasted freeze-up comes to cut stream flows down, angler will need light gear and delicate touch. Vancouver Island, Little Qualicums and Oyster rivers top hole. Cris Kasa's Impounder was heaviest fish of 36 weighed in at Vedder Boxing Day Derby.
WASHINGTON: Recent highs put fish in all western Washington streams, and ebullient spy reports OVG indefinitely. Green River, mouth of Soos Creek, Puyallup and Skagit rivers all thick with fish. Skagit drifters and plunkers have scored numerous limits in past week (weights to 20 pounds) on lures from painted balsa to more fiendish delights. Everyone talking up banner year for gaffers.
OREGON: Coastal streams now L and C with FG to VG. Continued lack of rain, however, might put streams on poor side of ledger. Last large runs now in upper reaches of rivers, with best fishing in faster runs and riffles. Cluster eggs with fillip of red fluorescent yarn one of best producers.
WEAKFISH: TEXAS: Spotties being taken in noonday sun in shallow bay flats from Rock-port to Corpus; also hitting well in Trinity Bay. OG at Rockport's boat basin.
LOUISIANA: Now is the time, the man says, to start trolling bayous and canals for big specks which are seeking out deep holes and inside waters, so O must be G.
STRIPED BASS: MARYLAND: First pea-soup fog, now heavy winds hampering Chesapeakers, but occasional weather breaks have resulted in dandy hauls. Pan stripers being beached around Bay Bridge rock piles, but bigger fish (five to eight pounds) are slightly northeast on Mud Dumps. FG in Solomon's area in lower bay. where three-to-five-pounders are schooled up again. Hot spot is near Poplar Island at "Tall Timbers" where parties report catches up to 60 per outing. Offshore. 10-to-15-pounders are snapping greedily at metal squid in Ocean City surf between pier and jetties.
BLACK BASS: MISSOURI: Clearwater Lake producing for those who will brave cold. Fred McClintock of Farmington, Ohio took 7½-pound largemouth last week, and Robert Berner of Piedmont brought in one slightly larger. Live minnows fished near bottom and weighted artificial lures seem irresistible.
PENNSYLVANIA: Nine-month staggered season, longest in state's history, opened New Year's Day. Streams H and D) and OP/F, with kindliest water in southern part of Susquehanna, where deeps are less apt to be influenced by weather. Deep plugs ought to stimulate hunger or orneriness.
FLORIDA: 50° weather and 30 mph winds in Lakeland area have knocked fishing out for time being, but shiners and trolled lures in deeper waters are middling enticing.
LOUISIANA: They're striking in Shreveport area and 3- and 4-pounders are taking the play in Lake Bristeneau, Caddo Lake, Black Bayou. Bigger bass biting at Old River near Morganza even though water is becoming H and M as Ole Miss rises.
BONEFISH: KLORIDA: Keys booster assays FG; Upper Keys Guide Dick Williams claims customers caught 17 on spinning tackle. Mightiest was 11-pound 2-ouncer, taken by Lance Levy of New York City, on 10-pound test.
SAILFISH: FLORIDA: Al Lipford, another Upper Keys guide, reports Dr. J. R. Read of Des Plaines, Illinois caught three sails, all released. Largest measured 7½ feet and was brought in on 20-pound monofilament. Miamian tells of few catches, but chauvinistic charterboatmen claim lots were hooked and lost.
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