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: WASHINGTON: Frigid courier advises new runs in many rivers, and FG generally for outsized models. Last week Barbara Horn of 2112 Wishkah, Aberdeen wrestled a 24-pound-3-ouncer from the Humptulips. On the upper Humptulips, J. Arthur Thompson of Tacoma beached a 23-pound-4-ouncer, while on the Cowlitz near Castle Rock, Harold Brewer, also of Tacoma, took an even 23-pound fish. FF on lower stretches of Puyallup, but FG in upper area near Orting. Green River FG, especially drifting above Soos Creek near Blueberry Farm. Wynooche and the Satsop also boast FG. Coastal rivers of the Olympic Peninsula L and C, but fish scarce. Above Seattle, Skagit OG while Skykomish and Snoqualmie enjoying fresh runs, and FG.
OREGON: FP, with all coastal streams L and WT too low. Most hopeful spots Sandy River, Clackamus and Eagle Creek. A smattering of fish also being taken in Butte Creek and the Ebiqua on wobbling spoons; OP/F.
CALIFORNIA: FG in south fork of Eel River in the Garberville area, where a plethora of limits in the 15-to-18-pound class is warming otherwise frozen anglers. Steelhead in Gualala Lagoon and Mill Bend are plentiful, but they are edgy under L and C conditions and rain is needed. Garcia, Navarro, Big and Noyo rivers also plead L and C, and OF/P until rain.
IDAHO: Warm weather has provoked steelhead activity everywhere. Many small fish taken on the Weiser from Galloway Dam downstream about three miles to first bridge with fluorescent yarn clusters most rewarding lure. FG also on Snake below Brownlee Dam, with artificials getting all the business. After 2 p.m. at conflux of Main Salmon and Little Salmon, anglers popping up in unusual numbers and finding fishy preoccupation at Big Hole at mouth of Little Salmon. Below Sawmill on Main Salmon in Riggins, spin-fishermen working lures in a concentration of exceptionally heavy fish and having tackle demolished for their pains. FG also upstream from Riggins on Main Salmon to mouth of French Creek, with boat drifters doing well. Mouth of Middle Fork of Salmon tempting, and fish camps in primitive area now open. FP/F in clear water, but OG if weather holds for 10 days or so.
BRITISH COLUMBIA: Balmy days and frosty nights have encouraged slow thaw, with most rivers in excellent steelhead shape. Cowichan, Nanaimo, Big Qualicum, Quinsam and Campbell all yielding on Vancouver Island. On mainland the Vedder is R but FG. Fraser bars at Hope offer FG. Thompson River jammed with floating ice, but OG as late runs appear.
BONEFISH: FLORIDA: Intelligence from Keys indicates FG, but former President Truman and wife Bess, who are vacationing in Islamorada, have so far applied their angling talent to deep water species. On-the-spot snooper advises that while fishing off Whale Harbor for three hours last week Mr. Truman caught one 3-pound triggerfish on 15-pound line after a dramatic tussle. Meanwhile, Mrs. Truman boated at least 30 fish, including grunts, yellowtail, trigger and snapper. On another day Mrs. Truman enjoyed a sailfish strike while Mr. Truman, according to all evidence, went happily fishless.
BAHAMAS: FG as Robert Knight Jr. of Barrington, R.I. logged a 13-pound 9½-ounce boner to post a new Bahamas tournament record. Knight's fish was taken on the flats of Great Exuma near Georgetown, 120 miles SSE of Nassau; OVG for this area.
STRIPED BASS: LOUISIANA: Devotees of the Tangipahoa River or one of the other streams in Louisiana's Florida parishes fidgeting in anticipation of the mysterious annual migration of 30-to-40-pound stripers into these waters. Angling stays productive into May, and then the fish disappear, to everyone's befuddlement, since bass are not found in these streams at any other time of year and are acknowledged to be a rarity in the Gulf of Mexico.
CALIFORNIA: Reliable old Frank's Tract still tiresomely the spot, with catches averaging two 26-pound fish per man. New run located in San Pablo Bay off Hercules, but few anglers in evidence. Lower Sacramento, however, San Joaquin and Upper Napa rivers all insist FG.
PACIFIC SALMON: CALIFORNIA: SO for ocean fish south of Tomales Bay, with thousands of anglers on the water last week as far south as Morro Bay. Fishery experts expect excellent early season because of large concentration of bait. Recommended area between Monterey Bay and Moss Landing.
BRITISH COLUMBIA: FVG for young silvers in Saanich Inlet near Crofton, with a scattering of springs tossed in. Springs running also off Northwest Bay, Union Bay and Cape Mudge, with slower but productive angling also available in Oak Bay and Horseshoe Bay. Small lures and bucktails recommended for silvers, with whole herring, herring strip and plugs taking springs.
WASHINGTON: Moochers off Polnell Point and Camano Island last week walloped a rewarding number of 18-pounders on herring, and OG.
TROUT: NEW MEXICO: Warm weather tempting many fishermen to try streams and lakes open to 12-month angling, with the upper Rio Grande offering results to the ambitious. Spinning tackle recommended here. Corrales and Bernallio dams north of Albuquerque lure less hardy anglers, and FG for rainbows. At Alamagordo Dam north of Fort Sumner rainbows in pool below dam are affording excitement on worms and small spinning lures.
TENNESSEE: Water H but FG, particularly at the mouths of small streams where minnows congregate.
BLACK BASS: CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA: Lakes Mead and Mohave on upswing as weather warms. Most enticing locale, however, on lower Colorado in Palo Verde region, where live bait is manufacturing limits of small fish; OG.
MISSOURI: FP/F, although dogged Lake of the Ozarks fans can indulge themselves from heated docks.
FLORIDA: FG on Wakulla River with shrimp. Lake Talquin also active for smaller fish. Central state situation much brighter in spite of drought conditions in some areas. Phosphate pits south of Lakeland, Little Lake Harris at Howey, Lake Griffin at Leesburg, and Lake Hatchineha east of Lake Wales all bragging FG. Also some 6-to-10-pounders were taken last week from potholes around Lake Panasoffkee north of Bushnell, but the ponderous ones must be hunted and are finicky about anything but live shiners.
CHANNEL BASS: NORTH CAROLINA: Tackle being feverishly overhauled in anticipation of early March run when big fish will be taking lures at Oregon Inlet or cut bait in surf between Kitty Hawk and Drum Inlet, including Hatteras and Ocracoke islands with first full-moon tides in March.
WEAKFISH: FLORIDA: Shirtsleeve weather spurring speckle-seekers toward flats on Gulf Coast, where last week, near Panacea, R. J. McWorter of Nashville, Tenn. landed 81 fish from one to 3 pounds; OVG.
LOUISIANA: FG for trollers in Lake Pontchartrain.
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