SO—season opens (or opened); SC—season closes (or closed).
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: FF only on Skagit, but spotty catches are big, bright and fighting mad. Best bag of week by Jim Ross of Bothell and two partners who fought nine steel-head and landed six. Biggest was 24 pounds 12 ounces taken on egg cluster from Dutchman Riffle between Rockport and Concrete. Most nonplused angler was Jim Wise of Sedro Woolley who took a 6-pound Dolly Varden on a small steelhead lure, cleaned it and removed whole rooster's head, complete with comb. Very savage fish in Washington. OF/SC April 15 on Skagit.
OREGON: OVG/FVG on Columbia River sand bars in Rainier area, with fish running to 18 pounds. Fresh run now in Sandy River, and on Willamette ponderous fish being fooled on brass spoons, especially in Woolen Mill Pool at Oregon City.
BRITISH COLUMBIA: Season on downswing but good catches still reported from the Salmon, Koksilah, Nanaimo and other streams on Vancouver Island. On mainland, Cheakamus H and R and OP unless Thompson picks up around Spence's Bridge.
MARLIN: BAHAMAS: Area about 40 miles from Nassau on western edge of The Tongue of the Ocean last week showed signs of becoming another blue marlin hot spot as Eugene Locke of Dallas mastered a 315-pounder and had hardly cooled off when John Tassie of Trenton, N.J. docked a 398-pounder. At Cat Cay white marlin run picking up as 7-year-old Daryl Hosta of Buffalo landed three fish in three days ranging from 56 to 67 pounds.
STRIPED BASS: VIRGINIA: Spawning runs under way in Chesapeake, and OVG for next two months. Typical catch was made last week by Luther Crockett, Maurice Davenport and Claude Rogers, all of Norfolk, who landed eight stripers for a total of 213 pounds while surf casting at Virginia Beach.
NEW JERSEY: OG, with lower Mullica River from Clark's Landing to the deep hole just west of Garden State Parkway bridge producing fish from 4 to 15 pounds on bloodworms. Catches averaging half-dozen stripers an angler.
CALIFORNIA: Blustering weather cut catches last week, but OG in Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and delta, with an especially heavy run of 45-pound fish in the Napa River.
TARPON: FLORIDA: Large tarpon beginning to run around bridges as last week Dr. Harold C. Gardenier of Westwood, N.J. challenged a 142-pounder on 63-pound test line and took the match in one hour and 15 minutes. Another worthy trophy went to Robert S. Salant of New York who bested a 122-pound fish on 30-pound test in two hours and 15 minutes; OVG through June.
TROUT: CALIFORNIA: Isabella Lake on lower Kern River showing fat rainbows, while rewarding catches also reported from the Colorado River below Hoover and Davis dams. FF/G on lower Owens River below Bishop where chunky native browns are rising with balmy weather; OG.
BRITISH COLUMBIA: Cowichan R and yielding some browns. Shawnigan and Duggan's lakes producing for bait and deep-fished streamers. Lower Fraser Valley and sloughs picking up slightly but are at least two weeks behind schedule; OP/F, although a few warm days could spell the difference.
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