FISHERMAN'S CALENDAR
SO—season open: (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
TARPON: FLORIDA: First fish, a 50-pounder, entered in Crystal River Tarpon Tournament last week, and FG all along west coast from Keys to northwest Florida. Top fish in St. Pete tournament is 160-pounder caught by Harold LeMaster of Clearwater who hooked fish on a plug his company makes. It took LeMaster six hours to boat the fish on light tackle.
TEXAS: Pier fishermen enjoying good tarpon fishing at Port Aransas and Padre Island, but ratio of fish landed to hooked is about 1 to 5. Most of fish hooked are six-footers. OF.
PACIFIC SALMON: WASHINGTON: Bellingham season off to best start in years, and SI agent credits legislation banning all net fishing in ocean west of Tatoosh Island off Cape Flattery and delaying opening of commercial season in Strait of Juan de Fuca between Angeles Point and Tatoosh Island until July 22. Charter boats out of Westport are finding fish at No. 2 and 4 buoys, report steadily increasing catches. At Neah Bay, Randy Kemp of Silverdale took 64-pound king near Mushroom Rock. In same area Emil Robino of Seattle took 50-pounder on mooched herring. Other Neah Bay hot spots are Waddah, Skagway and Midway. Sekiu, enjoying same run, averaged two fish per boat last week. Kings showing on east side of Whidbey Island from Possession Point to Langley. Possession Point and Scatchet Head at south end of Whidbey continue as silver salmon concentrations. Mutiny Bay's Windmill Hole, fished late in evening, good for blackmouth to 13 pounds. In North Sound biggest run of kings in four years is swirling off Orcas Island in Waldron Island vicinity, with hottest stretch from Point Lawrence up north shore of Orcas to I tie slide. Evening tide off Waldron Island and morning tide off Point Lawrence most productive. Another king run reported on way up Skagit River, with fair action reported around Tarheel Hole as river is dropping and clearing.
BRITISH COLUMBIA: FF/G for springs and small silvers in most B.C. areas, and OG.
CALIFORNIA: Trollers off Farallones report FF despite wind, with boats averaging 10 Chinooks to 27 pounds. FF/G at Santa Cruz, Moss Landing and Monterey, with fish in 7-to 14-pound class, and OG.
OREGON: FVG, says Coos Bay spy, with Chinook and small silvers abundant in area and hungry for mooched herring. Winchester Bay agent reports excellent catches of Chinook across the bar. Newport on Yaquina Bay also reported good salmon mooching last week, and OVG as season drives toward peak.
BLACK BASS: MISSOURI: FVP, says morose agent, blaming lack of action on heavy rain.
PENNSYLVANIA: SO June 15, and OG as streams are in fine shape after last week's heavy rains.
TENNESSEE: 9-pound 4-ounce largemouth tried to eat a White Doll fly with pork rind attached last week, thus set new record for TVA's South Holslon Lake. FG at Norris Lake, with equally good results reported by day and night shifts. In general, OG until hot weather drives bass into deep water.
CALIFORNIA: Clear, Shasta and Millerton lakes producing well; Mead, Havasu and Mohave lakes and San Diego County reservoirs are also worth a visit, and OG through June.
FLORIDA: Heavy rains in northwest Florida have dampened bass prospects, but central and southern area spies report FF/G.
ATLANTIC SALMON: NEW BRUNSWICK: Season now open on all New Brunswick rivers except Upsalquitch, which opens June 15. Several large fish have been taken at pool created by construction just below Beech wood power dam on St. John River; fish elevator in dam, now nearly completed, will let salmon move through into Tobique River system. FVP on Miramichi, says observer, and OP until about June 20.
STRIPED BASS: CALIFORNIA: New series of minus tides that started last Sunday should step up action in San Francisco area; surest location is off Mission Rock. Wind hampered trollers on San Pablo Bay but a lot of smaller fish were taken on chummed spoons on Contra Costa side. Montezuma Slough improving, and OG. FP in Delta as fish are moving out.
NEW YORK: Montauk waters stiff with stripers, declares happy agent, with plenty of fish in 30-to 40-pound class and one 45-pounder taken from surf on south side. Entire south side is fairly hot as migration churns northward in pursuit of spearing run and surfers unlimber casting arms. OVG through July 4, when main migration will have passed.
MARYLAND: Stripers to 30 pounds striking merrily from Chesapeake Bay Bridge south to Poplar Island, but best bet for fast action is between Bloody Point Light and the "Wild Grounds" at mouth of eastern bay. Extra-large spoons to size 20 continue as most-favored lure. If you catch a recently released 10-pound striper with a diamond-studded gold tag in lower jaw, a Baltimore brewery will pay you $25,000.
NEW JERSEY: Exceptionally good trolling for heavy bass continues off Sandy Hook, with big tide rip just off the Hook producing heavily. Bass are averaging better than 30 pounds. Shrewsbury River fishing continues good, especially at Highlands and Seabright-Rumson bridges.
TROUT: PENNSYLVANIA: Stream conditions excellent throughout Allegheny National Forest and north central and central counties, with WT 60 to 70, and water levels slightly below normal. Nymph fishermen doing brisk business on Penn's Creek in Union County, Fishing Creek in Clinton County and Spring Creek in Center County. Large May flies are on most streams but few fish are surface-feeding and dry-fly men are tying on spiders or big bivisibles. In central Pennsylvania the upper Tuscarora produced five brownies from 22 to 25 inches last week, all on live minnows or spinners. OG.
CALIFORNIA: Most streams still H and R as hot weather intensifies snow-packed runoff. Lakes high but FF/G at most popular roadside waters. Best bets are Bridgeport and Grant lakes on east slope, Almanor and Shasta in north. Best streams are West Branch and Deer Creek in Butte County, South Fork of Kings. Kaweah and Tule rivers. Big Bear and Arrowhead are top southern California waters.
NEW YORK: Beaverkill and Schoharie were both at season's peak form last week, but will be on downgrade from now until fall, with most action concentrated at evening and early morning except for cool, overcast days. FP on west branch of Ausable last week, but Green Drake hatch should be in full swing right now and fishing should continue good through June. FG and OG on Esopus, with WT 55-58 below Portal, abundant hatches and wet and dry flies producing equally well. Top patterns are Quill Gordon, Hendrickson, Light and Dark Cahill and Royal Coachman after dark.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Brook trout and rainbow fishing excellent in ponds south of White Mountain, with Carroll and Grafton county waters especially good. North of mountains, FF/P because of continuing cold. Stream fishing improving, but ponds are still best bet.
VERMONT: Current hot spots for big rainbows are upper end of Otter Creek in South Danby area, Echo Lake at Charlestown and Seymour Lake at Morgan. Brown trout fishing excellent in White River in vicinity of Rochester, Grandville, Bethel, Stockbridge and Gaysville. In general, FG and OG.
ILLUSTRATION