FISHERMAN'S CALENDAR
SO season opens
SC season closes
C clear water
D water dirty, roily
N water normal height
SH slightly high
H high
VH very high
M water muddy
L low
R rising
WT50 water 50°
FG fishing good
FVG fishing very good
FF fishing fair
FP fishing poor
OG outlook good
OVG outlook very good
OF outlook fair
OP outlook poor
BLACK BASS: MAINE: St. Croix River, Big Lake, Round Pond, Wabassus and Pacomoonshine now all highly productive of smallmouth on lures with firewagon-red stripes applied horizontally or vertically. OG.
PENNSYLVANIA: FG in central state, with Carlisle Reservoir best spot for Jitterbugs at night, hellgrammites by day. FP on Susquehanna, which remains L and algae-ridden. OP barring rain.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Smallmouth and largemouth bass biting well in state's larger lakes, with Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam recommended early mornings and evenings when fish move toward shores. Walter M. Novak of Boston took a 6¾-pound largemouth from Horseshoe Pond in Merrimack last week.
BLUEFISH: VIRGINIA: Schooling bluefish now in Chesapeake Bay, and fish to 7 pounds are hitting silver spoons rigged with red button in the Potomac. Boat captains who claim fishing is best in over 10 years hope to see large schools of blues sweep up Potomac later on. Try trolling in the "Tall Timbers" area opposite Coles Point on Potomac where charter boats available. OG.
MASSACHUSETTS: First blue of season from Cape Cod Canal, an 8-pounder, taken last week by Stan Dagget, Yarmouth schoolteacher, on an eelskin. FG along south shore of Cape, FF off Monomoy, FF for small snappers in Wellfleet Harbor.
NEW JERSEY: FVG chumming for blues up to 12 pounds on northeast end of Barnegat Ridge about 18 miles off Barnegat Inlet. Surf fishermen also finding FVG from Seaside Park through Island Beach for fish in 2-pound class, with an occasional 6-pounder hauled in. Small blues also plentiful and cooperative in Raritan Bay, off Great Kills and Sandy Hook. OG.
TROUT: BRITISH COLUMBIA: FG for lakes and streams throughout Interior. Stellaco River, one of province's finest rainbow dry-fly streams, reports many limits. FG also on Pavilion, Paradise, Crown and Francois lakes. OG.
IDAHO: Higher lowland temperatures mean best fishing in high mountain lakes and streams in early morning and evening. SO August 1 on storied Silver Creek in Sun Valley area. All waters in McCall area are worthy of attention. Camas County's Big Smoky Creek, South Fork of Boise and Thorn Creek Reservoir and high mountain lakes all productive through press time, but agent cautions Thorn Creek Reservoir SC July 31, and SO again in October. Side streams of main Salmon in Challis area C and FVG for flies.
NEW MEXICO: FF/FP last week due to daily showers. H and M conditions slowed most northern streams, but high hopes for fishermen prevail when rains cease because occasional big browns are being caught at Chama and Johnson lakes and Red River, and some large brookies are coming from Hopewell Lake. FVG/OVG on Navajo and Zuni Reservations, especially Nutria Lake, where rainbows reign. Streams in this region have been lightly fished to date: anglers must purchase Indian permit in addition to state fishing license.
VERMONT: Central and northern state waters offer best chance of action since southern counties showing effects of drought. Norton Lake at Norton, Maidstone Lake, Averill lakes and upper reaches of the Connecticut are most promising areas now.
WASHINGTON: Pistol-hot Ross Lake yielded 500 rainbows to about 100 fishermen last week, and that includes many weight limits. Other good waters in high lakes are Big Heart, Little Heart and Angeline at headwaters of Foss River, accessible from Stevens Pass Highway through Trout and Copper lakes. At press time some fire closures in National Forests go into effect, so suggest anglers check ranger station of intended pack-in area before departure. In general, OVG.
WHITE MARLIN: NEW YORK: 80- to 90-pound marlin are plentiful in the waters off Shinnecock Inlet. Local veteran states season to date is finest since the inlet broke through 19 years ago permitting access to the ocean. Evidence cited includes numerous 80-pound-class fish caught, and one charter boat that had three marlin on three lines at the same time last weekend. OVG.
NORTH CAROLINA: Hottest fishing news from Hatteras waters is white marlin, with July score this year slightly ahead of 1956 season. OVG for blue and white marlin, and other Gulf Stream denizens.
SWORDFISH: MASSACHUSETTS: Captain Joe Eldridge of Buzzards Bay, fishing out of Cuttyhunk, Captain Coot Hall of Cuttyhunk and other Cuttyhunk skippers report an exceptional number of broadbill now present in waters south of No Mans Land. In the past 10 days Captain Eldridge has baited 19 swords but, as is so typical of this aloof game fish, he has not as yet had a strike.
MUSKELLUNGE: NEW YORK: Largest muskie since SO July 1 was taken last week by Eugene Owens of Salamanca when he hauled in 51-inch 35-pound giant from Chautauqua Lake while trolling with a Pikie Minnow. Hot weather has sent fighters into deep water but trolling deep with spoons and plugs is successful. OVG for Chautauqua.
MINNESOTA: Hot, humid weather brought hot action to Lake of the Woods, Leech, Cass and Little Boy lakes. A 40-pounder caught by Bob Greiner of Hibbing on Portage Bay of Leech was top weight of 27 muskies taken on Leech Lake alone. Success this week was reminiscent of "Leech Lake Muskie Rampage" of July 1955 when 105 fish were taken in five days of hot weather. Native sages of Walker and Federal Dam on Leech Lake feel peak has yet to come. OVG when next hot spell hits.
ONTARIO: Arthur Evans and his son Bob of Pittsburgh caught 33 legal-size muskies in one week from Buck Horn Lake, northwest of Peterborough, and Harold Hartman from Canfield, Ohio caught a 30-pounder from Pigeon Lake adjoining Buck Horn Lake.