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
STRIPED BASS: CALIFORNIA: Three-quarters of striper addicts fishing out of Martinez last week brought home small fish, and OVG this week. Trollers out of Rodeo report FF. FF also on Napa River, due to improve.
MASSACHUSETTS: FVG for surf fishermen at Plum Island off Newburyport on variety of plugs, and at Nauset Beach at Orleans, especially on Chatham and Town Cove inlets on White Darter with bucktail, trailing hooks or a cast live eel. OG for Cuttyhunk anglers as bass starting to move in there again.
NEW JERSEY : FP with no trolling of consequence yet, but optimistic shore agent reports OG.
NEW BRUNSWICK: SO until November 30. FG last week, particularly for Walter Bake of South Bay, who took a 26-pounder from Reversing Falls Rapids, the largest in four years in that area.
LANDLOCKED SALMON: MAINE: OVG until SC September 30. Moosehead, West Grand, Sebago and Mooselookmeguntic lakes offered steady light-tackle action last week. Salmon to six pounds taken at Moosehead on Grey Ghost tandem trolled fast at mouth of Roach River.
TROUT: VERMONT: SO for fly casting and fly trolling through September 30. FG at Forest Lake and Norton and Echo ponds in northeast state. FVG at Bald Hill Pond at Newark for rainbows to 18 inches. Lake trout being taken from Lake Dunmore near Brandon.
IDAHO: Boise agent reports Silver Creek has L water, and FVG dawn to 11 a.m. on Nos. 14 and 16 Coachman flies. License-laden sportsmen switch from rod to gun when fishing slacks off for a bit of dove shooting. Niff Sullivan of Boise had his limit of trout and doves by 9 a.m. last week. A small Grey Hackle in the hands of a seasoned fly-fisherman will take large trout in pools of the Big and Little Wood rivers. FF in Payette River drainage, except for Middle Fork, where FVG in vicinity of Grandjean. Mirror Lake producing frequent limits of 12-inch Kamloops, and OVG.
CALIFORNIA: FG on Upper Kern, Kings, Kaweah, on West slope of Sierra. In north, FG on Mattole and Upper Mad rivers despite L waters. Cooler weather has stirred trout in Feather River between Caribou and Cresta where FG. Wind slowed fishing on Lake Almanor, but OG when it subsides.
OREGON: Diamond Lake producing rainbows to four pounds, with average fish over one pound. Slow trolling with large lure followed by small silver spoon is most effective, and some wet flies produce at night. FVG/OVG on upper Deschutes River, Wickiup Reservoir, Crooked and Little Deschutes rivers for dry-fly fishermen.
MONTANA: FVG on Yellowstone for 4-to 5-pounders on dry flies. FVG also on Big Hole and Jefferson rivers. OVG, with best fishing of season anticipated through September.
NEW MEXICO: Waters C, since rains have eased in northern mountain areas. FVG at Chavez Creek, Los Pinos, Red, Cimarron, Brazos rivers, Rio Las Vacas and Rio Pueblo for fly-fishermen using small black patterns. Large, aged fish still elusive, but an estimated 80% of anglers are taking their limits of small trout in mountain streams. OVG.
WASHINGTON: Weight limits of sea-run cutthroats common on lower Skagit River. Very large trout, some as long as 20 inches, biting bucktails and night crawlers on spinners in waters around Conway and in fresh-water sloughs. Remote mountain lakes off Baker Lake road in Mt. Baker National Forest lightly fished. Robust spy recommends Blue Lakes chain, Truckway Lake, Watson lakes, Anderson lakes on Anderson Butte and Blum Lake, reached by switchback trails.
TUNA: NOVA SCOTIA: Last week Dr. P. L. Ridall of Williamsport, Pa. hauled in a 715-pounder, the largest of the 13 bluefins taken on rod and reel off Wedgeport so far this season. Dr. J. G. Nel of Transvaal, South Africa caught his second tuna in a week, a 673-pounder, rehearsing for his role as a member of the British team at the International Tuna Cup Match this week.
TARPON: TEXAS: Fishermen out of Freeport attest to large tarpon at mouth of New River. FG especially in early morning when small boats can navigate surf there. FF at Port Aransas jetties for an occasional small fish. L. G. Clay of Dallas caught six there last week, three in one morning. OG.