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. OG—outlook good; OF—outlook fair; OP—outlook poor.

STRIPED BASS: MASSACHUSETTS: Mrs. Serge Desamov of Hampton Bays, Long Island held lead in Martha's Vineyard bass derby with 44-pound 13-ounce striper at press time. Fastest action at Cape Cod last week was at Provincetown, from Race Point to Peaked Hill; surf fishermen were taking mixed bags of bass and blues at Nauset Beach; both spots should continue producing, with best results at night, on plugs and eelskins. For trophy bass, try below cliffs at Scituate.

VIRGINIA: Potomac River is swarming with pan-size stripers, and first frost should bring larger bass into tidewater.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Stripers schooling well in both Santee-Cooper Lakes; anglers are making fine catches on nylon bucktails as gulls advertise bass whereabouts.

NEW JERSEY: FG generally in surf along northern coast, with hottest spots Deal, Sea Bright and Sandy Hook. The favorite lure of most avid fishermen is black-and-white "torpedo" plug cast on spinning outfit (too light for squidding tackle); best action is at daybreak and dusk, and OF/G.

TROUT: MINNESOTA: FF/G and OF for rainbows in north-shore-of-Lake-Superior streams.

BRITISH COLUMBIA: FVG in interior lakes, with Glimpse and LeJeune among hotter spots. Cutthroats are now in lower mainland and Vancouver Island streams, with a few showing on the Fraser bars; OF/G.

MONTANA: Missouri, Yellowstone, Madison. Flathead, Blackfoot and other big rivers producing sensationally and all trout waters in excellent shape; if you hate crowds now's your chance, as streams are almost deserted on account of hunting season. Best fishing at midday. OVG.

MICHIGAN: FP on Manistee below Tippy, with meager catches in High Bridge area; agent says situation should improve about Oct. 15 in this and other rainbow streams, as big run should come in last two weeks of this month; meanwhile OP/F.

CALIFORNIA: Fishiest spot on east slope of Sierra is Hot Creek, where big browns should maintain enthusiasm for small dry flies until SC Oct. 31. Owens River from Benton's Crossing to Arcularius Ranch FG, OG; most of the big fish are taken on bait, but experts do nicely on streamers and nymphs. June Lake loop is still a good bet; OG for this water and upper Rush Creek. West slope streams FF, but upper Kern, Merced and Kaweah are holding up well, and OF/G. For best late-season fishing, try Lassen Park waters.