Stripers
Piscataqua River, N.H.
Many points along the Piscataqua River are worth a try this month. Great Bay can be accessed from the Hilton Park boat landing at Dover Point (Exit 5 off the Spaulding Turnpike). Also, try the mouth of the Oyster River or the waters off Chapman's Landing on Route 108 in Newfield.

OCTOBER
Swordfish
Block Canyon, Conn.
Offshore fishing enthusiasts will want to bait up with squid and head for Block Canyon. That's where the new state-record swordfish took the bait last October. The fish weighed in at 359 pounds and measured 11.5 feet long.

Brown Trout
Black River, Vt.
Big browns on their spawning run from Lake Memphremagog can be challenging, but worth the effort. They can be finicky and cautious or bold and hard hitting, so be prepared to try anything. Access the river in Coventry off Interstate 91 south of Newport.

Trout
Ashumet Pond, Mass.
Ashumet is stocked each spring and fall with rainbows and brookies. Springs keep the pond cooler at the northern end. This 203-acre natural kettle pond runs through the Falmouth-Mashpee town lines. From Bourne Bridge, take Route 28 south to Route 151 east and then turn left onto Sandwich Road. There's a paved boat ramp and ample parking at the intersection of Sandwich and Currier roads.

NOVEMBER
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Eden, Vt.
This large lake gives up some record-breaking smallmouth bass. Try casting surface baits or slow-moving crankbaits along rocky shoreline hideouts. Take Route 100 North into the town of Eden.

Atlantic Cod
Block Island, Conn.
Try trolling with clams on the hook in offshore waters south of Block Island to land record-sized cod. The new state record was taken here last November, a fish weighing 45 pounds and measuring 44 inches in length.

Tautog
Jamestown, R.I.
Fish the rocky places around the Jamestown bridge or the point at Ft. Wetherill to land tautog in the 10-pound range. Try sandworms or crab pieces on heavy tackle. In deeper waters, try green crabs fished just off the bottom.

DECEMBER
Stripers
Misquamicut Beach, R.I.
This seven-mile stretch of beach in Westerly has a reputation for striper runs right up until the snow flies. The state-owned portion stays open year 'round and has ample parking. Try large or wide-bodied lures and flies. Bait-fishermen will also want to go large, fishing off the bottom using the head half of a herring. From I-95, take Route 78 or drive the scenic U.S. Route 1.

Atlantic Salmon
Naugatuck River, Conn.
Naugatuck has been stocked with salmon for sport fishing. Angling for brood-stock Atlantic salmon is restricted to catch-and-release only through November, but from Dec. 1 through the end of March, the daily creel limit is one keeper. The legal method for taking Atlantic salmon is a single fly or an artificial lure with a single, free-swinging hook.

Largemouth Bass
Candlewood Lake, Conn.
Candlewood Lake is the state's largest lake and is considered one of the region's best bass waters. In fact, the center of the lake may not be frozen enough for safe access this month. Early ice-anglers should concentrate on coves that contain bass, yellow perch and bluegills.

Access is from the Squantz Cove boat launch on Route 39 at the northwestern end of the lake.