The roster of 20th century Presidents who have sampled the delights of fly fishing is impressive: Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower and, of course, Jimmy Carter. In "Spruce Creek Diary," a 4,000-word article that appears in the current issue of Fly Fisherman, Carter, perhaps the most avid presidential devotee of the sport, recalls with affection his fishing vacation last May in Pennsylvania. In the piece, Carter laments the loss of two prized handcrafted fly rods, which were stolen during his move from Washington to Plains, Ga. "These rods, not the election campaign," he writes, "seemed to be the more serious loss to all of us as we discussed important matters by the tumbling waters of the Pennsylvania creek." His involvement in the intricacies of fly fishing is cheerfully expert, so much so that some observations may seem impenetrable to outsiders: "I began to take a few fish on a small Fore-and-Aft fly with one grizzly hackle at each end of the hook and peacock herl wrapped in between," writes Carter. "Later I tied a few of them and the pattern proved to be surprisingly effective, both in the riffles and in the smooth water, even at times when the all-black Spruce Creek Special or the redoubtable Black Ant would not work in the meadow pools." Says Fly Fisherman Editor John Randolph of Carter's prose: "He got everything in there. He speaks the language of fly fishing."

When Director Roman Polanski (Tess), 48, was mulling over candidates to portray Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the upcoming Paris production of the Broadway hit Amadeus, he cast his eye near and far, and finally settled on near. He chose himself. After all, who better to capture the essence of the young musical prodigy with the libertine air than a child actor turned acclaimed adult director with a sometime taste for the reckless moment. Polanski, who will direct the play, which stars Francois Perier, 62, as Mozart's nemesis Antonio Salieri, and Actress Sonia Vollereaux, 22, as Mozart's wife, has been taking crash diction courses to smooth the Polish lilt from his French. "I have no problem directing myself because I am a very obedient actor," observes Polanski. "It's much easier to direct while acting than to act while directing. Directing is extremely difficult because you have to pay attention to everything and everyone at once. But acting is like sports. One does not know until the performance is over whether one has won or lost."

From Sheriff Matt Dillon on radio to Private Eye Frank Cannon on TV, Actor William Conrad, 61, has specialized in meting out justice. In his latest role, he is still enforcing the law, but with an Oriental twist. Taking on the title role in a new TV production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, the portly Conrad will insist in his amateur baritone that the punishment fit the crime. "He's a great big cuddly granddad--Santa Claus with a lovely voice," says Singer Kate Flowers, 29, who plays the heroine Yum-Yum in the musical, which was taped in London. Conrad enjoyed himself so much that he intends to sign up for singing lessons when he returns to Los Angeles. "I honestly believe I would have been much happier, although much less rich, if I had taken up singing as a career," says the budding Savoyard. "As my wife knows, I love to sing in the bathtub." --By E. Graydon Carter

On the Record

Robert Giroux, 67, book publisher, commenting on the new generation of editors who are more concerned with deals than with books: "Editors used to be known by their authors; now some of them are known by their restaurants."

Alexander Haig, 57, Secretary of State, on the many bodyguards around U.S. Government officials: "The other night when I leaned over to kiss my wife good night, I had to tell my security agent to roll over."

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