</b>NEW YORK<b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

Lake George froze completely over, said Ron at <b>FISH307.com</b> from the village of Lake George. Anywhere from 5 to 11 inches sat on top, and snowmobilers and four-wheelers ran all over the big lake. The north end areas at Hague, Roger’s Park and Hewitt’s Landing were spots to try for lake trout and landlocked salmon with Swedish Pimple jigs and icicles. For landlockeds try fishing short, 4-foot leaders with icicles right underneath the hard water, because salmon tend to pin the minnows against the ice ceiling. A 9-pound landlocked was nailed at Log Bay. Yellow perch, northern pike and chain pickerel mostly hung around Veteran’s Park, Saw Mill Bay and Hearthstone. Perch attacked Rufus Jr. jigs tipped with fathead minnows.

<b>Salmon River</b>

Two feet of snow dumped on the area, said Suzanne from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski, but the river ran at a manageable 375 CFS.  Anglers were better served to fish the upper stretches above Altmar to avoid ice and slush that choked the downriver runs. One to five fish per angler was an average catch, and 6 to 12 pounds was the general size. Egg sacks and stoneflies were favorites.  Ice anglers headed to Sandy Pond and Oneida Lake to clean up on perch, pike and pickerel through the holes.

Cold and snow became a daily routine, but the river’s steelhead fishing was decent when the mercury climbed to the 20s, said Paul Auguscinski from <b>SAS Guide Service</b> from Pulaski. The flow was low at 375 CFS, and the upper river got the most attention, because Altmar to Ellis Cove stayed free of slush and ice. Both the middle of the river and the lower river were usually slushed up when the days stayed in the low teens. But when temperatures reached the 20s, fishing the deeper holes in the middle and lower river was a good idea, because those stretches got less attention during the slush. If anglers brave the temps and have the patience to deal with iced-up guides on the rod, they’ll catch. Egg sacks and trout beads fished under bobbers will connect. Light, 4-pound, fluorocarbon leaders can increase the chances of hook-ups in the low waters. Steelhead fishing lasts all winter long on the Salmon, and that’s the time to get after them. SAS Guide Service spin fishes for salmon, steelheads and trophy trout on wade and drift-boat trips, and enjoys teaching anglers the techniques that will help them learn how to hook up themselves, so they can even return on their own to catch.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River turned up yellow perch for persistent anglers who hit the coves, said Bruce from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Dredge Harbor and Tullytown Cove were productive, and jigs and minnows got attention. Hard-water fishing was rapid at Levittown Lake, where trout were stocked last week. Drop Power Bait on a tip-up through the ice to see who’s home. Lake Luxemborg gave up solid crappie action for ice hounds who worked small marabou jigs.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Ice fishing was in full throttle! said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Budd Lake was a fairly consistent northern pike spot, and the water wolves to 24 inches ate up shiners. Lake Musconetcong offered a decent selection of yellow perch, smacking jigged Kastmasters. Lake Hopatcong’s water levels were a little low, and ice anglers were heading out towards the middle of the lake to get into deeper waters to try for walleyes and largemouth bass.

Six to nine inches of ice covered the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. A mix of perch and pickerel and a couple of smaller walleyes and some muskies made up daily catches. Anthony Acetta weighed in a 7-pound 14-ounce walleye he took from the Woodport area. The usual methods worked, including shiners on tip ups and jigged Rapalas or Kastmasters, and smaller jigs tipped with mousies or wax worms also scored. The shop is stocked with creepers, tip ups, jigging poles, hand augers, a large assortment of jigging lures and whatever baits ice fishers need. The doors are open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. The Knee Deep Club’s Ice Fishing Tournament will take place 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, with cash prizes awarded. Call the shop for info: 973-663-3826.

Ice anglers plied Greenwood Lake and Lake Musconetcong to rack up perch and panfish, said Mark from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The angling was a little slow during the weekend, because the fish had to get acclimated to the cold, but catches should really turn on through this week as the fish become used to the chill. A brand new supply of ice augers and tip-ups is stocked.

Hard-water anglers hit pay dirt at local lakes and ponds, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Spruce Run Reservoir and Mountain Lake held solid covers of ice. Outdoor writer Nick Honachefsky whacked a 5-pound largemouth from the ice, and Tom Peck hammered a 44-inch, 23-pound tiger muskie out of a hole! The monster spooled him twice. Guess they were keeping the exact locations to themselves. :) Peck also scarfed up fat yellow perch that inhaled medium-sized shiners.

River levels were ideal for trout fishing, but ice flows made angling difficult and could also be dangerous, said Bill Hoffman from <b>Skylands Angler</b> from Clinton. But whenever temperatures rise a bit this winter and melt the ice, trouting is great during the cold months, with water temps pleasing to the cold-water fish, and less angling pressure than in summer, making the fish less wary. So Bill took a trip to Round Valley Reservoir to look for rainbow trout that cruise along the shoreline, casting a <a href=" http://skylandsangler.com/Fly_Tying.html" target="_blank"> Puglisi baitfish fly</a>, and no fish bit this day, but it was great to get out, and the trout are certainly swimming the 10-foot shallows. He only fished a short time, because the weather was frigid, and he was bundled up from head to toe, and ice kept forming in the guides, although he kept Chapstick on them. Don’t forget: The Fly Fishing Show, probably the best fly show anywhere, takes place Friday to Sunday at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset. Fly anglers can check out and buy products, see the world’s best fly tiers in action, book fly-fishing trips and watch seminars. Skylands Angler guides fly-fishing trips for trout on the Musconetcong and Pequest rivers and Ken Lockwood Gorge. Bill aims to teach anglers, whether beginners or advanced, how to fish the rivers, even so they can come back and catch on their own. That includes fly selection, how to fish the flies, casting lessons and all aspects. He’s also available for trips for other fish like largemouth bass, if anglers want to fly rod for them. Skylands Angler fishes all year long, including for trout in winter. Winter’s actually a prime time.

Northern pike and chain pickerel were on the menu for ice anglers at Lake Hopatcong and Swartswood Lake, said Denny from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Both predators chased down shiners but also ate up mousies on jigs. Trout anglers had a tough time fishing local streams, because of ice flows that made bait and flies difficult to drift.  Still, small nymphs will trick trout in the Pequest and Musconetcong rivers.

<b>South Jersey</b>

The Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes finally froze over and already produced, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Lake Assunpink, Stone Tavern Lake and Rising Sun Lake all sported 4 to 6 inches of cover, and a selection of largemouth bass, yellow perch and crappies were on tap. Lunker bass to 5 pounds hung around Lake Assunpink, striking shiners on jigheads. The Delaware River was difficult to fish because of ice, but the Lambertville area was pretty open for anglers to jig up a few walleyes. Be sure to stop by the new store, located behind the old store. It’s officially up and running.

With the deep freeze upon us, ice fishers had plenty of options, said Tony from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Rising Sun Lake was stellar for largemouth bass catches, and Mercer Lake and Carnegie Lake put up fine showings of largemouths, yellow perch and crappies. All gobbled up Mister Twisters on small Rat Finkie jigs, as well as mousies and baby nightcrawlers for live baits.

Customers bought live grass shrimp and minnows to scurry onto the ice at Collins Cove on the Mullica River for white perch fishing, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> from Mystic Island in the report on the shop’s web site. However, that was on Sunday, and by Monday he thought the ice was probably unsafe. Not that he thought it was safe on Sunday either. Customers returned Monday morning to buy more of the bait, so he assumed they caught, although he was too busy warning them to be careful about the ice, forgetting to ask them about catches. The board that enables anglers to walk from the marsh to the ice was missing, so the anglers carried out their own plank. The lagoon behind the shop had been covered with snow on top of ice, but then temperatures rose by Sunday night, and the snow melted, and saltwater seeped through the ice. That created a porous ice that was soft and like a sponge.  But that could create a great cap on the ice if cold temps freeze the ice thick enough to walk on. The store is one of the few in winter that stocks live grass shrimp, the best bait for perch fishing, and Scott catches the crustaceans himself. Minnows are also carried, and bloodworms are on hand when available, and both are also go-to baits for the slabs.

Lake fishing was in limbo with only an inch of ice on most, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. But dedicated pickerel chasers could try casting around the open waters at the spillways. Throw shiners under a bobber for an attack.

Ice skaters reportedly got out on Mary Elmer Lake and Burr Mill Pond, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. That could mean ice was thick enough to fish through, and pickerel anglers might be able to drill holes at those spots, dropping down shiners. The Union Lake spillway stayed unfrozen and should hold pickerel and perch, and fathead minnows or nightcrawlers could attract the picks. Rumors circulated that ice on Collins Cove on the Mullica River was almost ready to be fished for white perch. Be very careful, because the brackish waters can be especially unsafe.

The big chill made for tough conditions for fishing, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. But because the weather was somewhat warmer this week, try to target white perch on the Maurice River with frozen grass shrimp.

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