<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

Ice fishing was on big time, said Ron from <b>FISH307.com</b> at Lake George. Hard-water anglers had virtually unlimited options to set up flags or jig. Brant Lake, Loon Lake and Trout Lake were all covered with 7 to 11 inches of the hard stuff, and the lakes dished up chunky yellow perch. Ten solid inches covered Paradox and Eagle lakes, the hot spots for trout and yellow perch that bit icicles. Eaton Lake produced the season’s first landlocked salmon and brown trout brought through the holes, and icicles or live smelts caught both. The weather was so frigid lately that 3 ½ to 5 inches topped off the main body of Lake George, and 5 inches or more lay across the coves. By this weekend the main lake might be safe enough to get on, and the coves should be solid enough to feel comfortably safe. This is shaping up to be one of the finest ice fishing years in quite some time, Ron said, with landlocked salmon, yellow perch, brown trout, pike, pickerel and smelts all on the menu.

<b>Salmon River</b>

Steelhead fishing remained a solid bet on the river, said Suzanne at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Fishing actually got better in the past week, as the flow dropped, and anglers put 6 to 12 fish apiece on the banks during a day’s outing. Trout beads, blue and pink egg sacks and stoneflies all worked, and areas such as the Schoolhouse and Trestle were favored haunts. Ice anglers were treated to safe ice that reformed on Sandy Pond, where a steady pull of yellow perch and calico bass went down on shiners and Rapala ice jigs.

The river’s fishing improved for mostly steelheads and occasional brown trout as the past week progressed, after the previous cold spell and high waters, said Paul Auguscinksi from <b>SAS Guide Service</b> from Pulaski. By Friday and Saturday catches were great, and trips with SAS fished at Altmar, the middle river and the Town Pool with trout beads and blue and white egg sacks. Most anglers gathered at Altmar as usual. The water flow should keep dropping, and decent angling should continue when temps hover around 25 to 30 degrees. 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, in hopes they can return on their own to catch.

Good numbers of steelheads were banked with <b>High Hook Guide Service</b> from Pulaski on Saturday and Sunday, Bill Ferman said, and he ran no trips Monday. No brown trout were landed with him, but a few browns are always around. Lots of steelheads certainly filled the river, and this winter was probably one of the better ones for the fishing, although last winter was also hopping. The air temp was 34 degrees early this week, not bad at all, but a cold snap was on its way. No slush or other conditions posed problems, and the river flow Sunday was 1,150 CFS, fine for fishing. High Hook’s anglers mostly fished with egg sacks, and estaz flies and stoneflies also did the job.  High Hook both wades and drift-boats for salmon, steelheads and trophy brown and rainbow trout with both spinning gear and fly rods. Ask about winter steelhead rates!

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Trout fishing was the main attraction for local anglers, said Bill from <b> Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Core Creek and Levittown Lake put up decent numbers of the fish for those casting wax worms or Power Baits. Few fished the Delaware River, but yellow perch should be feeding at Dredge Harbor. Perch and crappie anglers focused on waters such as Churchville Lake, Roosevelt Lake and Silver Lake for good amounts of the tasty critters.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The first fishable hard water hit the smaller Sussex County ponds, and ice anglers were in their glory! said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Yellow perch and pickerel ate up shiners through the ice, and with freezing temps expected in the area this week, ice should build on the larger lakes such as Lake Musconetcong and Lake Hopatcong, and they should be very fishable by the weekend. Trouters played with plenty of quality fish to 20 inches on the Pequest and Big Flatbrook rivers, and small midges connected well through the daytime, and egg patterns also grabbed attention.

Ice anglers, get ready! The lake held safe ice on certain sections, said Joe from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. The River Styx, Northwood, Woodport and state park sections boasted an average of 5 inches, enough to hold anglers, but always use caution. Out in front of the shop, a thin, 2 1/2 inches of black ice covered the waters, but that could grow considerably by the weekend, because the stretch was locked up, not susceptible to winds. Chain pickerel and yellow perch were on the ice menu, and medium shiners put down on tip-ups produced best. Tommy Fernandez bagged a 1-pound 11-ounce crappie, and Jim Archambault iced a 1-1/4-pound yellow perch.

Ice first started to form on ponds late last week, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield, and the deep freeze expected during nights this week might solidify them enough to fish upon. The Highlands Lakes, Upper Greenwood Lake and Green Turtle Pond all had ice forming, and some ice anglers were able to get out on Monksville Reservoir in the coves to drop shiners down to perch. Look for 5 inches or more by the weekend.

Go to Round Valley Reservoir for the best trout action, said Steve at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Lake trout 15 to 17 inches were on the bite for boaters fishing shiners in 65-foot depths off the South Tower. Shoreline casters tied into quality rainbows 14 to 17 inches while casting Power Baits and meal worms. The shoreline chew slowed up a tiny bit, but there were still considerable catches during mornings leading into noontime. Spruce Run Reservoir was almost filled to capacity, and northern pike anglers there should try using shiners in the coves.

A trip fished for trout on a small creek, and a few rainbows were fly-rodded, a pretty decent catch, despite high waters, said Bill Hoffman from <b>Skylands Angler</b> from Clinton. Most of the fish seemed to be holdovers from last year’s stocking, and one looked like a native. Nymphs and wooly buggers were cast, and olive seemed the best color for the wooly buggers. The river flows dropped after being unmanageably high, and their levels might soon be back on par with waters that provided great trouting earlier this season. Bill expects the fishing to get back in black, so long as heavy rains mostly stay away. 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, with lower water temperatures that trout prefer, and less pressure on the waters, making the fish less wary.

Customers traveled to the Salmon River for steady catches of steelheads, said Mike from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. He went 6 for 9 on 5- to 10-pound steelies on the upper river area while slinging estaz flies. Local trout fishing at the Pequest River and Ken Lockwood Gorge continued to give up a steady serving of rainbows, and the Gorge doled out six ‘bows for one angler who cast chartreuse Wooly Buggers. The Pequest was home to larger, holdover trout to 20 inches plus. Lakes and ponds began to ice over pretty well, and the store will carry mousies and spikes for ice angling in the upcoming weeks.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Walleyes hung themselves on hooks on the Delaware River, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. The stretch from Upper Black Eddy to Trenton was a place to find them hitting Mister Twisters and shiners on jigheads. Crappie anglers targeted Lake Mercer, Prospertown Lake, the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes and Gropp’s Lake to fill stringers with the tasty slabs. Small jigs fished under floats earned the strikes, and the fishery will hold up even when lakes ice over.

Crappies started to go on a tear at the lakes, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Go-to spots included Carnegie Lake, Amwell Lake, Rising Sun Lake and Stone Tavern Lake, and fathead minnows, shiners and hair jigs fished under floats around submerged timber piles were choice offerings. Occasional largemouth bass inhaled the minnows and jigs as well. Trout anglers pounded Ken Lockwood Gorge and the Pequest River with Power Baits and nightcrawlers for plenty of action. On the Delaware River smallmouth bass chased down crank baits in the warmer waters at the power plant outflow.

A thin layer of ice pretty much covered up still waters including Malaga Lake and Iona Lake, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. But the lakes began to thaw by Tuesday, opening up holes to fish for pickerel from shore. Cold temps expected later this week could close them back up. Don’t forget: Now’s the time to buy 2009 freshwater fishing licenses. Lou’s attending the Harry’s Army and Navy show this week and will have loads of new freshwater inventory next week. So stop on in!

The ponds and lakes got locked up with ice, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. With an inch covering them, both shore fishing and ice fishing were impossible. If frigid temperatures resume, some ice fishing might become possible this winter for chain pickerel, especially on the smaller lakes that’ll freeze the most. White perch anglers eagerly waited for Collins Cove on the Mullica River to freeze up to jig for the slabs through the drilled holes. In the meantime, the Maurice River was completely fishable for trout, and try tossing fathead minnows or spinners. A selection of pickerel could be found in the upper stretches of the river.

White perch were all the rage on the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Frozen grass shrimp was the bait of choice. The perch fishing was “grand,” he said, and more people should get out to sample the bucket-filling fishery. Work the shrimp around the higher tides for the most hook-ups.

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