<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Steelheads ran heavy in the river, and brown trout were in the mix, said Simon from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Most of the steelies, 5- to 10-pounders on average, but sometimes up to 15-pound monsters, were fought at Altmar, predominantly in the mornings, but late afternoons produced. Pink worms, trout beads, nymphs, mousies and grubs all worked, and the river flowed at 335 CFS or was low.

The river’s anglers mongered up decent catches of steelheads, said Victor from Altmar’s <b>Fish and Ride NY</b>, a rental rancher for them to stay at on their fishing trips. Trout beads hung under floats got the most strikes, but egg sacks and pink worms scored okay at times. A few more brown trout than before moved through the lower river each day. The numbers of browns were down, but the large trout could still be picked up. The river ran at 335 CFS and will remain low until heavy rains fall. Fish and Ride NY offers a rental rancher with all the amenities for anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Stay the weekend or a week, and the staff can recommend fishing guides and other services for a visit. Discounted rates are available for an incredible price, now that salmon season is finished, and feel free to call for the scoop. Although salmon fishing earlier in fall is the height of the season on the river, the steelhead and trophy trout fishing is world class on the waters, and the best in the Northeast. It lasts through winter, but now is prime time.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The local Delaware River was loaded with debris, but persistent anglers tangled with largemouth bass at Dredge Harbor on Fire Tiger crank baits, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Farther upstream, smallmouth bass fishing was tops in the Lambertville area, and one customer landed 15 that chased down tube baits. The customer said crank baits and other lures were just “leaf retrievers,” so he recommended tubes or Senko worms. The Big D at Bull's Island was also a top spot for smallies, and deeper waters gave up catches of more than 40 of the fish on Senkos for some anglers. Bigger bronzebacks to 14 and 16 inches were in the mix.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

A good variety of fish were pulled from Merrill Creek Reservoir, mostly on shiners, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Shawn Dornblaser had a field day with smallmouths on the impoundment, reeling in three that weighed 4.9, 4.6 and 4.1 pounds, and he added a 4-pound brown trout to his catch. Angee Ramos scored a 3-pound brown, and Greg Vold mugged a 5-pound largemouth bass. On the Pequest River rainbow trout were willing to swipe spinners. Mark Harrison threw one, copping a 5.7-pound beauty. John Martin hit the local Delaware River, coming up with a pair of 6.4- and 4.6- pound walleyes.

Trout fishing held steady at the Big Flatbrook, and Power Baits and nightcrawlers grabbed most bites, said Jason from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Largemouth bass and a few walleyes gave anglers action at Lake Hopatcong, and Senkos were the best for both.

Fishing was a pick of species at the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Walleyes were found off Chestnut and Elba points, and Rapala ice-fishing jigs got them to chomp. Pickerel and yellow perch smacked Mepps spinners around Raccoon and Halsey islands. Plenty of ice-fishing gear is in stock if anglers need to load up before the season starts.

Largemouth bass fishing picked up a little, said Bob from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Lake Hopatcong was a solid bet, and so were the Vernon Lakes. Try working black-and-blue Senkos on a slow twitch.

Large brown trout and medium-sized rainbows were on the feed along the shoreline at Round Valley Reservoir, said Jody from <b>Lebanon Bait and Sport Shop</b>. Medium-sized shiners and Power Baits attracted them, especially near Ranger’s Cove. Interestingly, a 22-inch lake trout was angled up from Ranger’s Cove, earlier than they usually show up at such locations. Northern pike were on the prowl at Spruce Run Reservoir. Swim a shiner near the creek mouths for a hook up. Winter trout stocking begins on Monday, November 23, dropping in more than 5,000 large fish in 23 lakes throughout the state. If anglers thought the trout stocked in October were sizeable, the winter trout had an extra 6 weeks to grow!

<b>Update, 11/12:</b> Bill Hoffman from <b>Skylands Angler</b> from Clinton’s been busy guiding on the trout streams and in the Sandy Hook surf, he said, and a trip Wednesday found water levels average at Ken Lockwood Gorge and somewhat high on the Musconetcong River. But the Musky fished well, and the trip took advantage of the high flow by fishing streamers, and the trout aggressively got after them. Streamers can score well in high waters because the fish seem to get accustomed to laying in wait for minnows and other food that gets knocked around in the stronger currents. A couple of especially big brown and a couple of particularly large rainbow trout were banked. A trip that fished the surf Sunday found striped bass angling slow through the day and early in the night, but the opportunity was able to be used to teach casting and other aspects of the sport. A couple of weakfish were seen landed, but the bass were not turned on that day. The ocean was forecast to be sporty in the next days, and the next trip is slated to ply the surf Saturday afternoon into evening, when winds are predicted to calm. 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 also offers trips for other freshwater fish, like pike, hybrid striped bass, carp and largemouth bass, if anglers want to fly rod for them. Plus he guides trips in the ocean and bay surf during the spring and fall migrations at Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Trout fishing was “pretty decent,” said Mark from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Small nymphs were a good choice at Ken Lockwood Gorge, and drifted worms were solid at the Pequest and Musconetcong rivers. Smallmouth bass attacked hard in the South Branch of the Raritan River, especially in the lower sections. Creek Crawler lures and Clouser Minnows in sizes 4 to 6 hooked a mess all through the daytime hours.

The Winding River shoveled out plenty of largemouth bass and pickerel, and killies or worms were best, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Lester’s Lake and the Ocean County College ponds held lots of largemouth bass and catfish, and the Trilco stretch of the Toms River served up pickerel that could be easily nabbed on killies. Lake Riviera was home to plenty of yellow perch.

All three Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes had largemouth bass ready to bite, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. They sipped bugs off the water surface, but shiners took them. Prospertown Lake was another bucketmouth hot spot. A slight smallmouth bass fishery continued on the Delaware River, and crank baits drew them to pounce. Catfish could be caught day and night on the river at Bordentown on stink baits. Trout fishing should be on fire over the weekend, because of replenishing rains predicted for this week that should fill up the streams that were low.

Yellow perch were active big time at Lake Assunpink, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. The barred brawlers inhaled 1-inch, white Mister Twister grubs. Colonial Lake offered good trout fishing, and fathead minnows and Power Baits in corn and Captain America colors received the most nibbles.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Largemouth bassing was smoking hot on the Delaware River in the shallower waters, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. A tournament at his marina amassed 20-plus fish per boat, and crank baits and spinners were the best choices. Many people might not realize the resurgence of largemouth fishing that’s happening on the river. But the river is back, and anglers should think about checking it out. Lots of freshwater fishing amped up compared with the past, for that matter. Crappie angling was spectacular in the Cooper River, and one couple of customers kept bailing a mess of them, the <i>smallest</i> of which were 14 inches, on minnows. Many of South Jersey’s lakes and ponds served up considerably better fishing than in the past, as people learned to protect the waters, helping the angling. The ponds around Medford offered impressive angling.

Trouters kept coming in for fathead minnows, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood, and the spillway at Grenloch Lake put up good numbers. Rich Whitfield was scoring a fair share of largemouth bass at Blackwood Lake on silver crank baits and shiners. Customers gained success on pickerel at Malaga Lake on shiners tossed just off the shoreline. Some readers last week contacted us, noting that a 3-pound 10-ounce yellow perch that the week’s report said Dave Briant nailed at Tomlinson Mill Pond was some whopper of a fish. A 2-pound 6-ouncer is the state record, and the record from other states is rarely larger than 3 pounds. A 4-pound 3-ouncer, caught in New Jersey in 1865, is reportedly the world record. Dave weighed the fish on his own digital scale, Ed said. Apparently Dave never submitted the catch for a record, and sounded like the fish hit the frying pan instead!

Chain pickerel stalked Malaga Lake and Iona Lake, slashing fathead minnows and killies the most, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. A good show of crappies were on the take at Lake Lenape and Parvin Lake, honing in on fatheads.

Decent largemouth bass fishing was going down at Parvin Lake, Sunset Lake and Mary Elmer Lake, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Shiners are always a safe choice. Seriously-sized slab crappies worked over fathead minnows and twister-tail grubs at Union Lake. Pickerel fishing was hit or miss locally, because of warmer than average water temperatures. Look for trout in the Maurice River in the Almond Road area. Power Baits and nightcrawlers brought them to net.

Striped bass began to be caught with some consistency on the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. The higher tides towards the evenings were when the short bass, and even a few keepers, gobbled up bloodworms and cut bunker.

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