<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Although the river flowed at only 335 CSF, anglers kept busy, banking steelheads, finding that blue egg sacks, yellow sucker spawn flies and trout beads worked best, said Victor from Altmar’s <b>Fish and Ride NY</b>, a rental rancher for anglers. The anglers seemed to pick up some big ones, and most reports about catches came from the middle river. Snow was yet to blanket the area, and take advantage of the easy walking on the shore that affords. 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. Discounted rates are available for an incredible price at this time of year, now that salmon season is finished, and feel free to call to inquire

The river kept running at a manageable 335 CFS, and steelhead fishing was best in the upper section, especially at Pineville and the Trestle Pool, said Eric at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Customers averaged four to eight fish per day, using egg sacks in blue or pink, and black stoneflies in sizes 10 to 12. Waiting until the sun came up to heat the waters was key. So anglers didn’t need to be up at the crack of dawn, he said.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Largemouth bass fishing was a steady pick on the Delaware River at Tullytown Cove, said Bruce from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Anglers casting shiners landed three to eight of the fish per outing, and walleyes could be found from Trenton to Washington’s Crossing and upriver, and evening hours offered the best opportunity. Jigs tipped with fathead minnows produced strikes.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Merrill Creek Reservoir served up quality fishing, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Catches like Sean Mason’s 5.7-pound chain pickerel and Leon Green’s 5.4-pound brown trout could be hunted down. Pickerel like Chris Bogoly’s 4-pounder fed in Lake Hopatcong. Swartswood Lake apparently held large channel catfish, and Justin Dornblaster won one of the state’s junior angler prizes for his whopper 14.3-pound whiskerface. The Delaware River put up numbers of walleyes on fathead minnows and slow-moving crank baits. Sam Polgardy reeled in a 6-pounder.

Yellow perch came active at Lake Hopatcong, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. The barred brawlers, averaging 12 to 14 inches, hit small, suspending crank baits slowly reeled in over the weed beds. Trout to 4 pounds were aggressive in the Pequest River, and sucker spawn egg patterns in roe and chartreuse got them to bite.

Most of the lake’s anglers eagerly awaited ice-fishing season, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. In the meantime, boaters who got out located walleyes in the deeper waters, cajoling them up with trolled crank baits and deep-dropped jigs. Yellow perch could be played at almost any cove with weed covering on fathead minnows or small shiners.

Walleyes chomped away in Lake Hopatcong, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The best bet was to fish late afternoons with trolled crank baits in the 25-foot depths off deeper points, such as Pickerel Point. Word had it that hybrid striped bass were also caught while anglers trolled for walleyes. Yellow perch swiped minnows around the weed beds on the lake. The Passaic River held decent action on northern pike, and sizes 4 to 5 Mepps spinners and free-lined shiners attracted attacks around the falls.

Although the numbers of trout diminished along the shoreline at Round Valley Reservoir, the quality of the fish amped up, said Jody at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Rainbows from 3 to 5 pounds gobbled up nightcrawlers fished on the bottom or on a float rig, and brown trout to 20 inches were in the mix. The Division of Fish and Wildlife did a gillnet survey on the lake, and more than 30 lake trout were larger than 3 pounds,  and six weighed 22, 21, 19, 16, 16, and 15 pounds. What’s more, a 32-pound 11-ounce laker was netted that would’ve broken the state record by 3 ounces!

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Trouters scored their fair share of catches on the Pequest River, said Amy from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Fly casters there tossed out sizes 20 to 22, white midges and Czech nymphs, hooking rainbows to 4 pounds. Crappies hung around the stick piles in the South Branch of the Raritan River, and Joe Lella weighed in a whopper 2.4-pounder from the waters. Shimano’s latest Stradic magnesium reels are in stock. Check them out.

Largemouth bass and pickerel prowled the Winding River and Lake Riviera, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The bass jumped all over killies, and the chains knocked down Mepps Black Fury Spinners. The Trilco stretch of the Toms River held a good show of pickerel and perch, and killies were top baits.

The Musconetcong River was a trout haven, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b>  in Robbinsville. Send out Yozuri Pins Minnows and Panther Martin Spinners to connect. Smallmouth bass and walleyes were on the take in the Delaware River at Bull’s Island on shiners. Gropp’s Lake was a decent destination to stalk hungry largemouth bass willing to chase smaller Senkos during the afternoons.

Terrific trout fishing was under way at Rosedale Lake, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Power Baits and garden worms claimed the catches to 3 pounds. Lake Mercer got a jump in activity from crappies and yellow perch that nibbled fathead minnows and grub-tailed jigs. Monster muskies to 50 inches stalked the lake, and large, 1-ounce, white spinner baits fooled the beasts. Pickerel were a mainstay at the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area lakes. Casting a shiner under a bobber fit the bill.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Excellent largemouth bass fishing was surprisingly to be had on the Delaware River, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. The bigmouths hunkered deep in the holes including at the Graveyard Hole and others near the Commodore Barry Bridge and the Tullytown area. Crank baits, rubber worms and jig-and-pigs in dark colors drew them to pounce. Also on the Big D, striped bass to 35 inches inhaled bloodworms at the Gloucester Pier, in Camden area and toward the DOD. Chain pickerel and crappies chased around shiners at places like the Route 295 ponds, Grenwich Lake and Mary Elmer Lake.

Pickerel and largemouth bass fishing blew up lately, and large shiners were always the most solid bet to grab them, said Ed <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Largemouths to 3 ½ pounds could be angled at Wilson Lake, and Lion’s Lake shoveled out solid numbers of the bass, and two anglers reported catching 17 between them. Blackwood Lake was also a consistent producer. Rowan’s Pond was stocked with another shipment of trout. Try chucking Kastmasters or Power Baits to the new arrivals.

Most customers spent time on Iona Lake and Malaga Lake to tangle with chain pickerel, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Nightcrawlers fished under bobbers and killies suspended under floats around the weed beds both got the nod. Some holdover trout could be found at Oak Pond and Grenloch Lake, and Power Baits or meal worms attracted them.

Fairly good largemouth bass fishing descended upon the area, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Rat-L-Traps and crank baits worked at Parvin Lake and Rainbow Lake, while rubber worms and Flip’n Jigs gave up better success in the Salem Canal. The canal also turned out pretty big bowfin. Smallmouth bass fishing picked up at Union Lake, and Senkos, poppers and Zara Spooks will nail them. Crappies could be copped at the lake on killies and curly grubs. A near state record 8.8-pound American eel was brought in, taken out of a tidal creek.

Short striped bass, a healthy population, moved through the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Although keepers were hard to come by, loads of 18 to 24 inchers were fun to fight, and they were ready to suck in bloodworms or cut bunker. White perch chewed away at bloodworms in the river as well.

Back to Top