<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river ran high at 1,800 CFS, but steelhead fishing was spectacular, especially for drift boaters, said Jim from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. He hit the river from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., drifting from the ball park to the Two-Way Bridge, pummeling 18 steelies from 4 to 8 pounds and two bruiser brown trout. Small, 8-millimeter trout beads in orange and pink fished under a float took the bulk of the fish. Egg sacks also produced. Drop-back steelhead fishing was the best he’d seen in quite some time, and should continue a few more weeks.

Decent catches, a mix of steelheads and brown trout, were racked up on the middle of the river during the weekend, said Paul Auguscinksi from <b>SAS Guide Service</b> from Pulaski. The key was to cover lots of waters, targeting gravely areas. Saturday was better than Sunday. Fresh, spawning and spawned-out steelies all swam throughout the system. The river flowed at 1,800 CFS, and the Altmar area was most crowded with anglers. But the number of anglers even grew on the tributaries. The fishing should last until the end of May. 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 to catch on their own. 

Lots of steelheads filled the river, and the high flow of 1,800 CFS is always challenging, difficult for landing the fish, but they were caught, said Bill Ferman from <b>High Hook Guide Service</b> from Pulaski. The hatchery on the upper river was packed with fish that will drop back down, and other signs, like steelies that friends said were packed with roe on the creeks, made it clear that the angling should last a while. The run was late this year. Egg sacks, nightcrawlers, trout beads and flies like bright-colored eggs, estaz patterns and stoneflies are the usual fare at this time of year. No uncommon rains fell, and the high water was because of snowmelt. Some areas received deep snow through winter, and the weather was warming, so the thaw was under way.  High Hook both wades and drift-boats for salmon, steelheads and trophy brown and rainbow trout with both spinning gear and fly rods.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River was explosive with striped bass fishing, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. He boated the Rancocas Creek area, hooking 13 stripers to 32 inches, a catfish and a white perch. Other happening spots included the river at Station Avenue and Princeton Avenue. One customer who fished at Princeton Avenue picked up 18 of the linesiders, three catfish and four white perch. Most stripers around Station Avenue and the Commodore Barry Bridge were larger than 30 inches. A customer who fished near the Commodore Barry totaled 25 fish on Saturday and 45 on Sunday,  mostly 30- to 42-inchers. Bloodworms claimed most of the bass, but live herring were almost a lock to whack a fish. Shad fishing was the strongest in quite some time on the river, and the New Hope and Lambertville areas produced double-digit catches per trip for determined anglers. Capt. Deiter Scheel was shadding during the magic hours of 5 to 8, both in the a.m. and the p.m., coming up with 12 to 18 strikes per trip on flutter spoons. Most of the shad were bucks from 2 to 4 pounds, but some roe fish pushed 5 pounds. Mickey Melchiondo scored a torrid shad chew, boating 15 of the fish to a 5-1/2-pound roe.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Small shad were fought all over the Delaware River in the Phillipsburg area, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in the town. But anglers concentrated more on walleyes in the river, and since the rains, walleyes were on a steady feed. Nightcrawlers fished tight on the bottom got the best results. A bunch of trophy-sized trout were caught at Merrill Creek Reservoir, like the 6.6-pound brown that Angee Ramos drilled and the 5.4-pound brown that Rob Connelly creamed. On the Musconetcong River, where trouting was also hopping, Jerry Black banked a 3-pound brookie, and Billy Rush landed a 2.9-pounder. Also on the Musky, Pat McGarry scored a 2.9-pound brook, and Billy Martin, 9, creeled a 3.3-pounder. Pohatcong Creek gave up a 3-pound brook trout for Steve Fox, and the North Branch of the Raritan River dished out a 3.3-pound brookie for Chris Luster. On the Delaware River, where fine catches were made as well, Alex Montgomery doubled up on a 6.6-pound walleye and a 7.9 pounder. Also on the river, Ray Barrie dusted up a 3.6-pound smallmouth bass, Charles Barrie beat a 4-pound 10-ounce walleye and Nelson Eldridge sacked an 8-pound walleye. Some good fishing all around!

Small gold phoebes took lots of trout from the Rockaway River, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Shad fishing held steady on the Delaware River all the way up through the Water Gap. Greenwood Lake offered smallmouth bass action on black and purple jig-n-pigs. But be ready for something larger to strike. A 34-inch muskie smacked one customer’s jig-n-pig.

Trouters did a bang up job on the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. The troll hammered most of the fish, and small Rapalas, Phoebes and spinners worked well. Eddie Mackin came up with a 3-pound 4-ounce brown trout, and Mike Santoli nailed a 3.4-pound brown. Dan Lehr bested a 2-pound 12-ounce brook trout, and Nick Lehr decked a 3-pound rainbow and a 2-3/4-pound brownie. Great Cove, Henderson’s Cove and the lake at Byram were best. Lots of pickerel to 5 pounds were also trolled, and walleyes to 7 pounds sometimes pounced jigs. But remember that walleye fishing is catch and release until the season opens May 1. A few hybrid striped bass were played in the Brady Bridge area, in Henderson’s Cove and off the main lake in deep water. Stick baits and live herring convinced the hybrids to attack.

Trout fishing took top billing, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The Paulinskill and Walkill rivers shoveled out a good show of brook trout on garden worms and meal worms. Rainbow trout occupied the Little Flatbrook, and the Passaic River spit out two big, 3-1/2- and 4-1/2-pound brownies for one angler. Barber’s Pond was home to big breeders, including a 6-pound brown that one customer belted. The Highlands Lakes were a steady yellow perch producer, mostly on small, white, twister-tail grubs.

Trout fishers found that fly casting out-favored bait casting on local streams, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Novices should use an indicator a foot above a scud or a caddis. Hendricksons were hatching on sunny afternoons. He banked a 17-inch brown trout on the South Branch of the Raritan on a tan scud fished on a dropper. One angler slammed a monster, 26.6-pound lake trout that swiped a metal jig 80 feet down. Lakers hung in 80- to 90-foot depths, while rainbows and browns could be caught in 25- to 30-foot depths. Pike and crappie action picked up on Spruce Run Reservoir, and shiners worked for both.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Both the north and the south branches of the Raritan River were spots to tangle with stocker trout, said Mike from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Look to the Ken Lockwood Gorge for larger specimens that sipped in bead-headed nymphs. Waters along the shoreline at Round Valley Reservoir attracted roving rainbow trout to 4 pounds that chomped fathead minnows. Maurice Melville fished Colonial Park with a nightcrawler to catch and release a 6.9-pound largemouth bass.

Trout fishing picked up, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Keith Sleezer brought in a 2.39-pound brook trout from the Toms River. The Riverwood section of the Toms produced four brookies for another angler, who used rosy reds. Lake Shenandoah was another top spot for trout. Carp began to get restless in the Trilco section of the Toms but weren’t feeding on anything yet. Pickerel were willing to wallop spinners and shiners at Forge Pond. Forge Pond also dished up a healthy selection of white perch, yellow perch and herring.

It’s been a striped bass bonanza on the Delaware River, said Sean from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Anglers who dropped live herring in the Trenton area cleaned up on bass around 28 to 34 inches. Trout fishing was hot and heavy at Rosedale Lake and the D&R Canal. Trout magnets and Roostertails stuck a bunch of stockers. A whopper, 6-pound brown trout got hauled from Sylvan Lake.

Trout fishing was the main affair, said Tony from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Lake Mercer, Lake Assunpink and Carnegie Lake gave them up on garden worms and butter worms. Crappies also ate up the worms at Carnegie.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Striped bass fishing was on fire in the Delaware River, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. Just get to the waters, he said, because bass were caught all weekend long on the river at the Commodore Barry Bridge, the flats at National Park, the Schuylkill River and Camden’s  concrete pier. Morning shifts put up 12 to 18 bass from 30 to 47 inches for some anglers, mostly on bloodworms bounced along the bottom. Largemouth bass started to get active on the Big D, especially where creeks flowed into the river, like at Woodbury Creek, Mantua Creek and Big Timber Creek. Crank baits and Sweet Beaver lures fooled the fish. Trout anglers headed to Haddon Lake and Greenwich Lake for their share. Crappies to 16 inches chased down small minnows and tiny tubes in the Cooper River.

Loads of brook trout were rounded up at Iona Lake, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood, and Roostertail spinners did the job well. Jim Caldwell clobbered a 4-pound 14-ounce brown trout. A 4-pound 14-ounce brown got waffled at Rowan Pond. Waters near the dam at Grenloch Lake were a decent spot for trouting. Crappies also ate up small minnows and garden worms at Grenloch. Panfish galore swam the Blackwood Lake spillway for fishing fun or for trips with kids.

Trout casters were pleased with the overall action, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Hammonton Lake, Oak Pond and Iona Lake all put out limits or near limits of the fish on Power Baits, meal worms and nightcrawlers. Pickerel were on the take at Wilson Lake, and spinners and shiners got punched.

More striped bass showed up than before in the Delaware River around Pennsville, said Matt from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b> in the town. Lots of 28- to 34-inchers inhaled bunker chunks and bloodworms during late afternoon and evenings, and sunny days seemed better than overcast ones.

A combo of white perch and catfish were on tap on the Maurice River, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Trout were caught in the upper part of the river, and yellow Power Baits were a good choice. Herring and striper reports were a bit scarce from the river but should pick up. Smallmouth bass fishing was strong at Union Lake, and crank baits hung the fish to 3 pounds and larger.

A customer wrestled a 29-inch striped bass from the Maurice River near the Union Lake dam, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. More stripers should move into the river each day. Although herring became a little bit scarce in the river lately, more difficult to procure for bait, the stripers will key in on bloodworms.

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