<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river’s flow was dropped to 750 CFS, said Capt. Shane Thomas from <b>Salmon River Guide</b> from Pulaski. That was much more fishable than the previous 2,000 CFS that rains had caused. His trips socked good catches of mostly king salmon but a few Coho salmon, steelheads and brown trout. His anglers on the weekend really pounded the fish, mostly on back-trolled plugs from the drift boat. But casting with spinning rods and fly rodding also worked. Most of the salmon gathered in the upper river, and quite a few steelheads began to show up. Shane expects salmon catches to last another couple of weeks. Steelheads will become the focus of trips when most of the salmon spawn and die. Steelheads move up the river starting around now, staying in the Salmon throughout winter, until they spawn in spring. Steelheads offer excellent angling in the waters starting around November, lasting through the cold months.

The flow on the river was scheduled to be kept at 750 CFS until 9 p.m. Tuesday of this week, said Simon from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. At press time, no update was available on whether the flow was changed then. King salmon were banked, mostly on the upper river, but the run was trickling down. When all the anglers gather at the upper river, that’s clear. More of the fish will likely surge up the river like usual at some point before the fishing completely ends. Banner catches of kings and Coho salmon were busted during the weekend. Steelheads and brown trout were angled from the waters. The steelheads feed on salmon eggs into November. Natural and imitation salmon eggs will remain tops for catching the fish until then. Eggs will even work afterward, but once the salmon eggs disappear from the waters, many anglers will begin to fish with flies like nymphs and small worms. Nightcrawlers can be deadly on the salmon, steelies and trout before the ground freezes for the winter, when the worms begin to look unnatural to the fish. Until then, floating a nightcrawler through a pocket can crush the catches. A few Atlantic salmon and pink salmon, rare species in the river, were reported taken.

<b>Oswego River</b>

A roaring flow – 14,000 CFS – made fishing challenging on the Oswego River for 11 days through Sunday, said Larry from <b>Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop</b> in the town of Oswego. Anglers were able to catch salmon and the other fish where they found slack waters, but 10,000 CFS is considered fishable from the wall along the wide, deep river, and 4,000 to 8,000 is a medium flow. The river was supposed to be lowered this week. All the species were in: kings, steelheads, brown trout, rainbow trout and a few Coho salmon. Egg sacks, trout beads, Crazy Eggs and lures hooked up. Spoons worked on the lower river near Lake Ontario. All rooms were booked at the shop’s motel. But vacancies will become available later in the season, probably including when steelhead fishing takes off on the Oswego in November through winter. Vacancies can also open up from cancellations.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River flowed high and muddy and was full of debris because of rains, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The flow was coming back down, but the river wasn’t a good place to fish last week. Anglers said a few smallmouth bass bit in the river at places like New Hope and Point Pleasant, but the numbers were down. Streams like the Schuylkill River were in similar shape, but the upper stretches of the streams tended to clear up quicker than the Delaware did. One angler on the Schuylkill River at Norristown on each trip landed 5 to 10 smallmouth bass and lots of bluegills. Largemouth bass fishing was slow on the lower Delaware toward Philadelphia because of muddy waters. But lots of catfish bit in the area. One angler reeled in 25 cats from the river off the Salem River Harbor, saying the fish were mostly small but turned out lots of action. Nightcrawlers, chicken livers, herring and shrimp can coax a bite. A customer who fished the river at Station Avenue in Northeast Philly picked up nine striped bass and three catfish on bloodworms and chicken livers. Trout were stocked at Pennsylvania’s lakes and streams last week. Anglers scored well on the fish at spots including Levittown Lake, Wissahickon Creek and Pennypack Creek. Bill was unsure whether trout were stocked at Lake Luxembourg at Core Creek Park, but guessed probably so. Lakes that reportedly gave up largemouth bass included Lake Nockamixon. One angler there bailed several good catches of largemouths, saying the fish moved to deeper waters. Most of his bucketmouths came from 20 feet on jigs and slow-rolling spinner baits. In South Jersey, Union Lake tossed up good fishing for largemouths, chain pickerel, crappies and hybrid striped bass. One angler at Union drilled 11 largemouths and 15 pickerel on big rubber worms he worked along the islands. Another at Union did a job on four largemouths to 3 pounds, a 9-pound hybrid and lots of panfish, saying the catch was one of his best all year. Some customers played with plenty of pickerel in the ponds in the Pine Barrens. Several found good angling for the picks at the Batsto Lake spillway, mostly on minnows, but Rapala lures and yellow, rubber twister tails also worked well. Farther north in Jersey at Spruce Run Reservoir, customers scored well on smallmouth bass and hybrids. One at Spruce hooked two 20-inch hybrids, one on a Rat-L-Trap and the other on a top-water lure, on a trip.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale raised one musky at Greenwood Lake at Paradise Cove on a trip Sunday on a Suik lure in yellow perch, he said. He was happy to see the fish follow the lure, and muskies seemed more active now than previously, after the heat of summer apparently slowed down the angling. Dave fishes for big muskies when he’s angling by himself, and that means not many fish might be caught, but when one is, the musky is usually big. Anglers who fish with him can angle for smaller ones, giving them a better chance at hooking up. Still, muskies are the fish of 10,000 casts. But people fish for them because a catch can be an angler’s biggest. A friend, Glen Ullrich, nailed a 52-inch musky, releasing the fish, this past week at Monksville Reservoir. That fish was a monster, weighing more than 30 pounds, a catch that musky anglers might fish for years to hook. The lunker swiped a chartreuse Mepp’s Musky Killer at a weed edge. Ullrich had hung up the spinner in the weeds, and the musky attacked when he ripped the lure free. That was actually a technique musky anglers recommend. They say ripping a lure free from a hang up can entice a strike. Monksville Reservoir is known for big muskies, but is also known for difficult angling. Dave tackled his biggest musky, a 51-incher, on the lake, but anglers sometimes call the waters Skunksville Reservoir. The state record musky, a 42-pound 13-ouncer, was pulled from Monksville from the ice. Anglers do ice fish for them, and Dave believes the angler with the record was targeting muskies through the hard waters. Some beautiful weather with clear skies and pleasant temperatures set in during the last week. But winds were a problem nonetheless. Dave fished at Echo Lake on Saturday in strong winds, and the angling was tough, and nothing bit. He’s been focusing on trying for large muskies on his personal trips, and fall can be a time to catch the largest fish of any species. The fish feed up, preparing for winter, and can hit aggressively. But he might fish for walleyes on the lakes soon. His trips often whaled walleyes through summer. Live to Fish Guide Service guides trips for trout, muskies, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleyes, crappies, chain pickerel, panfish, yellow perch, white perch, carp and more. Lakes fished include Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Monksville Reservoir, Echo Lake, Mountain Lake and Furnace Lake. Rivers fished include the Flatbrook, Pequest, Paulinskill and Ramapo.

Sad news: Bill Pierce, who owned <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg for 30 years, passed away on Saturday, and the family is closing the shop. Bill gave reports here for years for the Delaware River near the shop and other local waters. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, and Godspeed, Bill.

The levels were good on the trout streams, even if the waters were cloudy because of rains, and the waters were scheduled to be stocked this week and next, said Don from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Ledgewood. The stockings include the Musconetcong and Pequest rivers today and the Rockaway River and the Big Flatbrook on Thursday. Many customers fish for them with white salmon eggs in shrimp flavor and Gulp ice-fishing maggots, attempting to imitate the pellets the trout are fed at the hatchery. But lots use garden warms, and artificials like spinners will be used after the fish become acclimated to the wild a moment. Not much was heard about largemouth bass fishing. But a couple of customers talked about mugging healthy catches of the bigmouths at ponds in Warren County on lures, not bait. They connected on Rapalas and deep divers along the edges of drop-offs in the middle of the waters.

Fishing became a little better on the lake in the past week, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Hybrid striped bass and walleyes were checked in, and reports were heard about catches of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch and chain pickerel. Paul Grel, Garfield, bombed some 7-pound hybrids, some walleyes and a 10-pound 1-ounce channel catfish, all on herring. Robert Muraszewski, Ridgewood, beat an 8-pound 7-ounce walleye on herring. Eddie Mackin, Lake Hopatcong, put the brakes on a 3-pound 15-ounce walleye and a 1-pound 13-ounce crappie on herring. Lou Marcucci, Mount Arlington, came up with a 3-pound 11-ounce walleye and a 1-pound 7-ounce crappie. The shop will be open, and boat rentals will be available, through November 7, and will reopen for ice-fishing season.

The Passaic River’s fishing somewhat perked up, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Waters rose a little, not much, but better than before, and a few northern pike and small striped bass began to be hung from the river. Live bait like killies will always attract the most pike. But big, wobbly spoons and jerk baits will also axe the pike. The Mepp’s Little Wolf spinner, available at the shop, fits the description, is a popular choice and comes in silver or gold. The stripers are nabbed on swim baits like 4- or 5-inch Storms or rubber eels like those from Power Bait or Tsunami. Trout are being stocked this week, and trout reports should be abundant next week, after the anglers fish. Some diehard trouters are customers, and anglers were gearing up for the fish. Call the trout hotline for the latest stocking dates and locations: 609-633-6765. Stocking had been postponed until this week because waters had been low and warm. Rains now filled the streams and lakes to good levels, including for largemouth bass fishing, and more rains forecast for later this week should further help.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Rains kept many customers from fishing, said Mark from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. But trout were on the books to be stocked this week and next. The waters include: the North Branch of the Raritan River and the Paulinskill River this week on Tuesday; the Musconetcong and Pequest Rivers today; the Big Flatbrook and the Black River on Thursday; and the Ramapo, Wanaque and South Branch of the Raritan rivers, including Ken Lockwood Gorge, on Friday. Customers this time of year often fish for trout with any bead-headed nymphs or the same patterns they use in spring. A few emergers will be around but will be few and far between. Blue winged olives in sizes 18 to 20 might show up. Catch the shops fishing and hunting sale from Friday through Monday. Sale items will include: all Orvis fly reels, 20 percent off; all Orvis rods, 30 percent; all brands of waders, 40 percent; all brands of wading jackets, 20 percent; Shimano butterfly jigs, 30 percent; Shimano Trinidad reels, 15 percent; Gibbs and Tattoo plugs, 20 percent; Aquaskinz dry tops, 30 percent; and spools of PowerPro in 150, 300 and 500 yards, 20 percent. Hunting items on sale will include: all Nikon and Bushkill optics and scopes, 20 percent off; selected Browning shotguns at various discounts according to model; archery targets, 20 percent; Summit tree stands, 30 percent; Hoyt and G5 Quest compound bows, 10 percent; select Eastern and Trophy Ridge arrows, 25 percent; and select broadheads, 25 percent.

Some customers bought nightcrawlers and caught crappies on the bait under bobbers at Manasquan  Reservoir, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Hybrid striped bass bit in the rez on chicken livers. During summer the hybrids were only found in the deep on the bottom in the middle off the lake. But the shop’s bait supplier recently slugged one hybrid and a couple of largemouth bass while fishing from the dock at the impoundment with shiners. Shoreline anglers seemed able to catch, and somewhat cooler waters seemed to cause fish to spread to waters closer to the banks. Dennis stopped by the Toms River at Trilco during the weekend, seeing kayakers fight a few chain pickerel here and there on lures like spinners. Trilco was a building supply store that no longer exists, but locals still call the area Trilco around the Garden State Parkway. Trout were slated to be stocked this week on Tuesday at the Toms, Metedeconk and Manasquan rivers.

<b>South Jersey</b>

The Delaware River was flooded because of rains but was beginning to recover, said Sean from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Previously the river was impossible to fish in the wash out, but smallmouth bass angling should rebound on the Big D. Trips before the blow-out knocked down plenty of smallmouths on minnows or on lures including curly tails or poppers at spots including Bull’s Island and Frenchtown. Largemouth bass jumped on soft plastics including Senko worms at Stone Tavern Lake and Rising Sun Lake, the two smaller lakes at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area.

Parents taking kids to fish for  sunnies made up the bulk of anglers, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b> in Blackwood. The spillway across the road from Blackwood Lake, Puppyland Pond and Grenloch Lake are always producers on meal worms. The only news about largemouth bass came from a customer grabbing the fish at a private pond that abuts his property. Trout will be stocked locally next week, including at nearby Grenloch Lake on Tuesday. Fewer anglers fish for trout in fall than during spring stocking, probably for reasons like the kids are back at school. But quality trouting should be on hand, and the state stocks particularly big ones in fall.

Lou from <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown was away traveling most of the past week, he said. He heard little news about local fishing, but trout are supposed to be stocked at local waters next week. The fish are supposed to be placed in waters including Iona Lake, Giampetro Park Pond, Mary Elmer Lake, Hammonton Lake, the Maurice River, Grenloch Lake, Greenwich Lake, Swedesboro Lake and more. See the <a href=" http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/flstk.htm
" target="_blank">trout stocking schedule</a>.

Largemouth bass fishing was tough, because of the time of year, said Jeff from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. The weather became warm again, and cooler weather was needed to settle in to make the fish respond. White perch fishing on the Mullica River was the best bet, and anglers shellacked loads of the whiteys. Trout are supposed to be stocked next week at local waters including the Maurice River and Giampetro Park Pond. News about catches should pick up with cooler weather and the trout stockings.

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