<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Lots of drop-back steelheads were hooked throughout the river, running at a thin 285 CFS, but the Town Pool was a productive spot, said Ritchie at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Most of the fish weighed 5 to 8 pounds, but 10-pounders could be found. Hotels were packed with people working on the nuclear power plant, so reserve ahead if planning to stay overnight. Anglers could take a foray to catch bullhead catfish at Sandy Pond for variety.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

All anglers copped a fair share of striped bass from the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Bigger bass averaging 30 to 34 inches held at the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge and Rancocas Creek. The waters off Station Avenue were prime to bank 18- to 36-inchers. Lots of stripers, but mostly small ones, gathered off Camac Street. Live herring attracted the bigger ones, though, and the baitfish could be jigged on Sabikis. Bloodworms were the main bait to dunk throughout the river, but herring, clams, shrimp and chicken livers also connected. A mess of catfish to 12 pounds and white perch roamed the lower river, and both ate up bloodworms. Farther upstream, outstanding catches of shad were fought at Lambertville. Capt. Deiter Scheel and Capt. Mickey Melchiondo lit them up on flutter spoons and shad darts, averaging 30 fish per 3-hour trip. Big roe shad to 7 pounds spiced up action.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The local Delaware River was alive with shad, the best run in years, anglers said, and fishing from the banks out-scored fishing from boats 10 to 1, according to Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Zachary Fry hauled a 19-pound carp from the river. Fishing began to turn on at Merrill Creek Reservoir, including for brown trout and pickerel, and shiners worked well. Lisa Schell picked up a 4.9-pound brown, and Jason Nolan landed a 4.3-pounder.

The Rockaway River was ripe for trouting, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Meal worms and salted minnows claimed brownies to 3 pounds and a healthy show of stockers. Largemouth bass, preparing to spawn, filled the shallows at Lake Hopatcong, especially around Dingman’s Bridge. Small Keitech jigs and 4-inch Mister Twisters on 1/8-ounce jigheads got them to chomp.

Trouters scored well on the lake on the opening weekend of the trout season, said Laurie at <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Jim Smith trolled a 3-pound 10-ounce brown on a small Rapala. Tyler Fiedler bagged a 3-pound 5-unce brown on a small spinner. Piotr Wasilewski and Kris Kupiec cranked in several 3-pound trout and some sizeable pickerel and crappies. Hybrid striped bass and a few walleyes were caught around Great Cove, Nolan’s Point, Brady Bridge and Landing. Small stick baits and live herring grabbed both. But remember that walleye season is closed until May 1. Crappie fishing was strong in the shallows, and small jigs or fathead minnows under a bobber drew them in.

Quality rainbow trout were lifted from the Rockaway River, said Mark at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Yellow Power Baits and Berkley Gulp 1-inch minnows clocked the bigger ‘bows to 3 pounds. Crappie fishing was solid at Brady Bridge at Lake Hopatcong.

Trout fishing was exemplary during the season opener, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Kelly Herlihy and Jerry DePietro fished the South Branch of the Raritan River, landing a 4-pound brown on a nightcrawler and a 3-pound rainbow on a Prince Nymph. Chris Lido lost a lengthy, monumental fight, breaking off a brown trout estimated to weigh 7 pounds that swiped a bead-headed nymph on a 2-pound tippet. The Pequest River and Musconetcong River were alive with trout, and limits of stockers were the norm. Power Baits and baby nightcrawlers easily banged them out.

Lots of trips fished through the week, and a couple angled on fresh water, but most hit the surf on Raritan Bay, said Bill Hoffman from <b>Skylands Angler</b>. That fishing was starting to improve, and more on that in a moment. In fresh water, the trout streams ran high during opening weekend of the season, so streamers or big nymphs were probably choices to fling out. Still, dry-fly fishing should begin soon, starting with caddis hatches. Northern pike moved to the deep from the shallows in the lakes because of warming waters. Tactics such as trolling became more successful than casting. Hybrid striped bass began to bite, and livelining or trolling herring are favorite techniques. But working a Zara Spook lure is a fun way to nab them, and almost any baits can catch them, including worms, catfish-type baits and even clams. The striped bass half of the hybrid seems to make the fish recognize clams as food. In  the surf, striped bass fishing was “getting there,” Bill said, on Raritan Bay. More and more were landed each trip, and Bill preferred to fish with clams that send out powerful scent. But bloodworms could also be effective. The fish only pecked at the clams, a soft bite, and the season was early to fish with lures. When more baitfish arrive and waters warm, lures can be used. Scattered bunker had already arrived. Bluefish usually come in after bunker do, and the tough fighters offer some of the most exciting fishing. Migrating stripers will also follow the bunker, and a few migrating bass seemed around.  A few stripers started to get beached in the ocean surf at Sandy Hook, but the bay’s fishing was more consistent. 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 fly trips for other freshwater fish, like pike, hybrid striped bass, carp and largemouth bass. Plus he guides trips in the ocean and bay surf during the spring and fall migrations at Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park with both conventional and fly tackle.
 
<b>Central Jersey</b>

The Black River was a steady trout factory, said Amy at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Caddis flies and early black stoneflies hooked plenty of the fish to 2 ½ pounds. The Pequest River and North Branch of the Raritan River held breeders that anglers snatched up on gobs of Power Baits.

Lots of trout were banked at the Metedeconk River and Toms River, and worms or Roostertails will do the job, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in the town of Toms River. The Toms near the Trilco building gave up white perch and chain pickerel. Largemouth bass, pickerel and crappies, a smorgasbord, filled Lake Riviera and Lester’s Lake. They were willing to pounce on shiners or killies. The Ocean County College ponds were full of crappies and catfish.

Striper fishing got serious on the Delaware River, said Sean from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Herring schooled up the river, and red-hooked Sabiki rigs caught them for bait. Bass to 20 pounds were smoked in the Trenton area on the baitfish. Shad moved into the river big time and could be caught on flutter spoons or shad darts. Largemouth bassing was picking up at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes, and Gropp’s Lake was another place to beat them. Use Rat-L-Traps or shiners.

<b>South Jersey</b>

All anglers on the Delaware River hooked up, said John from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. They dragged in striped bass that engulfed bloodworms and catfish that mouthed cut baits like herring chunks. Rick from the shop last week said the river at all the usual places, wherever access could be gained, gave up the stripers. Spots included Salem, Pennsville, Riverview Beach Park, National Park, River Winds and the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge.

Fishing was all about trout, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Big breeders were sometimes nailed at Grenloch Lake. Matt Whritenour whaled two monster browns 6.3 and 5 pounds on a yellow Mepps spinner. Mark Dickerson shellacked a 4-pound 12-ounce brown. Natalie Gibboni and brothers Nick and Zach filled stringers with browns at the lake. At Rowan’s Pond, Brielle Krycinski knuckled up four brook trout that whacked a white Roostertail.

Local anglers pounded good trout fishing during the opening of the season, said Lou at <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Rainbows to 20 inches were racked up from Iona Lake and Oak Pond. Anglers looking for pickerel headed to Malaga Lake for 3-pounders. Fathead minnows were the common bait.

Prime-time striped bass fishing kicked in on the Delaware River from Elsinboro Point to the Commodore Barry Bridge, said Jeff at <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Pennsville. Bloodworms and bunker hooked up to 38-pounders on high, outgoing tides. Fishing for them is closed from the Salem River to upstream until June, so the angling is catch and release. In-line circle hooks are mandatory.

Largemouth bass fishing elevated to a good level, said Steve at <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Senkos and other rubber worms scored, including at Sunset Lake. Smallmouth bass held strong at Lake Audrey and Union Lake, jumping on drop-shotted Senkos and crawfish imitations. Striped bass fishing picked up on the Delaware River at Salem, and up to 20-pounders gobbled up bloodworms.

Back to Top