<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river was raised to 1,500 CFS on Monday, and flowed at 1,000 the previous few days, said Capt. Shane Thomas from <b>Salmon River Guide</b> from Pulaski. Fishing for steelheads went well on his trips on the river, and lots of the fish filled the Salmon, and fewer people than before crowded the waters. The fish included big steelheads to 17 and 18 pounds. Steelies fresh from Lake Ontario swam the lower and middle stretches of the Salmon, but catches of steelheads were also made on the upper river. Shane’s trips connected on trout beads under floats. Other anglers scored on egg sacks and flies. Drift-boaters sometimes back-trolled Luhr-Jensen Hot Shot lures and Rapala lures with success. Sometimes back-trolling worked better than other fishing. No large numbers of trout ran the river, but other anglers banked a few brown trout, and a big rainbow trout was landed on a trip with Shane on Monday. Forecasts are calling for cold weather and snow this weekend. But the weather is the time for steelheading. The fish migrate into the Salmon from the lake in fall, spending the winter in the river, giving up a world-class fishery. They spawn in the river in spring, returning to the lake afterward.

Quite a bit of waters filled the river, said Eric from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. The flow was upped to 1,500 CFS on Monday, and when the river’s that big, anglers fish for steelheads with usual tackle like trout beads under floats, “fishing the seams pretty much,” Eric said. Mostly steelheads swam the river. Anglers waited for ice fishing season on the ponds and lakes, and the season was warm so far, so there might be a wait.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Winter-trout stocked trout were on tap on the streams, but the waters flowed high, said Mark from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Still, a couple of customers yanked good catches of trout from the Wanaque River on baby nightcrawlers. But brook trout were pounced there on fathead minnows. The Passaic River flowed very high for northern pike fishing. Crappies and yellow perch were plucked from Lake Hopatcong at Brady Bridge.

Customers a few days ago racked up rainbow trout on the Pequest River toward the hatchery on Mepps spinners, said Josh from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Trout streams probably ran somewhat high, from the sounds of  reports from customers. Not much was heard from lakes like Round Valley Reservoir. But boaters and shore anglers probably kept catching trout on Round Valley like they did before.

Water temps from 50 to 60 degrees were ideal for chain pickerel and crappie fishing, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. A couple of customers bought a bunch of shiners for pickerel fishing, at Pineland Park Pond in Manchester, Dennis believed. They were tackling lots, including one of the angler’s biggest, a 28-incher, Dennis thought. Another angler was largemouth bass fishing, usually at Lake Riviera, copping okay catches. Yellow perch were punched on the Toms River at Trilco on nightcrawlers. Trilco is a building supply that was closed down. No sign identifies the building, but locals know the stretch of river, located along the Parkway, by the name. Trilco is always a place to play pickerel, too. Customers stopped by who were headed to Lake Shenandoah to fish for winter-stocked trout, but no results were heard. Shiners, killies, nightcrawlers and a few trout worms are stocked.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Walleyes were wrestled from the Delaware River at Trenton and Frenchtown, mostly at might, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. The fishing was “deadly,” he said. Lures like Rapala X-Raps and Storm Thundersticks, or thin, shallow-running crank baits, nailed them, and so did shiners. Crappies were heard about that were clocked on local ponds. One angler reported catching muskies at Lake Mercer on Yozuri Crystal Minnows. A large supply of ice-fishing gear was just stocked at the shop. The store is also carrying “all your Christmas needs,” Eric said.

The Delaware River flowed high but not too much, but it was muddy, said Todd from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Walleyes could be whacked on the river, and the Delaware’s smallmouth bass fishing was finished for the season. Trout streams ran high for fishing. Walleyes were jigged on waters like Lake Hopatcong at Brady Bridge. Many customers traveled to upstate New York’s Salmon River for good steelhead fishing.

Little was heard about fishing by this time of the season, said Jim from <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Chain pickerel and crappies could probably be smacked at Wilson Lake. But nobody reported fishing there or at other local lakes.

Now is usually a preferred time for largemouth bass fishing on the lakes for Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland, he said. The fish usually school up and feed for winter now. But fluctuating or unstable water temps seemed to hamper the angling. Recent days were warm, and currently a cold front was coming. When the fish bite, anglers typically throw drop-shots, Rat-L-Traps or deep-running crank baits. Some anglers were dunking minnows for chain pickerel and crappies with fair success. In saltwater, striped bass fishing was good on Delaware Bay.   

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