<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

Sunny days with temps that sometimes inched above freezing slushed the surface of the ice on the lake at times, said Brian from <b>FISH307.com</b> in Lake George. But then the weather would turn cold again, freezing the slush to 2 or 3 inches of hardness. So anywhere from 1 to 14 inches of ice covered the lake, and the lake was frozen all the way across. Yellow perch were creeled along the bays or shallow waters, often on panfish jigs in sizes 8 down to 16. Lake trout and landlocked salmon were crunched along the deeper areas, especially near the islands. They loved Swedish Pimple jigs but also socked tube jigs, especially in white, on tip ups or salted minnows on tip ups. Plenty of other waters were frozen and fished, but anglers in this area honed in on Lake George. All the baits are fully stocked at the shop. 

<b>Salmon River</b>

A couple of warmer days set in for the first time in a while, and anglers reported good catches of steelheads on the river when they took advantage of the milder temps to fish, said Ben from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Many fished at Altmar, and the river flowed low at 285 CFS, making the fish pool up. More warmth is supposed to arrive around the weekend, and Ben expects more reports of quality catches then. The break in the winter weather that seemed to begin should help the river’s level be raised because of runoff from melting snow. Many fished with egg sacks or pink worms, and fly fishers often tossed stoneflies or caddis. Steelheads spend the winter in the Salmon, spawn in spring then return to Lake Ontario. The cold and snow can keep some anglers from fishing the waters during the height of winter, but steelheads remain nonetheless. Participation in the angling will only increase as the weather breaks. Though the warmth was welcomed for the river’s fishing, the temps created some sloppy, slushy conditions for ice fishing. But fishable ice remained, and cold weather will solidify the slush again and keep the ice fishable. Yellow perch and sporadic walleyes nipped for ice anglers on Sandy Pond. For anglers seeking walleyes, the ice on Guffins Bay on Lake Ontario was a popular spot.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The number of anglers increased at the shop, and warmer weather seemed to get them stirring around, said Greg from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Ledgewood. Many hoped for continued warmth, but ice fishing was also still under way. Greg drove by Lake Hopatcong each morning, seeing a half-dozen anglers on the hard waters each time, and he heard that ice to 18 inches still covered the lake. At local lakes, plenty of bluegills and chain pickerel were lifted through the ice. No customers mentioned trying for trout on the streams, but Greg wouldn’t doubt that anglers sometimes targeted trout at waters like the Pequest River. Small stoneflies sizes 14 and 16 usually come off the streams this time of year, and anglers usually fish the hatch.

The lake’s ice was 12 to 18 inches, so a couple of warm days in the forecast will be no problem, except making the surface a little sloppy, causing anglers to need rubber boots,  said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Hybrid striped bass to 6 pounds were sometimes yanked through the ice off Chestnut Point on Rapala ice-fishing jigs. Yellow perch and chain pickerel were ice-angled at Great Cove and off the state park. Off Woodport ice fishers rustled in the perch, crappies and a few largemouth bass. The Knee Deep Club’s second ice-fishing tournament of the season is set for Sunday, and registration will take place at 8 a.m. The shop can be called for info: 973-663-3826.

Ice fishing pretty much kept on pace, turned up the same results, but the store is finished re-stocking ice tackle for the year, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Ice hounds on Lake Hopatcong talked about flocking to Woodport for lots of yellow perch. Lake Aeroflex was the place to ice-angle for trout that surprisingly gathered in 2- to 3-foot shallows, instead of the deep that might be expected. Customers jigged for the trout, despite the depth. Lots of yellow perch and crappies were tip-upped and jigged through holes at Pompton Lakes. Little was heard about trout fishing on the streams, and not much tackle was sold for the fishing. But some anglers probably headed to waters like the Big Flatbrook for trout. One fished the Ramapo, scoring no trout. The Passaic River ran hard, and that’s the time to fish the river. Customers planned to invade the river this weekend for northern pike and striped bass. Striper fishing is closed in the rivers and bays until opening on March 1, so stripers must be released until then.

Customers ice fished at Round Valley Reservoir, probably for the usual yellow perch and trout like rainbows and browns, but one also clubbed lake trout, said Ron from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. They said the fishing was good, and the customer with the lakers was camping overnight. Ice tackle and bait still flew out the doors at the shop, though the end of the ice-fishing season was pending. Keeping up with the supply of baits like mousies and spikes was challenging. Nobody mentioned trout fishing on the streams or other fishing at open waters. That’ll begin to change. The shop will hold an annual pre-season sale from March 10 to 20. Sale items will include Gamma line from 2 to 20 pounds for 2 cents per yard, Power Pro braid at 20 percent off for 150-, 300- and 500-yard spools, fly lines at 30 percent off, some hard lures at 30 percent, Z-Man ChatterBaits at up to 50 percent, soft-plastic lures at 30 percent, Orvis fly rods at 30 percent, Orvis fly reels at 20 percent, Fin Strike saltwater fishing rigs at 25 percent, salmon eggs at 20 percent, Quantum Optic reels at 2-for-1, deck boots at 40 percent, and more.

<b>South Jersey</b>

<b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn reopened for the season, currently holding hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays, until the hours are increased as the weather improves, Rick said. Full hours will probably begin at the end of the month. Anglers stirred around the shop this Saturday, and the warmer weather seemed to get them going. Customers stopped by for ice-fishing supplies like shiners for bait. They found ice to fish in Gloucester County in the past week, through warmer weather this week might put a halt to that. But they also ice fished farther north at waters like the lakes at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, and that ice might last somewhat longer. People bought rigs and diamond jigs for cod fishing in the ocean. The angling was supposed to be good on the party boats. Rich was supposed to jump on one from Brielle this week. Anglers will begin fishing for striped bass on the local Delaware River as soon as striper season opens on March 1 in the bays and rivers. Legal-sized stripers will then be able to be kept there through March 31, until the season closes again on the next day, reopening on June 1. But catch-and-release angling for stripers is a big thing on the river during that closed stretch, while the fish, big, mature ones, migrate up the waters to spawn. Before the migration, smaller, younger, non-migrating stripers, fish that live in the river, begin to bite in warming waters. Be sure to check regulations for required circle-hook types in the fishery. Bloodworms will start to be stocked for bait for the linesiders during the final week of February.

Ice was melting at the lakes at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, but 9 inches could be found, and fishing on top was still happening at all the lakes there through the beginning of the week, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Bluegills and yellow perch were jigged, and sometimes largemouth bass were managed on shiners on tip ups. Some of the smaller local lakes also held ice, but fishable ice will be touch and go as the thaw begins. On the Delaware River, the Trenton power plant was turned off, wasn’t pumping warm waters into the river. Smallmouth bass, walleyes and catfish are drawn to the warmth when the plant is on in winter.

Lakes were finally thawing, and though nothing was heard about anyone fishing, anglers should fish this weekend at long last, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Winds and warmer weather in the past week helped open up the waters, and the much warmer weather predicted for later this week should knock out most ice, bringing the start of fishing. Anglers will try for largemouth bass with Rat-L-Traps and crank baits, and for chain pickerel with in-line spinners like Mepps or CP Swings. Minnows will be a best bet for panfish, if anglers can find minnows that are scarce this time of year. The shop is trying to stock them. But nightcrawlers are stocked that will grab a chew from panfish. Reel and tackle repairs were going steady at the store as anglers prepped for the fishing season.

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