<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Lake Ontario boaters had been catching mostly king salmon, but winds blew too strongly for the boating the past couple of days, said Eric from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Most of the anglers trolled flasher/fly combos to beat the kings, and a few Coho salmon were mixed in. Both salmon were making their way to the Salmon River to spawn, and when they’ll arrive depends on too many variables to say. But at least a couple of weeks are left before the river’s fishing for them takes off. Walleye fishing remained slow on waters like Oneida Lake in the summer warmth. But the walleye fishing will improve as fall temps drop.

Lots of king salmon were crushed aboard on Lake Ontario until windy weather prevented boating, said Capt. Shane Thomas from <b>Salmon River Guide</b> from Pulaski. A few steelheads and brown trout were mixed in the other day, and anglers who targeted browns landed a few, but the catches were mostly all kings. The fish were taken in Mexico Bay straight off the Salmon River in 80- to 100-foot waters. But the salmon would probably be found deeper after the blow. Trips trolled the kings on Spin Doctors and Pro Troll flasher and fly combos. Shane will probably start fishing for the kings on the Salmon River in mid September. “The phone’s ringing off the hook,” Shane said. Lots of anglers were booking trips.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The rivers ran high from rainstorms, said Brian from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Ledgewood. So fishing was on hold on them, and the lakes might’ve been high, but were less affected by the rains. Largemouth bass were angled on the lakes on Keitechs, Senkos and, in the evenings, Jitterbugs. Rubber frogs worked. Lake Hopatcong anglers sometimes livelined herring for the bucketmouths.

 Hybrid striped bass squashed livelined herring fished off the points on the lake, including Chestnut, Elba and Bonaparte, “to name a few,” said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Smallmouth bass pounced on the herring off Chestnut and Nolan’s points. To clock the lake’s panfish, fish shallower waters with garden worms or meal worms. Stan Stelmack came in with a good catch: hybrids to 7 pounds, two big crappies 1 pound 8 ounces and 1 pound 5 ounces, a 4-pound 3-ounce largemouth bass and “lots of smaller fish,” Laurie said. His grandson reeled in a 6-pound hybrid. The shop’s hours will change to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Monday, August 29.

Fishing for largemouth bass was like “death,” said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield, on Lake Hopatcong, when he competed in a tournament for the fish there Sunday. Stormy weather that day and storms toward the end of the week seemed to affect the fishing. Saturday was bluebird clear, but previous days brought storms. Ten anglers competed in the event, and a dismal 1-pound 12-ounce weight for two bass won the contest. Nick’s fishing partner totaled 2.4 pounds for two bass, but was in a probation period for new members in the tournament’s club for a couple of weeks, wasn’t eligible to win. All the anglers pounded the weeds and docks for largemouths, but only caught miniscule bass. Nick threw a 5-inch Senko to try for big ones, but only small ones bit. Nick heard from anglers who fished Greenwood Lake during the weekend, saying the angling was tough. Weed killer there seemed to discolor the waters. One kid at the shop talked about whaling 9- to 12-inch largemouths at Dahnert’s Lake on 3-inch Senkos, and seeing two 5-pounders he couldn’t catch. Nick plans to hit the nearby lake during his lunch breaks. Customers tore up smallmouth bass, a ton, on the Delaware River, drifting starting 8 miles upstream from Dingman’s Ferry, fishing down to Dingman’s. They tossed 4-inch Keitechs to the small pockets that pushed into the banks a little, around rocks. They had a beautiful, nice, slow drift. Good smallmouthing was socked on the Ramapo River on fathead minnows.   

Hybrid striped bass were whaled on Spruce Run Reservoir, Jody from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b> said. The fishing was nuts, mostly from 5 to 9 p.m. One angler landed 16 on Thursday night. Another couple of customers picked up only four hybrids 19 to 23 inches on herring, but only fished two hours, after the storm. Angling was a little slow on Round Valley Reservoir, but lake trout were cracked there on herring in deep waters 90 to 95 feet.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

News was a little slow “with all the rains and earthquakes and all of that,” Ron from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook said. The earthquake was felt at the shop Wednesday. But smallmouth bass should be able to be banked on the Raritan River. Anglers usually fish for them with nightcrawlers or crawfish. Or they work in-line spinners like a Mepps Fury. A new supply of Penn Battle and Fierce reels just arrived in freshwater sizes at the shop. Check them out.

Anglers could fish the Toms River at Trilco for chain pickerel and sunnies, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Killies or worms could be used for both, and Trilco is a building supply that closed, but locals know the stretch of river around the Parkway by the name. Pickerel, largemouth bass and sunnies could be managed at Lake Riviera, and killies or worms will draw strikes. Catfish were heard about from Riviera, though Jeff was yet to hook them, and he tried. The Ocean County College pond always holds bluegills and largemouths. One customer reported catching pickerel and sunnies there. Killies and nightcrawlers are stocked, and shiners will be carried when demand picks up soon.

<b>South Jersey</b>

The Delaware River ran high from rains, “was beaten up,” said Chris from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Previously smallmouth bass were on the bite there. The lakes were also messed up from rains. Customers started buying worms for fishing on the lakes, probably a good idea, because of smell, instead of sight, in dirtied waters. Angling for trout at Ken Lockwood Gorge was an option, because the river usually clears faster than many waters, and higher waters probably made the fish more active. Bead-headed nymphs could probably be used on the trout with success.

Largemouth bass bit fairly well on the lakes, said Dom from <b>Barracuda’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Riverside. Anglers seemed to begin favoring live bait, namely shiners, for the catches. Lake Lonnie and Lake Sooy were places to fish for the bass, and the angling was good all season on the Olympia Lakes. Catfish were licked from the Delaware River, and stink baits seemed the favorite for them lately. Looking ahead, the fall trout stocking will be coming up, and sometimes striped bass will give up a run in fall on the Delaware River. In saltwater, customers continued making trips to the shore for summer flounder at places like the bay at Manahawkin or, at this time of year, the ocean at the wrecks. The fishing seemed somewhat to slow but still produced.

Haddon Lake produced largemouth bass, and good things were heard about largemouths from Greenwich and Grenloch lakes, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. Mostly top-water lures like Zara Spooks and Pop-R’s and soft plastics like creature baits connected. A little was heard about largemouths pulled from Blackwood Lake. Crappies were copped on the different lakes, though fishing for them was slower than before. The Delaware River was loaded with big catfish averaging 5 to 6 pounds and some striped bass. Big Timber carries bait and tackle for fishing on all waters from freshwater to offshore.

Lots of reports  rolled in about small largemouth bass netted at Iona Lake, Victory Lakes and Franklinville Lake, said Jim from <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Most customers fished for them with minnows or nightcrawlers under a bobber. Victory Lakes are private, catch-and-release waters in Williamstown that can be fished for $5 per day, payable in drop-boxes around the lakes. Or a season pass can be purchased through the Friends of Victory Lakes Association. Devin Carge, 5, landed a 4-pound largemouth at Victory on a minnow. Danny Merckx shellacked a 3-pound crappie at Iona Lake on a minnow. Dustin Rebecca on Tuesday punched a 5-pound 23-inch chain pickerel on the Mullica River on a minnow.

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