<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

King and Coho salmon, very good catches, were boated on Lake Ontario with <b>Salmon River Guide</b> from Pulaski, Capt. Shane Thomas said in a report on Salmon River Guide’s Web site. The fish were trolled in 40 to 60 feet off the Salmon River, and were headed to the river to spawn, like every year. A few of the fish already moved into the river this year, but very few migrated up lately. The river ran low, at 335 CFS, typical for the time of year. So the salmon in the river hung in the deepest spots. Trolling on the lake was the best fishing, but Salmon River Guide will switch to fishing on the river when that angling becomes best.

Lake Ontario held good fishing for salmon, mostly kings, said Ben from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Coho salmon, steelheads and brown trout were sometimes in the mix. The catches were trolled on tackle like flashers and flies. A few salmon, mostly kings, moved into the Salmon River for the spawn, but not many of the catches came from the river, running at 335 CFS. No reports yet said the river’s flow will be changed anytime soon. An occasional Coho or brown, not many steelheads, were also taken on the river. Anglers usually fished the river with egg sacks or flies.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

More should begin to be heard about fishing this week, after the effects of recent rains, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Ledgewood. News was scarce, because of effects like no-wake zones at Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake. High waters on the Delaware River were nearly unfishable, and the trout streams ran high. But catches of northern pike were heard about from Budd Lake on big spoons. Anglers could also hunt largemouth bass that moved into flooded areas of lakes to take advantage of new-found forage. That might be one of the best options.

Largemouth bass fishing was good at Lake Hopatcong, though a no-wake restriction was on the lake, because of flooding, said Chris from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. That hampered boating, but when anglers fished for the bucketmouths, they found success on Keitechs worked along the weeds. The Passaic River ran somewhat high for fishing. A friend kayaked Round Valley Reservoir, tackling smallmouth bass along the weed beds in deep waters. The friend tried to fish at Mountain Lake, but the boat ramp was closed because of a mud slide. The friend also fished Furnace Lake for  tiger muskies, trolling lures and casting top-water plugs, catching none, but seeing a few in the weeds that refused to bite. He did see an angler land a 30-inch tiger.

The lake remained high, and a no-wake restriction was in effect, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. “It does keep the lake nice and quiet for fishermen,” she said. Impressive catches in the past week included Tomasz Skrodski’s 12-pound 8-ounce channel catfish, Jerry Freeman’s 7-pound 14-ounce hybrid striped bass, Dustin and Jason Kinney’s 5-pound 14-ounce hybrid and Robin Edwards’ 5-pound walleye. The shop will remain open into November, with boat rentals and bait sales. Then the store is usually closed a moment until reopening when ice fishing begins on the lake. The Knee Deep Club’s walleye tournament will be held on the lake Saturday and Sunday.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

The streams ran too high to fish, and nothing yet was really happening to report, but anglers hoped high waters  would now keep subsiding, and fishing would break back open soon, said Ron from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Trout fishing should be phenomenal after the fall stocking, because plenty of waters filled the trout streams, and anglers looked forward to that. Waters started to become fishable for channel catfish at the Delaware and Raritan Canal.

The Toms River ran high, but not terribly, and waters were fairly clear, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Anglers on the river at Trilco, the building supply that closed down near the Parkway, caught and released 8- to 12-inch striped bass on Rapala lures, mostly in the deep waters of the channel, where the river dumps into saltwater. No sign identifies the building as Trilco anymore, but locals know the stretch of river at the Parkway by that name. Chain pickerel kept attacking spinners and killies at Trilco like usual. Kids belted bluegills at the Ocean County College ponds on nightcrawlers. A few yellow perch were picked at Forge Pond on nightcrawlers on the bottom. Anglers looked forward to fall trout stocking that will begin October 11. Killies and nightcrawlers are stocked, and Dennis hopes to begin stocking shiners for the season on Friday.

<b>South Jersey</b>

The lakes were fishable at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. He saw seven or eight largemouth bass boats fishing the waters one day, making it apparent the lakes could be fished for the bass. Eric drove by Prospertown Lake, and the waters were way low, so he guessed the dam  blew out or something. But the lake was clear and fishable, and if Eric were to fish for largemouths on waters like these, he’d probably toss something noisy or bright, like a Rat-L-Trap or a lipless crank bait. The Delaware River was the only place that seemed unfishable. The river was flooded and dirty.

Most anglers honed in on largemouth bass fishing that was going well, said Dom from  <b>Barracuda’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Riverside. The best reports about the catches came from Lake Lonnie, and customers were back to fishing mostly with live bait, namely shiners, for the bass. Customers sometimes chased crappies on the lakes, and the Delaware River was blown out, running high and with debris. Another week would probably have to pass for the river to calm. Anglers just began to start getting into the habit of fishing again Wednesday, after the stormy weather. Not much was heard about saltwater fishing for fluke, a popular choice for customers before the storms. But Gulp swimming mullets in pink and chartreuse remained popular purchases for fluke bait. 

Not a lot was doing, first because of heat, then because of rains, and because kids were back in school, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b> in Blackwood. If anglers are going to try for largemouth bass, minnows and shiners are always a top choice to fish. Kids, as always, could have fun playing sonnies and pinfish at the spillways like at Blackwood Lake on worms like mealiest.

Water levels were somewhat falling, after last week’s rains, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Anglers still waited for cleaner, clearer waters, but some catches were made. A few largemouth bass and smallmouth bass were hit at Union Lake. The non-tidal portion of the Maurice River continued to run fairly high. Nothing was heard about saltwater fishing for summer flounder since the storms. That was about all that was happening since the weather.

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