<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

Ice-fishable waters somewhat increased, said Jeff from <b>FISH307.com</b> in the village of Lake George. Some of the smaller lakes and ponds became more frozen than before, and temps this week are supposed to stay in the 30s during daytime and below freezing at night. So ice should be building, instead of decreasing. Plus this weekend is supposed to be very cold. Most customers fished the ice on Lake Eaton. Fishable ice was also formed at places including the south bay of Lake Champlain, the north end of Brant Lake, and Indian Lake. Yellow perch, lake trout and northern pike were yanked in. One of the crew from the shop scored very well on Raquette Lake, copping 20 flags in 3 hours. All available bait is fully loaded at the shop, including hunts, emerald shiners, suckers, rosy reds and spikes. Mousies are currently stocked, but are scarce this year, won’t last long. Meal worms, wax worms, nightcrawlers and more baits are on hand. The shop is open at 6 a.m., and could open earlier as more ice forms.

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river’s steelheading fishing was slow, said Ben from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. “Any reason?” he was asked. “The fish,” he said. “It’s fishing.” But the river ran low at 500 CFS. Still, a few steelheads bit, and more held in the upper river than elsewhere, but they swam throughout the Salmon. Most anglers fished for them with trout beads or egg sacks, and some threw flies. Days were warm, reaching temps in the 40s. A few “brave anglers,” Ben said, not many, ice fished at places like Sandy Pond, Black Lake, Six Stone Pond and Henderson Lake. But not much ice formed yet this winter.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

A few customers headed for yellow perch fishing, probably to Lake Hopatcong or local ponds, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Ledgewood. Surely a twister tail on a jighead fished deep should catch. But 1-inch Gulp minnows, stocked for ice fishing, were also reported to work well. Trout could be clocked on the trout streams on small egg flies. But on warm days anglers saw a few early black stoneflies coming off that are usually seen in late February or March. So anglers might be able to catch on tiny dark stonefly patterns or Skip’s nymphs fished around the rocks.

Largemouth bass might’ve been finicky in the cold, but apparently some could be caught. Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield saw 50 to 100 largemouths to 4 pounds cruising at a small lake he fishes in the town. He threw Senkos and everything he had with him in his vehicle on a lunch break, but got none to bite. But a customer reported landing five or six on 3-inch Keitechs on a trip. Nick planned to try again. One customer reeled in limits of trout, releasing them, on the Pequannock River on pink salmon eggs. Conditions were perfect on the river, but an inch of rain is forecasted to fall. A few customers kept fishing for northern pike on the Passaic River, not hooking many, but some. One angler talked about wrestled one or two on a trip. Friends banged away at yellow perch at Lake Hopatcong in 20 to 30 feet on ice-fishing jigs. But no ice formed anywhere locally, and boats could be launched. If Nick had time, he’d boat for crappies on the lakes.

Brown trout fishing held steady from shore at Round Valley Reservoir, mostly on large shiners at the boat launch and around the rocks, said Jody from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport</b>. One angler pulled in a small largemouth bass that hit along the rocks on a shiner. Another fly-rodded two 10- or 11-inch rainbow trout at Spruce Run Creek and a sizeable brown trout on the Musconetcong. The brown, shown in a photo from the shop posted on this site, swiped a salmon egg. Two customers got skunked while fishing Merrill Creek Reservoir. Customers reported nothing from Spruce Run Reservoir.

At the South Branch of the Raritan River, upstream from Califon, Burt from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook hooked the biggest rainbow trout he ever did, he said. But the fish, grabbed in a deep hole on a blood-dot egg, got off after a 5-minute fight. Burt plans to return. “That fish is bugging me,” he said. The river’s level was perfect for trouting, and Burt saw only two other anglers on the trip. They fished with streamers, but Burt was unaware whether they caught. Some anglers probably looked for walleyes or crappies on the lakes. Lots waited for ice to fish.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Crappie fishing served up good catches on shiners under bobbers on lots of local lakes including at the Assunpink and Colliers Mills wildlife management areas, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. “It’s all about live bait this time of year,” he said. Chain pickerel and largemouth bass also chewed. Walleyes were nailed from the Delaware River between Trenton and Frenchtown on swimming plugs, Mister Twisters and shiners.

The Delaware River’s walleye fishing was very good at Scudders Falls, said Carl from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Berkley Gulp leeches on small jigheads like ¼ ounce connected. Or some simply fished a big nightcrawler on a jighead. The walleyes weighed 3 or 4 pounds, and decent-sized smallmouth bass were occasionally mixed in. Little else was heard about fishing, but at least the walleye action was happening. Lots waited for March for crappie fishing.

Anglers did fish, because the weather was fair, through not a ton was reported caught, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. But crappie fishing seemed to be picking up at the Salem Canal. Chain pickerel were nabbed all around, and Rainbow Lake put up a good number. A few anglers fished for the picks at Malaga Lake and Iona Lake. Nothing was doing with largemouth bass. Minnows are stocked that are solid baits for crappies and picks.

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