<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Steelhead fishing was steady on the river, said Scott from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. The river flowed at 750 CFS for a few days now, and at 1,150 at Pineville. Salmon eggs and trout beads hooked the fish. Pink and blue were especially effective colors for the eggs. But any bright, large eggs worked. A few brown trout were tugged in. None was large, and fishing for them wasn’t spectacular, but the trout were definitely caught. Paths in the snow were beaten down well to access the river. Ice on lakes was thickening, so participation in ice-fishing was picking up. Complete supplies are stocked for both the river’s fishing and ice-fishing.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Lakes held skim ice that wasn’t thick enough to fish on, said Joe from <b>Stokes Forest Sport Shop</b> in Sandyston. But the ice prevented boat launching, so lakes couldn’t really be fished. Lakes were open maybe a third in the middle. The ice had started to thicken. Then weather turned warm, but now weather became colder again. Delaware River ran somewhat low, and precipitation in New York might raise the waters a little. The river’s walleye fishing usually peaks in January and February, and nobody mentioned trying for them recently. Rains fell at the shop, but didn’t pour. Big Flatbrook can rise quickly from rains, but also drops back down quickly, and the stream’s been low, and will likely remain that way in the near future. When customers trout fish, they mostly fish there. 

A few anglers were heard about who trout fished on streams, said Mike from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. One fished Big Flatbrook, landing trout on egg flies. Other trout anglers fished midges. Trout streams probably ran low, like they’ve been. One angler said muskies were boated on Greenwood Lake about a week ago. Customers sometimes traveled to upstate New York for steelhead fishing on Lake Ontario’s tributaries like Salmon River. Fewer did than before, because of cold weather. But the fishing lasts all winter.

Though nobody really fished in the weather, northern pike could certainly be pulled from Passaic River, said Joe from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook. Snow cleared from roads had been piled at the access areas. As long as anglers can access the waters, pike will keep biting for them. Catfish will also chew in the river.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Scott from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook trout fished at Ken Lockwood Gorge on Sunday, he said. Trout were reeled in, and anglers often fished an egg fly with a nymph dropper for them. Streamers flies were also common, and the waters were a bit high, because of snow melt. Trout, mostly rainbows, sometimes browns, were banked at Round Valley Reservoir from shore. M&M combos, or meal worms and marshmallows, were fished for them, and one customer nailed a 9-pound rainbow there. Fishing news was slower last week because of snow. But a few customers got back out and fished during the weekend.

Customers bought shiners to fish for chain pickerel on Toms River near Garden State Parkway, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in the town of Toms River. That’s always a place for pickerel, and pickerel will bite throughout winter. Anglers were seen trout fishing farther upstream, at the Trout Conservation Area on the Toms. They probably caught, and big, breeder trout were placed in Lake Shenandoah during the recent winter trout stocking.

Walleyes, decent-sized, were whacked from Delaware River at the Lambertville wing dam, said Karl from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. The waters became somewhat iced then melted, so anglers fished for the walleyes again. Three-inch black or purple Mister Twisters on a small jighead will draw them to strike. The jighead should be just heavy enough to kick bottom, like three-eighths of an ounce, depending on the river’s flow. One customer tried for largemouth bass at a pond on a trip. He missed one hit but landed another largemouth on a bubblegum-colored Senko, just barely moving the worm, like throwing it out then shaking the rod a little. Many anglers trout fished on northern streams like Ken Lockwood Gorge’s South Branch of the Raritan River. They tossed flies like sizes 18 and 20 pheasant-tail nymphs or an RS-II midge or emerger. Small, sizes 16 or 18 egg flies were also fished, like McFly foam eggs.

Skim ice probably formed on lakes now, said Jeff from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Weather became colder again, so the ice probably prevented fishing. Reports from the shop in the past have said that open waters at spillways are an option to fish when that happens. A minnow under a bobber can be a best bet for a strike from whatever fish will gather there. Chain pickerel and crappies will stay active in the cold, unlike some fish, like largemouth bass, that can become dormant in low temperatures.

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