<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river surged to 2,000 CFS on Tuesday, Eric from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski said. That was high for fishing, but the river flowed at 700 CFS at Pineville previously. Anglers then worked to catch steelheads, almost only at Pineville or the upper river, mostly on egg sacks and flies. The flow could be day-to-day, Eric said, or could be affected by melting snow or rains, causing the reservoir to be raised or lowered that feeds water into the river. Snow remained at places that would feed water into the reservoir when melting. A few brown trout began to be boated on Lake Ontario, and that fishing will be the focus for anglers next, as steelheads depart the river after spawning. The browns swim close to shore and are trolled.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Striped bass fishing became much better on Delaware River toward the end of the week, Bill Brinkman from Philadelphia’s <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> said in a post on his Facebook page. But no big ones caught were reported. Lots of 15- to 24-inchers were winged near Philadelphia airport, a great place for the fishing. One angler landed 40 there on Friday. An occasional striper about 30 inches was the largest heard about from anyplace on the river. Bill took his first trip of the season on the river Monday, reeling in six small stripers in a couple of hours, before windy weather chased him off. He hooked but lost probably a 30-incher, and everyone he spoke with during the trip caught 12- to 24-inchers. But a 31-incher was reported taken near Tacony-Palmyra Bridge during the outing. Bloodworms were the bait to fish.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Trout season opened on Saturday in New Jersey, and the fishing was slow the first two days, basically because of water temperature, said Joe from <b>Stokes Forest Sport Shop</b> in Sandyston. Catches began to pick up by Monday, and the fish were “localized,” Joe said, or the trout mostly remained where they were stocked, because of low waters. Waters were also clear, and customers mostly trout fish on Big Flatbrook, sometimes on Paulinskill River. Mostly small brook trout were banked, but occasional better-sized ones were beaten. Not a lot of fishing was reported from Delaware River. A few anglers tugged smallmouth bass, not many, from the river, and none mentioned walleyes from there. Shad migrated the river farther downstream, like at Lambertville, and usually reach the local river by mid-April. Lakes and ponds fished decent, not phenomenal, Joe said, for crappies and yellow perch, and the perch were spawning.

Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale trout fished on Sunday, he wrote in an e-mail. He first hit Paulinskill River, but the river rain “pitifully” low, he said. He managed one trout at Blairstown. So he moved to Pequest River, and the river ran just as low. But he worked pocket water, nailing a large brook trout and another trout. All the fish were released, and the big one, a real lunker, made the day. Dave fished with a rainbow-colored Rapala Countdown lure in size CD3, and specializes in lure fishing for trout on streams this time of year. Fishing with lures is a fun way to fish, and often catches large trout. That’s what he’s after. Spring is a good time for the fishing, because streams usually run highest then, and lure fishing requires depth to avoid snags on bottom and debris like logs. Later in the year, Dave will fish for catches including muskies and walleyes on lakes. Live to Fish Guide Service guides trips for trout, muskies, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleyes, crappies, chain pickerel, panfish, yellow perch, white perch, carp and more. Lakes fished include Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Monksville Reservoir, Echo Lake, Mountain Lake and Furnace Lake. Rivers fished include the Flatbrook, Pequest, Paulinskill and Ramapo.

Fishing for trout was good since opening day of trout season Saturday, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Lots, many of them brook trout, were bailed from Pequest and Rockaway rivers. Early black stoneflies sometimes hatched, and the rivers ran low, but rains forecast for Friday should help. Plenty of perch were plucked from most lakes, like at the shallows and coves at Lake Hopatcong. Little was heard about crappies, but if perch bit, crappies probably did. A few largemouth bass were whacked, but waters were cold for them. The bass were hooked from shallows, because of warmth, including on small Husky Jerks and small, 1/16- or 3/16-ounce jigs. Nothing good was reported from Delaware River. Walleyes had been nightcrawlered from the river downstream from Dingman’s Ferry on ¼-ounce jigs previously.

A good turnout of anglers showed up at the lake for opening day of trout season Saturday, Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong wrote in an e-mail. But not a lot of trout were looted, and windy weather didn’t help. The lake was also cold, but warmer weather this week should help. Several sizeable trout were weighed in, including Jim Archambault’s 2-pound 4-ounce brown and Jim Salerno’s 2-pound 7-ounce brown. Several 2-pound trout were trolled on Dr. Barbire’s boat trip. Fish the shallows with trolled, small Rapalas, Little Cleo’s or Phoebes. Or fish worms or fathead minnows. Several chain pickerel and some yellow perch and crappies were also nabbed. The state was slated to stock the lake with 2,600 trout this week and another 2,600 next week. The Knee Deep Club will hold a trout tournament Sunday, April 21, on the lake. For info, visit the club’s Web site or telephone Dow’s: 973-663-3826.

Customers all seemed happy with trout fishing everywhere since Saturday’s opening of trout season, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Many limited out, and a few big, breeder trout were caught. Trout fishing seemed a huge success including at Dahnert’s Lake, Barbour’s Pond, Ramapo River and Wanaque River. Nothing but good reports rolled in about Big Flatbrook’s trouting. Wax worms seemed best for trout fishing by far, and fathead minnows seemed next best. Tons of both were sold and had to be reordered. Northern pike fishing was picking up on Passaic River on large shiners. Nick will fish for largemouth bass this week on lakes, and had to guess waters broke 50 degrees, after slow largemouth fishing in waters in the 40s previously. Largemouthing should open up because of this week’s warmth, and fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass will be limited to catch and release starting Monday through June 15 for spawning. But anglers will still fish for them. A couple of anglers reported good largemouth fishing at Pompton Lake on jerk baits. One angler hauled in a largemouth there that topped 5 pounds and grabbed a jig.  

<b>Central Jersey</b>

From <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook, Darrel avoided trout fishing on this opening weekend of trout season, he said. He hadn’t fished the opener in years, because of crowds. Typical feedback, he said, was heard about the fishing, and some anglers were disappointed, and some were skunked. One angler landed five trout on Musconetong River on opening day on bait. Waters were low, including on the Musky, Raritan River and Pequest River, streams Darrel keeps track of. If waters remain low, and weather remains warm and sunny, trout fishing could become difficult. A 4-pound 3-ounce rainbow trout was weighed in that bit bait. If anglers fly fish for trout, Darrel would use zebra midges and maybe green caddis flies. They worked well for him lately. Nothing was heard about largemouth bass or other fish. Fishing was all about trout, because of the opening.

A few customers, not a lot, fished for trout since the season for the fish opened Saturday, but they caught, and the fishing wasn’t half bad, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. They fished waters including the Toms River and the Metedeconk River, catching mostly on bait. The fish probably weren’t used to the waters, he said. Both rivers were stocked again Monday. Eric Stout weighed in a 1.45-pound rainbow trout. Most lakes and ponds gave up yellow perch and lots of crappies. Chain pickerel fishing was good at most waters. Shiners, killies and all the trout worms are stocked, including meals, baby nightcrawlers and more.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Striped bass appeared in the local Delaware River on Monday, said Tom P. from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. One customers fly-rodded a 25-pounder and lost another striper at the bridge downstream from Calhoun Street Bridge, on a herring pattern he tied. Herring schooled all over the river, he said. He fished from a kayak or small boat or something. The river’s shad fishing went well at Trenton, Lambertville and farther upstream. Reports were heard about shad as far upstream as Columbia and Portland, almost to the Water Gap. Trout fishing was great at Delaware and Raritan Canal, including at Frenchtown, Washington Crossing and Wilburtha Road, since trout season opened Saturday. Trout magnets with silver sparkle caught. Trouting was outstanding at Big Flatbrook, though the stream ran somewhat low. Wax worms caught best, and butter worms worked next best. South Branch of Raritan River ran very low, so trout there stacked up in the holes. Trout fishing was super at lakes including Silver, Crystal and, farther south, Iona. At lakes, trout were smacked on black Roostertails with silver blades, orange, white or chartreuse Power Bait and orange or green Yum TroutKrilla. Nobody really talked about largemouth bass, chain pickerel or other fish, because most were interested in trout.

Delaware River’s striped bass fishing “started,” said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Westville. No large stripers were cranked in, and a 39-incher was the biggest Rick heard about. Fishing for stripers was best at Fortescue on Delaware Bay from shore through Sunday. Elsinboro, on the river, was probably one of the better places then, too. But stripers were banked from shore and boated on the river upstream to National Park, at places like Riverfront Park, Floodgates Road and RiverWinds. Nobody mentioned fishing the river since Sunday, and the fish seemed to be migrating up the river, so anglers will see where they reached now. From shore, bloodworms were best bait, and from boats, clams were. Trout fishing produced well since the season opened for them Saturday. That included at Greenwich Lake and Haddon Lake. A couple of large breeders were heard about. Little was reported about largemouth bass fishing, and waters were cold, and weather was rough, before this week’s warmth. Chain pickerel and crappies were fought from Wilson Lake. At Stewart Lake, “they were getting some fish,” Rick said. Pickerel were wrestled from Pine Barrens ponds. Big Timber, previously located in Brooklawn, was moved to Westville, at 600 Gateway Boulevard. The full supply of baits is stocked, including clams, bloodworms and shiners.

Grenloch Lake fished great for trout, said Ed Jr. from <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b> in Blackwood. Weigh-ins from there included an 8-pound rainbow on a Roostertail today, a 7-pound 10-ounce brown on Power Bait, a 5-pounder brown on Power Bait and some 2-pounders. A 2-pound 6-ounce rainbow was checked in from Iona Lake. Trout catches were also heard about from Rowan’s Pond and Harrisonville Lake. Nobody mentioned trouting at other places, including Oak Pond and Hammonton Lake. One customer eased a couple of largemouth bass from Laurel Lake. Crappies and chain pickerel were axed from Lake Rene. All the trout baits including meal worms and wax worms are stocked. Power Bait and spinners are on hand. Two sizes of minnows are carried for crappies and pickerel. Bloodworms are in supply for small striped bass reported socked from Delaware River. Bait arrived every day.

Largemouth bass fishing improved at lakes in warmer waters, said Vince from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland.  Jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps caught, and soft-plastic baits began to work. Since trout season opened Saturday, some anglers landed trout, and others didn’t. That probably depended on know-how and fishing the right holes. South Vineland Park, Iona Lake, Swedesboro Lake, Giampietro Park Pond and Maurice River were some of the spots fished for trout. Power Baits and meal worms were popular on them. 

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