<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Monday was probably the best salmon fishing so far this season on the river, Jay Peck from <b>Jay Peck Guide Service</b> said that evening in a phone call after a trip. The trip hooked a few and landed one Chinook or king salmon. A nice, light squirt of the fish, he said, barreled through the lower river at the Douglaston Salmon Run. Farther downstream, a couple of trips scored good catches, and that looked like a gob of the salmon was about to migrate up. An actual run might’ve been beginning. Looks like things are warming up, he said. Boaters on the lake caught them fine near the river. The river ran consistently at 335 cubic feet per second, normal for the time of year. The season was dry, but rain that fell, including a good rain Saturday night to Sunday morning, was timely, and the reservoirs held a decent water level. Weather cooled, and the river cooled 10 degrees Sunday night. It was 62 degrees Monday morning, an awesome temperature for salmon to migrate up from Lake Ontario. The water was probably 66 degrees later in the day. Jay would expect the river to warm back up 5 degrees or so, and weather was supposed to become warmer this week. It was 47 degrees Monday morning. The king landed was bright-colored, fresh from the lake. “Boy, that fish was grumpy,” he said. Salmon now are “hot,” because they’re fresh from the lake. When hooked, they seemed like they didn’t just want to get off, but wanted to break something, he said! Jay specializes in fly-fishing and catch-and-release, and books trips that fish with conventional tackle with his other guides. His trips caught on Wooly Buggers swung along bottom across current. Salmon migrate to the river each fall to spawn, and anglers including Jay and his guides target them then on the river.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Water was low and warm, and largemouth bass seemed not so active in lakes, said John from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. But the fish reportedly bit at Lake Hopatcong in deeper holes. The season was early for trout fishing, because of warmth. Trout rivers and streams were low and needed rain. Fall trout stocking will begin October 11. A few customers geared up for salmon fishing in upstate New York, and the migration into rivers from Lake Ontario was beginning there. In saltwater, big bluefish and false albacore showed up. A surfer reported seeing albies jumping all around and baitfish at Spring Lake on Sunday.

Passaic River lit up with smallmouth bass, said Joe from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook. A number of customers socked them, and good fishing for northern pike, catfish and carp was also bombed from the river. Most customers who fished the river fished from shore, and the river ran somewhat low but very fishable. Good largemouth bass fishing was whipped from Lake Hopatcong, and an 8-pounder was hauled from there Thursday. Joe was unsure what anglers fished for the largemouths, but assumed they flipped in shallow water. Customers geared up for tuna fishing in saltwater, and the shop stocks big-game tackle including for tuna and sharks.

Decent smallmouth bass fishing continued on Raritan River’s main stem and south branch, actually, said Braden from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Ten- to 18-inchers continually bit, and a few bigger did. Z-Man’s TRD, a finesse rubber worm, was the “bait of the year, by far,” he said. Delaware River’s smallmouthing was decent, though not a lot was heard about it. Weather became somewhat cooler, but largemouth bass were still top-watered on frog and mouse lures at ponds in Somerset and Union counties. Northern pike to the mid-30 inches were smashed again, the fishing turned back on, on Passaic River on big shiners and large spinner baits. Weather remained warm for trout fishing on streams, “but we’re getting close,” he said.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Largemouth bass fishing sounded slow or not great, according to all who fished for them whom Matt spoke with from <b>Harry’s Army Navy</b> in Robbinsville, he said. They fished for them mostly at ponds – smaller, less popular waters – but also at popular spots like the lakes at Assunpink Wildlife Management Area and Mercer Lake. The change of seasons and not a lot of baitfish might’ve been reasons the angling was slower. He fished for them often last year at this time of year, catching well on jigs. But conditions were different last year, including baitfish were abundant then.  If anglers fish for largemouths, plastics will probably catch, and so will probably top-waters in evenings and at night. Matt’s been concentrating on smallmouth bass fishing on Delaware River, scoring well. The river was about as low as it gets, and that won’t change, until rain falls. If anything, the river will become lower, until then. Nevertheless, the fishing could be good, if anglers knew where to go and had the right boat. Shore anglers could catch the smallmouths, but a boat increased odds. Anglers also needed to fish early in morning or late in the day. The smallmouths could be found at certain areas pretty much from Trenton to Frenchtown.  A jet boat was best, because of the shallow water. Nearly everywhere he fished, he had to pass across 6 inches of water or shallower to reach areas with the good angling. The fishing was more about finding the smallmouths than what to fish for them. But he fishes a variety of plastics like Senko worms, tubes and swim baits. Other tackle including jerk baits could work. Other fishing could be available. Crappies could likely be angled at Mercer Lake and other places, for instance. But most customers fished for largemouths at lakes or smallmouths on the river.

This is always a quieter time for news, when kids return to school and seasons are changing, said Jason from <b>STC Sports</b> in Gibbstown. But if anglers fish for largemouth bass at lakes, night was still a popular time, because of daytime warmth. Nobody reported fishing for snakeheads or bowfins that can be popular in local creeks, tributaries of Delaware River. Catfish can almost always be caught from the river. Mackerel is a popular bait for them, and similar baits can work including bunker. No striped bass were known to be around in substantial populations that can school the rivers or creeks this season during some years. Blueclaw crabs were plucked from far up creeks, not in numbers like near the shore, but some. They held unusually far upstream, like maybe a mile. Maybe they stayed away from high salinity farther downstream. The saltwater line was far up the Delaware because of the dry season.  

Fair fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was copped at Union Lake, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Some good-sized but not a lot of the fish were hooked. Nothing was heard about Lake Audrey recently, though Steve reported good largemouthing there in past weeks. Largemouth tournaments were held at Salem Canal, but news was scarce, and he didn’t know whether that meant the fishing was slow. A few customers mentioned tangling with lots of bluegills at lakes. Seemed unusual hearing about that repeatedly, but the fishing must’ve been good. Good white perch fishing was talked about from brackish, tidal creeks toward Fortescue. Nothing was reported about summer flounder fishing in saltwater since the storm. 

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