<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Rains really put a flow into the river, running at 1,800 to 2,000 CFS, said Suzanne at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. So the Pineville section and above were best for fishing, and the smaller feeder streams were manageable to work. Cast out blue and copper egg sacks for steelies in the 8- to 12-pound range. But if fishing on a drift boat, concentrate on waters below Pineville, because more steelheads seemed to hang there.

Lots of steelhead swam the river, and <b>High Hook Guide Service</b> from Pulaski angled in good catches during the weekend, Bill Ferman said. He saw no rainbow trout or brown trout banked, and no trips fished the river in the past couple of days. The flow increased to 1,800 CFS, challenging to fish and land hooked fish. With the air temp at minus 1 degree when Bill left for the trip Saturday morning, the creeks were too filled with ice to fish. By yesterday air temps reached the low 30s, and some snow fell. Snowstorms were also in the current forecast. Steelheads filled the whole river, and the trip Saturday fished the upper Salmon, and the one on Sunday bounced around the whole length. Steelheads will swim the river the entire winter, until the fish spawn in spring. High Hook both wades and drift-boats for salmon, steelheads and trophy brown and rainbow trout with both spinning gear and fly rods.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River gave up a pick of species, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Catfish were angled on clams and shrimp from the Trenton area shoreline, and two to three per outing was average. A couple of anglers tested the river at Dredge Harbor, catching a few, bigger yellow perch on minnows fished under bobbers. One customer headed to the Trenton discharge with fathead minnows and jigs to wallop several walleyes, and a few carp and catfish were reportedly taken in the area. Core Creek and Levittown Lake were being stocked with trout this week, and meal worms, earthworms, wax worms, Power Baits and spoons will all work to pull out the fish. Another customer fished Levittown Lake , bagging one trout and four crappies on Kastmasters.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Heavy rains flooded the area, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. But trout anglers traveled to Barber’s Pond in the Garrett Mountain area to hook up, and Verona Park Lake was also a consistent trout producer. Use nightcrawlers or pink Power Baits in the ponds and lakes for a strike.

The Pequest River was a steady source of trout activity, said Dom at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Rainbows smacked gold Phoebes and Mepps spinners on a regular basis. The Musconetcong River was also a good bet to find trout for anglers casting spinners or baits such as meal worms.

Downpours added another foot to the water level on the lake, said Joe from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Two rental boaters made it out, scoring well on walleyes while fishing off Chestnut Point, Elba Point and Nolan’s Point, and 40-foot depths were best. Anglers who jigged ice-fishing Rapalas averaged four to eight fish per person in the 3- to 8-pound class.

Trout fishing pleased on the Pequest, Big Flatbrook and Paulinskill rivers, said Mark from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield.  The angling was a bait feed, with garden worms and baby nightcrawlers working best. Barber’s Pond was also a hot spot for trout that pounced garden worms fished on the bottom.

The South Branch of the Raritan River held a pick of trout in the deeper runs and pools, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Smaller nymphs such as flashback hare’s ears in sizes 14 to 16 grabbed attention during mid-day hours. Round Valley Reservoir shoreline anglers kept sinking hooks into rainbow trout by the boat launch, mostly on nightcrawlers.

Bill Hoffman from <b>Skylands Angler</b> from Clinton fly-rodded 10-pound redfish and quite a few snook from Boca Grande, Florida, in the past days, but he’d soon return to guided trips for trout in the Garden State. The Florida fishing was great, he said. While he waded the flats he cast Puglisi baitfish flies to tailing reds, and the snook punched the same flies. In the past Bill also fly rodded many big tarpon from Boca Grande. When he returns to Jersey, the trout fishing will probably depend on water levels, and he heard that rains fell, and when he left, streams were already high or 1,000 CFS. Two-hundred CFS is ideal. Look for waters with the best clarity and water temperatures. Nymphing will be productive, and maybe fish the deeper holes. In faster waters use larger, size-12 hare’s ears or sizes 12 to 14 pheasantails. But for variety, throw streamers in dark olives or black, and the color and size are more important than the exact pattern. The Pequest River, with regulated flow from the hatchery, will likely be the clearest stream. The right water flows and warmer days help. But winter really is a better time for trout fishing, because of water temperatures, but also because of less fishing pressure. Of course, the trout get skittish when pressure is higher in the warm months. Winter conditions also make the season ideal for beginner trout anglers. Pinpoint, accurate casts become less important as the fish become less wary, willing to swim around and feed, for example. If you want to fly rod for trout in Jersey, go now. Skylands Angler guides fly-fishing trips on the trout streams of the western state, namely the Musconetcong and Pequest rivers and Ken Lockwood Gorge on the South Branch of the Raritan River. Bill aims to teach anglers, whether beginners or advanced, how to fish the rivers, even so they can come back and catch on their own. That includes fly selection, how to fish the flies, casting lessons and all aspects. He’s also available for trips for other fish like largemouth bass, if anglers want to fly rod for them. Skylands Angler fishes all year long, including in winter for trout.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Locals made the trip to upstate New York’s Salmon River in Pulaski, said Bert from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Steelhead fishing there was excellent, offering average catches of four to six per angler. Back at home, the Pequest River was a good bet for rainbows, and small Rapala Countdowns in silver and black accounted for the larger fish.

Most of the recent activity localized around the Toms River, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Trouters found action while casting Mepps spinners and CP Swings as well as Power Bait dough. The trout also struck small, 1/16-ounce herring darts with white hair and pink or chartreuse heads. Pickerel were a steady source of entertainment in the Trilco stretch of the river for those who swam shiners.

The Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes all seemed to hold crappies and a few largemouth bass, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. The crappies honed in on 1-1/16-ounce marabou jigs tipped with Mister Twisters or Trout Magnets. The key to getting a hit was to slow twitch the jigs once every three seconds or so. Small, 3- to 4-inch tubes in black and blue hung the largemouths to 2 1/2 pounds.

The season was late for largemouth bass, but some still swam active in the Assunpink Wildlife Management Lakes and Prospertown Lake, said Steve from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Marabou jigs with trailer hooks fixed with Uncle Josh pork rinds scored bass to 3 pounds, and so did suspending jerk baits twitched slowly in the middle of the water column. Crappies were on the chew at Rising Sun and Stone Tavern lakes and Lake Mercer, inhaling small marabou jigs tipped with fathead minnows. Crappies were really beginning to turn on, and double-digit catches were commonplace.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Anglers were on a steady pull of chain pickerel, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Malaga Lake and Grenloch Lake were top spots, and shiners or in-line spinners got the job done.

Crappie fishing was top notch, and the tasty panfish hid out in Union Lake, the Salem Canal and Sunset Lake near the bridge, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Two-inch tubes in white, chartreuse or pumpkin got the most hits. Pickerel were also on the menu at most of the cedar lakes, and Iona Lake, Wilson Lake and the Cumberland Ponds were all home to 1- to 2-pound picks chasing down fathead minnows, CP Swings and stick baits cast along the shoreline.

Fishing on the Maurice River was settling into a wintertime pattern, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Mainly catfish and white perch were on tap, and the catties sucked up Uncle Josh Mr. Catfish dough baits fished on the bottom. The perch ate up frozen grass shrimp fished underneath floats.

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