<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Ten inches of snow dumped on the area, and the river only ran at 750 CFS, but the snow made the downstream stretches a bit slushy, said Suzanne at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. So anglers fished upriver, including at Pineville and the Two Bridges, catching steelheads on blue and pink egg sacks. Local guides said the fishing was more of a pick than a pull, but dedicated anglers could land a half-dozen per day. Sandy Pond was now iced over with 4 1/2 inches, and hard-water anglers chased flags. They pulled up yellow perch and bluegills, along with some pike and largemouth bass, and shiners worked best.

Cold, slush and ice made fishing somewhat difficult, but the weather was forecast to become warmer this week, said Paul Auguscinski from <b>SAS Guide Service</b> from Pulaski. The question now will be the effects of runoff from melting snow. But steelheads could be fought on the river, and a few brown and rainbow trout were around. The trout by this time in the season become a by-catch. Steelhead fishing lasts all winter long, and fewer crowds can be one advantage through the cold months. The weather can be challenging, but some then enjoy the reward of catching the fish all the more. SAS Guide Service spin fishes for salmon, steelheads and trophy trout on wade and drift-boat trips, and enjoys teaching anglers the techniques that will help them learn how to hook up themselves, in hopes they can return on their own to catch.

Trips Saturday and Sunday were cancelled because of forecasts for snowstorms, said Bill Ferman from <b>High Hook Guide Service</b> from Pulaski. Two steelheads were hooked but got off on a trip Friday before the weather. The days were cold, and Monday was around 14 degrees, but the chill was forecast to end today, with low-40-degree temps and rains, and Bill planned to fish. Steelheads on Friday were the only fish he saw and heard were caught, but a few brown and rainbow trout were surely around. Steelheads are the thing in winter, though, and they’re beautiful fish. High Hook will angle for them through the winter, and sometimes the weather will be too much during the cold months, but trips will fish during the breaks. Lighter crowds in winter can be an advantage, but cold waters can also make steelheads sluggish. So there are advantages and disadvantages, but the fishing will continue through the season.  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 ran high and somewhat muddy, said Bill at <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. But once it filters out, anglers can nab walleyes along the bottom. Try dropping down jigs and bucktails tipped with fathead minnows or white curly grubs, fishing above Trenton at New Hope and Point Pleasant. Trout bent rods at Core Creek and Levittown Lake for anglers fishing fatheads and wax worms.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The northern Sussex County ponds started to form ice, said Kevin at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus, and ice fishing might kick in by year’s end. Silver Lake was still open, and anglers there cast green Power Baits to bag a few trout. Lake Aeroflex also gave up decent trout action, and gold phoebe lures worked well.

Extremely high winds made the crew pull out the rental boats, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. But if winds start to hold off, they’ll put them back in this weekend, so anglers can tangle with walleyes. Walleyes hung off the points and could be caught with ice-fishing Rapala jigs worked in the 35- to 40-foot depths off Nolan’s Point, Chestnut Point and Elba Point. Ice formed in the coves, but the winds kept breaking it up. Give it a few days of no winds, and a cover of ice should start to form to get ice-fishing season rolling.

Trout action remained steady on the Pequest River, said Mark from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The key was to go micro with flies, using Pelico scuds in sizes 20 to 24 or hellgrammite patterns in size 16. More than enough trout were there to go around, he said.

Shoreline anglers at Round Valley Reservoir drilled excellent catches of trout, but the trick to real success was to steel up and fish during night, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. One angler got out from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., saying the action was non-stop, with browns and rainbows hammering shiners fished under bobbers. Lake trout were all over the place, and if you can jump in a boat, drop down shiners for surefire hook-ups. Fly casters hit the South Branch of the Raritan River to come up with rainbows, and small, size-16, bead-headed nymphs worked magic.

With strong flows on the rivers from rains and snow, and cold days to boot, <b>Skylands Angler</b> from Clinton took a break from trout fishing to give the conditions time to settle, Bill Hoffman said. But the flows were already coming down, and trips will fish through winter. Winter is actually a great time for trout angling on Jersey’s streams, with cold waters that trout prefer, and less fishing pressure, making the fish more eager to bite and less spooky. That also adds up to better chances for beginners to hook up. Bill also enjoys winter for casting and fly-tying lessons that he gives, a perfect time to prepare for the coming season. When fishing at this time of year, nymphing is productive with flies like hare’s ears, pheasantails and midges. Use small patterns, unless waters are high, when larger sizes can help the flies sink. But for variety, throw streamers, and the type of streamer isn’t so important, but dark colors are best. Skylands Angler guides fly-fishing trips for trout on the Musconetcong and Pequest rivers and Ken Lockwood Gorge. 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 for trout in winter.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Round Valley Reservoir’s trout fishing was the big story, said Mike at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Shiners drew plenty of rainbows and browns near the boat launch, and they seemed to eat during all hours of the day and night. Stream anglers racked up plenty of trout on the Pequest River and the Ken Lockwood Gorge on small nymphs.

Most customers headed to the Winding River and Lake Riviera to wrestle with pickerel, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. But the fishing was on and off, day to day. When the bite was on, the picks chased down shiners, Senkos and rubber worms along the pond edges. The Trilco section of the Toms River was also a chainsider haven.

With recent rains and snowfalls, streams got back to highly fishable levels, said Frank at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Trout will be on the feed, willing to suck up nightcrawlers and Power Baits on the South Branch of the Raritan, Musconetcong and Pequest rivers. Crappies nibbled on grub tails and fathead minnows at Carnegie Lake and Rising Sun Lake.

Once the Delaware River settles from rising, dirtied waters, walleye fishing should pick right back up, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Runs such as at the wing dam, the Power Plant and Scudder’s Falls should hold the fish, and anglers should target the bottom with 1/8-ounce jigs tipped with shiners, nightcrawlers or Gulp leeches. A rig with a sliding egg sinker and a hooked nightcrawler will also do the job.

<b>South Jersey</b>

The majority of anglers tried their luck with chain pickerel, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Hot spots lately included Malaga Lake, Iona Lake, Wilson Lake and Franklinville Lake. Toss out shiners underneath a float about two feet down. Or use slow-moving crank baits, such as floating Rapalas.

Diehards who braved frigid temperatures early this week did a number on pickerel, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Iona Lake, Malaga Lake and Wilson Lake were three top waters, and jerk baits, such as Husky Jerks and X-Raps, drew attacks around the shoreline edges. Crappies were plucked from the Salem Canal, and 2-inch grubs and tubes in black and blue got the nod. Work the plastics with a frantic twitch, but keep the lure in one place.

The Maurice River was still a good hole to find trout, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Ray Zalinkie fished south of Almond Road, away from the road, pulling out a 4-pound 8-ounce brown trout and three gorgeous brook trout. The river ran high but should subside in the next few days. White perch were on tap in the brackish waters in the Maurice, and frozen grass shrimp or nightcrawlers put up double digits of the fish.

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