<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

What ice did form on the coves of Lake George got broken up by warm weather, said Ron from <b>FISH307.com</b> in the town of Lake George. But the good news was that temps this week were expected to drop to the subzero range, and that should rebuild the ice and get things going. The ice on Glen Lake and Brant Lake held up nicely, and both maintained 7 to 8 inches on top. Yellow perch and crappie were the catch on those lakes, and rosy reds and medium shiners got bites. Ice anglers should be able to expect Lake George to be fishable by about the third week of January, when the ice has been historically good enough.

<b>Salmon River</b>

Constant rains flooded the Salmon River, pushing the flow to 1,100 CFS, said Eric at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. But anglers averaged 1 to 4 steelheads from 6 to 10 pounds per trip. The best fishing took place from Altmar to the Two-Way Bridge, and egg sacks in blue, pink or white worked well, and so did stonefly patterns in sizes 10 to 14 that were tied with copper shell backs.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Trout fishing at Levittown Lake was the best gig around, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Several customers were heading over each day, landing 1 to 5 rainbow trout from 10 and 14 inches apiece. Wax worms, meal worms, nightcrawlers, salmon Power Bait and Kastmasters were popular. Fishing on the Delaware River was quiet, except at Neshaminy Marina, where bigger crappie and yellow perch were caught off the docks and along the pilings on small marabou jigs, twister tails and small minnows. A few customers were fishing Dredge Harbor and doing well on crappies, yellow perch and largemouth bass, mostly on jigs tipped with minnows, worms or plastic twister tails.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The ice that had been fishable on Lake Hopatcong broke up, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. But it should build up again this week, with temperatures in the teens expected during nights. Anglers could fight northern pike on the Passaic River on livelined, large shiners or suckers at the bridges.

Trout anglers were plying the Stokes State Forest section of the Big Flatbrook, reeling in fairly decent-sized rainbows to 20 inches that inhaled small, bead-headed nymphs, said Dom at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Ice anglers were fishing Lake Telemarx and Green Pond, where 6 inches of hard water allowed them to set out tip ups for quality catches of yellow perch.

Most of the ice that had been fishable on the lake was unsafe by the weekend, said Laurie at <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong.  But it should be fishable by this weekend, if the forecasts for chilly temperatures pan out. Then ice fishers should try the state park cove and the Woodport section to tangle with chain pickerel and yellow perch.

Here’s a timely reminder: Lots of customers were buying 2008 fishing licenses, said Tom from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield, so don’t forget yours. The smaller ponds such as Barber’s Pond gave up excellent catches of 16- to 18-inch trout on Roostertails. Ice-fishing hounds were scouting out Monksville Reservoir to find safe ice in the coves, and yellow perch and chain pickerel were biting for the flag chasers who dropped down live, medium-sized shiners.

Round Valley Reservoir offered decent shoreline trout fishing, and lots of the fish were just under the 15-inch minimum size, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. The trout were eating up marshmallow and meal worm combos as well as shiners on floating jigheads. The Clinton stretch of the South Branch of the Raritan River was putting out trout, despite high, muddy conditions. Ice that had formed on the northern ponds broke up because of warmer weather, but the coming low temperatures should start making ice again. 

Rains contributed to high water conditions in Central Jersey, said Ron at <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield, and that limited trout anglers to bank fishing. Mid-day hours were best to hook the salmonids, and streamer patterns and size-14 bead-headed nymphs worked well. The Pequest River was producing regular catches of trout, but any streams should be holding trout now in the wintertime, Ron said.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Rains caused high water on the local streams, and many trout anglers had to use size-B split shots to send nightcrawlers to the bottom at spots such as the Pequest and South Branch, said Ron at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Don’t miss the shop’s 20-percent off sale on all fly tying materials, and Trout Unlimited members can get an additional 10 percent off.

A few anglers were buying up nightcrawlers to hit Spring Lake, said Roy from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. They were finding trout and largemouth bass willing to bite, and mid-day hours were best, because of warmer water.

Fishing for chain pickerel was the best bet, said Dennis at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The Trilco section of the Toms River was holding a mess of 2-pound picks that were eating live, medium-sized shiners. Other pickerel hot spots included the Seacourt Pavilion Pond and Forge Pond. White perch could also be found at Forge Pond, and fathead minnows or meal worms scored the attacks.

<b>South Jersey</b>

A smorgasboard of species was available at Gropp’s Lake, making it the best place to hit, said Sean at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Yellow perch, largemouth bass and crappie were all taken from the lake, mostly on small grubs and nightcrawlers. Chain pickerel anglers were loading up at Prospertown Lake, and live shiners got the most attention. A sustained walleye feed was going on at the Lambertville section of the Delaware River on small crank baits.

Trout fishing was taking top billing, said Carl at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown, as the Pequest River and the Ken Lockwood Gorge were getting attention from trout anglers who were reeling in 2- to 3-pound rainbows. Small egg patterns or sucker spawn patterns in sizes 18 to 20 were the key for fly fishers. The Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area ponds were a good place to catch pickerel, and any of the ponds would give up at least a half-dozen on a day out.

Skim ice disappeared from the local lakes and ponds, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland, so anglers could fish the waters from sunup to sundown, instead of being forced to wait for the ice to melt after the sun was high in the sky. Mary Elmer Lake was a surprisingly good spot to pick up largemouth bass, and Steve himself fished there, tossing out Mann’s 1-Minus Plugs to pull on a half-dozen bucketmouths in the 2 to 3-pound range right from the banks. Big trout were taken in the Maurice River, especially in the Almond Road area, and try throwing Panther Martin spinners or gold Roostertails.

The Maurice River doled out white perch for anglers hitting the higher tides, said Ki at <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Bank anglers could float out frozen grass shrimp underneath a bobber to fill up a bucket of the tasty treats. Trout were taken in the upper stretches of the river on pink Power Bait.

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