<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

A major ice storm blanketed the area, making it tough for people to get out ice fishing, said Jeff from <b>FISH307.com</b>. When the storm cleared, iceheads hit the South Basin, where plenty of 8- to 10-inch ice offered fishing for lake trout, landlocked salmon, yellow perch and northern pike. Another 10 days of fishable ice was probably left, and customers were already having to plank out from the edges. If you want to guarantee your ice fix, head to the lake by this weekend.

<b>Salmon River</b>

Steelhead fishing picked up a little, because of somewhat warmer weather, said Suzanne at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. The river was running at 1,150 CFS, and a new surge of the fish seemed to move up the river, especially in the lower part, near the Black Hole, Ballpark and Town Pool areas. Anglers averaged three to five fish per day that weighed 6 to 12 pounds, and the fish were now keying in on trout beads and blue egg sacks. Once the weather stays in the 50’s with consistency, look for the spring run of steelies to get its groove on.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The bulk of reports from the Delaware River came from catfishers who targeted the waters around the Commodore Barry Bridge, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. One customer dunked chicken livers to pick up plenty of smaller cats, some days scoring 20, the largest around 8 pounds. A couple of anglers were up at Camac Street, fishing with herring and clams, to pick up a few catties. But others fishing Dredge Harbor reeled up a few quality yellow perch to a pound on live minnows. The Trenton power plant area turned out a mix of walleyes, crappies, catfish and gizzard shad, though no real numbers of any particular species showed up yet. With Pennsylvania’s trout fishing closed, customers looked forward to the reopening of the waters. Take note that some areas will reopen March 29 and others April 12. Fairless Hills Lake was one of the most consistent spots to fish lately, and crappies, perch, walleyes and largemouth bass bit. One customer gave the lake a try and bagged 20 crappies to 12 inches and two bass on minnows and small tubes. Another was going up to the lake each afternoon with wax worms and small marabou jigs, catching a mix of 10 to 25 of the different fish each day.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Massive downpours during the week really muddied up the Passaic River, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville, and although the river was unfishable the last few days, it might be ready to be pike fished by the weekend. Springtime is when the northerns are most active, and the next few weeks should give up plenty. Bring large live shiners for a hook-up, and pick up a map of the river’s hot spots at the store.

Rivers were running high and muddy in the past days, and the Rockaway River spilled out across the highway, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. The only catches came from Lake Hopatcong, where yellow perch were jigged in the coves. The Pequest River should be fishable by the weekend, and fly casters there can drift sizes 22 to 24 red midges to hook a rainbow.

Believe it or not, a little bit of fishable ice covered the cove near the store until Monday, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Ice anglers were pulling out yellow perch and pickerel, but the hard water is completely gone now. Most customers will now head to the Brady Bridge area to soak grubs and fathead minnows, jig Rufus Jrs. and cast small Husky Jerks for perch and picks. Try to pick warm, sunny days for best results.

The Passaic River was maxed out with muddy water, but the Ramapo River seemed unaffected by the rains, said Mark at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. That’s where the best trout fishing will center around. Remember, trout fishing season closes Monday, so get your fishing in now.

Northern pike started a springtime feed at Spruce Run Reservoir, said Chris at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b> in Lebanon. He fought two 4-pound pike on live shiners before the rains. The shop will carry large and extra large, live shiners specifically for pike fishing through the upcoming weeks. Round Valley Reservoir was holding healthy sized trout along the shore, and a 4-pound brownie was weighed in that bit a live shiner swum along the rocks at the boat launch. Lake trout hovered in the 60- to 65-foot depths, and boaters were slow-trolling large live shiners or flutter spoons at that depth to grab the lakers to 6 pounds. After trout season closes on Monday, a total of 570,000 trout will be stocked in nearly 200 lakes, ponds, and streams throughout the Garden State by the time spring stocking concludes in May. Get ready for opening day on April 5.
 
Trouters looking for a last catch can target the South Branch of the Raritan River or the Musconetcong River, because those streams will clean up first from the muddying rains, said Ron at <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. On the South Branch the Ken Lockwood Gorge will be a go-to spot, and on the Muskie the Point Mountain stretch will be prime, and toss out size-14 black stonefly nymphs.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Before the rains, the Pequest River was dishing out impressive rainbow trout for anglers casting size-22 Blue Winged Olives, said Mark from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Look for the upper stretch of the Pequest to clean up relatively quickly and to be fishable by the weekend.

The upper sections of the Manasquan river will give trout anglers a good last shot before the season closes Monday, said Eric from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. Try using pink Power Baits or garden worms in the Squankum Falls area. Be sure to stop by the shop on the opening day of trout season, April 5, because the pond behind the store will be stocked with trout for kids ages 5 to 11 to reel in all day long.

Pickerel fishing was status quo in the Trilco section of the Toms River, said Dennis at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Live shiners fished on the flats worked best. The smaller Ocean County College ponds were home to yellow perch and crappie that fed on small meal worms and curly tailed grubs in yellow and white.

<b>South Jersey</b>

The Delaware River was chocolate milk since the rains, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. So anglers were better suited to concentrate on the lakes. Carnegie Lake put out crappie fishing that should continue, and the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes offered up a few largemouth bass that attacked slowly retrieved crank baits.

Although the Delaware River was overflowing and muddy, that might be a good sign, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Shad usually seem to move in after the river floods, and the recent surge of water might just prompt them to make their move soon. Be sure to load up with flutter spoons and shad darts. Anglers at Gropp’s Lake and Carnegie Lake scored yellow perch, white perch, crappie and largemouth bass, and the panfish inhaled small, 1/32-ounce jigs. The aqueduct on Carnegie Lake was the best spot for all the species.

Most patrons were still attacking chain pickerel at the Route 72 lakes, said Dick from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Waretown. The store is now carrying a full array of nightcrawlers and garden worms for pickerel fishing.

Largemouth bass fishing was picking up right before the rainstorms, said Steve at <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. But it’ll take a few days for the lakes to clear up for anglers to get back to bassing. Rat-L-Traps and Lucky Craft Pointer plugs were fooling the bucketmouths before the rains, and bassmasters should try to hit the most tannic lakes such as Iona Lake, Malaga Lake and Wilson Lake, because they’ll clean up first. White perch anglers were bailing the tasty scrappers in the Maurice and the Tuckahoe rivers, and grass shrimp worked well.

The Maurice River’s banks were now attracting striper anglers, but no keepers were reportedly caught yet, said Ki at <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Bloodworms were the best bet, and a host of white perch in the river were also eager to suck down bloods. Try floating whole bloods for the bass, and bits threaded on hooks for the whiteys.

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