<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

Catches slowed for ice anglers on Great Sacandaga Lake, for unknown reasons, said Hank from <b>Fuel-n-Food</b> in Mayfield. Previously he had said the lake’s walleye fishing was mediocre but getting better. No apparent factors like weather changed the angling, and the days grew warmer, reaching temps in the 30s. But a couple of 40-inch, monster pike were hammered near Scout Island. Caroga Lake offered up good catches of splake, and shiners will work, or anglers can jig up smelts for bait there. Plenty of lake trout were hunted on Piseco Lake, also on jigged up smelts from the waters, but most anglers used shiners or icicles. Angling at Mayfield Lake was all right for yellow perch, pickerel and a few northern pike on shiners. An inch of snow fell, but the lakes were mostly clear of snow. A pile of snow normally lay on the area in winter, and snow this year had built up for a moment early in the season and then melted. Combine a trip with a chance at prizes in the local fishing tournaments. The Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Foundation Ice Fishing Contest takes place Saturday, with $1,500 in prizes. The Fish House contest will be held Saturday and Sunday. The Walleye Challenge, the region’s biggest tourney, takes place the next Saturday, January 30, with $1,000 an hour in prizes from augers to quad runners. Ross’s Bait and Tackle, Hank’s dad’s shop, will hold its contest February 20, and Fuel-n-Food’s 11th Annual Weekend Long Ice Fishing Tournament is on the books for March 5 to 7 on Great Sacandaga Lake, with loads of cash prizes. Baits stocked at Fuel-n-Food include shiners, suckers, fatheads and icicles, and the store carries a full supply of ice-fishing tackle and gear, probably the largest selection in stock in the area. Plus the shop is a convenience store, serves breakfast and lunch and sells all types of fuel, and is located near plenty of accommodations, not to mention fishing.

<b>Salmon River</b>

Steelhead fishing maintained a steady pace on the river, said Eric at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Average daily catches ran from three to six fish in the 3- to 8-pound class, and stoneflies and pink egg sacks took the bulk of the catches. Ice fishing was red hot at Sandy Pond on 12 inches of the cover to catch crappies, yellow perch and northern pike. In front of the Wigwam was the latest honey hole, and buckeyes and fathead minnows were best baits on a tip up.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The ice became pretty much unsafe at Levittown Lake and Lake Luxembourg at Core Creek Park, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia.  But if air temperatures chill down by week’s end, the lakes should be ice-fishable again next week. The only action in the Delaware River seemed to localize around the warmer waters at the Trenton power plant. Largemouth bass and small striped bass were hung on shiners there. The river at Dredge Harbor gave up a few largemouths for anglers working small swimming plugs.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Lake Hopatcong served up plenty of action through the ice, said Don at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Most anglers ran to the state park area for pickerel and yellow perch on shiners on tip ups.

The ice should be fine through the weekend, because night temperatures are supposed to dip below freezing, even though the week was warm, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. The ice was anywhere from 6 to 9 inches thick, and Marcin Supinski walloped an 8-pound 8-ounce walleye at Chestnut Point on a jigged Northland Puppet Minnow. Stanley Malinowski pulled up a 13.1-pound channel catfish from off the point as well. Hybrid striped bass to 6 pounds were jigged in the deeper waters. The Woodport and state park areas produced loads of perch, bass and pickerel, and both shiners and jigs got hit. The Knee Deep Club will hold an ice tourney on the lake Sunday, and anglers can call the shop for info: 973-663-3826.

Ice fishing held strong at the Vernon Lakes, turning out yellow perch, big crappies and largemouth bass that inhaled shiners, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. But jigging also worked well there and at the Highland Lakes, where excellent numbers of crappies, largemouths, smallmouths and perch were socked. For jiggers, small Kastmasters tipped with mousies or wax worms were best offerings. Ice anglers also knocked off perch and crappies at Greenwood Lake and a steady supply of both fish at Lake Musconetcong. Bring plenty of mousies to tip the jigs, because bites are steady, and you’ll go through lots.

Round Valley Reservoir’s shoreline trouting shoveled out phenomenal catches, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Rangers Cove attracted rainbows that sucked up meal worms in the early mornings and drew in browns that chased shiners during the daytime. A good day was catching over a half dozen trout. Lake trout also attacked from the shoreline, but boaters caught them on small, trolled Sutton Spoons in 25- to 65-foot depths. Ice anglers headed to Lake Hopatcong for action, and Chris Lido pulled out six pickerel and perch from Great Cove at the lake.

Although most customers ice fished at Lake Hopatcong for perch and pickerel, Budd Lake is an oft overlooked spot, said Amy from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Northern pike and pickerel were on tap at Budd, and large shiners can trick up a beast. Trout anglers focused on the Pequest River, drifting weighted caddis, midges and scuds for fish hanging tight to the bottom.

<b>South Jersey</b>

The Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes became unsafe to ice fish, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. But the ice might re-form early next week because of predicted cold for the end of the week. On the Delaware River the warm waters at the Trenton power plant held walleyes, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass, and a shiner under a float will get attention. Trout anglers looked to the Musconetcong, Pequest and South Branch of the Raritan rivers to catch holdovers from fall stockings. Two-inch Yozuri Pins Minnows, Roostertails and Panther Martins worked fine to hook up.

The Trenton power plant section of the Delaware River was the most consistent spot to catch fish, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Smallmouth bass, walleyes and striped bass attacked shiners and 3-inch, white or chartreuse Mister Twister grubs tipped on ¼-ounce jigheads.

The lakes are thawed out, so anglers should be able to fish them again, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Pickerel will be active at Malaga Lake and Parvin Lake, and try dragging CP Swing or shiny Mepps spinners or suspending jerk baits for a fight. Smallmouth bass will be on the menu at Union Lake and the newly opened Lake Audrey. Drop-shotted grubs will get strikes, and so will Lucky Craft Pointer plugs and Rapala X-Rap lures. Anglers had ice fished for white perch on Collins Cove on the Mullica River until the warmth melted the hard waters. But they had beat them up on grass shrimp dropped down on a tip-up. Lots of winter is left, and keep an eye on the cove in case another cold spell offers another chance at the fishing. In the meantime, boaters should be able to target the slabs. The schools often gather in the cove to escape the cold currents of the river in winter.

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