<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Drop-back steelheads 4 to 8 pounds began to be landed with some frequency from the river, running at a manageable 600 CFS, said Ritchie from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. A few brown trout were in the mix, and stoneflies or blue or pink egg sacks grabbed most bites.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River turned out striped bass, and some of the local area’s bigger ones, fish to 28 inches,  were found at Camac Street with a bit more consistency, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Anglers fishing from Pennsylvania could keep two stripers 20 to 26 inches from the Pennsylvania state line to the Calhoun Street Bridge from April 1 to May 31. At Station Avenue the bass averaged 14 to 25 inches, but a 28-pounder was reported beaten there. The fish ran 15 to 25 inches farther downstream off the UPS building. Anglers pulled away at catfish, white perch and carp on the river off the Arsenal, and they picked up largemouth bass, crappies and the perch at both Dredge Harbor and farther downstream at Salem Harbor. But Tullytown Cove on the river was the best spot to claim a few crappies. Shad were sometimes fought upstream at the Trenton power plant on the Big D. Capt. Deiter Scheel went 3 for 8 on shad there while back-trolling shad darts and spoons.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Lake Hopatcong’s crappie and pickerel fishing really picked up, said Greg at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. The crappies were nailed on virtually every cast on suspending Rapala Husky Jerks in Tennessee Shad, fished slowly in 2- to 4-foot depths in 6 to 8 feet of waters. The fish also nibbled on twister tail jigs fished under a float. Boats on Hopatcong are only allowed to sail at idle speed because the waters are at capacity and then some.

Anglers on Lake Hopatcong banged away at yellow perch and crappies in shallow waters near Brady Bridge and Landing, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Rufus Jr. Jigs, small Husky Jerks, rubber Mini-Mite Jigs and fathead minnows worked well on both species. Chuck Sorrentino and Mark Modeski nabbed a quality catch of walleyes and a smallmouth bass off Pickerel Point on blade lures. Hybrid striped bass started to move into the shallows, and several were caught in the Brady Bridge area. Mike Anzalone weighed in a 6-pound 10-ounce hybrid. Live herring are stocked at the shop.

Lake Hopatcong served up largemouth bass 3 to 6 pounds, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The waters were relatively warm at 55 degrees, putting the bass, pickerel and crappies on the feed. The crappies ravenously smacked Husky Jerks and fathead minnows at Woodport and Landing. Cranbury Lake held a good selection of crappies and largemouth to 2 pounds willing to pounce on shiners.

Catch-and-release trout fishing was wild at Ken Lockwood Gorge, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Chris Lido released two browns, two brookies and a rainbow that inhaled nymphs there. Trouting will be on fire during the opening of trout season this weekend at spots such as the South Branch of the Raritan River, Spruce Run Creek and the Pequest River. The state’s stockings will have the waters loaded with pan-frying fish.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Trouters will head to the Pequest River for the opening of trout season, said Rob from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Bring plenty of meal worms and Power Baits to bag a limit of the stockers. Joe Petullo checked in a whopper, 15.8-pound northern pike he caught at the South Branch of the Raritan River on a shiner. Frank Petullo boated a 4.2-pound brown trout and a 2.8-pound chain pickerel at Merrill Creek Reservoir on shiners.

Crappie fishing really turned on, said Dennis at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The specks blew up on fathead minnows and killies at Lake Riviera and the Ocean County College ponds. Small largemouth bass and pickerel were sometimes on the take at those impoundments. Prospertown Lake produced a good largemouth bass chew, and a nightcrawler cast under a bobber was the simple method to land the fish to 2 ½ pounds. Trout fishers on opening day of the trout season Saturday should fish the North Branch of the Metedeconk River with Power Baits. Steady pickerel fishing was going down at the Trilco stretch of the Toms River on shiners.

Crappie fishing blew wide open, said Frank at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. All three Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes and Carnegie Lake dished out the slabs gobbling down fathead minnows or smacking grub tails twitched under floats. Striped bass moved up the Delaware River, could be found around Rancocas Creek, the Turnpike Bridge, the Trenton power plant and Fireman’s Eddy. Trout anglers will fish the Delaware and Raritan Canal beginning on Saturday, the opening day of trout season, tangling with the stocked fish on Power Baits or baby nightcrawlers.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Striped bass fishing was going nuts on the Delaware River, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. All the usual places along the river held the fish, including Salem, Pennsville, Riverview Beach Park, National Park, River Winds and the Tacony/Palmyra Bridge. Anglers from land dunked bloodworms, and boaters fished bloods or clams. Rick heard about stripers to 49 inches drilled. The fishing was also hopping on Delaware Bay at the usual spots including Egg Island Point, north of Bug Light, the Banana Peel and the Horseshoe. Big catfish were also slammed on the river and Big Timber Creek, and a 14-pounder was hauled from Big Timber on Monday. The whiskerfaces sucked up chicken livers and any of the cut baits including herring or even a chunk of white perch. Lots of small largemouth bass were angled from the lakes including Blackwood Lake and Newton Lake. Shaky head jigs with 4-inch Yamamoto plastics did a number on the fish. Shallow-running crank baits connected, and light-colored spinners began to work. Shad entered Newton Lake from the fish ladder, and they may be difficult to coax to bite, but lures such as small silver spoons and small jigs can draw a chomp. Rick bagged a dozen of the shad to keep for tuna bait. Bloodworms and all the baits are stocked. Bait and tackle for the opening of trout season on Saturday is on hand. The shop is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 pm. Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Chain pickerel snapped up shiners at New Brooklyn Lake, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Blackwood Lake was a top spot to whack largemouth bass to 3 pounds, and shiners will do the job. Striped bass fishing was productive on the Delaware River, especially at National Park and the Tacony/Palmyra Bridge, and bloodworms hung the fish to 32 inches. Anglers will look for trout when trout season opens Saturday, especially at Gren Loch Lake, where more than 50 big breeders were stocked for the opener. An invasive snakehead was reportedly hooked at Big Timber Creek.

The first day of trout season on Saturday will be red hot for the fishing at the stocked lakes, said Lou at the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Oak Pond, Gren Loch Lake and Iona Lake will all be primed, and a variety of offerings should work. Try Panther Martins, Roostertails, meal worms, garden worms or Power Baits. Crappie anglers scored fights at Franklinville Lake, Union Lake and Lake Lenape on fathead minnows.

Striped bass fishing opened up on the Delaware River, said Matt at <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Salem. The river at Penns Grove, Pennsville and Elsinboro Point were productive areas, and bloodworms and cut bunker copped the bass to 40 inches already. Tide and time of day didn’t really make a difference, and the fish seemed to feed all the time. Pickerel and crappies could be socked at Maskell’s Mill Pond and Alloway Lake, and the pickerel favored large shiners, and the crappie preferred fathead minnows, and both baits were fished on a float.

Largemouth bass fishing gained steam as the fish began to think spawning, moving toward the shallows, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Senko worms and Jackal Flick-Shake worms waxed the bigmouths at Mary Elmer Lake, Rainbow Lake and Parvin Lake. Outstanding smallmouth bass fishing was clobbered at Union Lake and Lake Audrey. The action was non-stop on Senkos, tube baits and Rat-L-Traps. Trout fishing during the opening of the season this weekend should be ready to go, because most lakes and streams were clean and clear from the better weather. The Maurice River and Iona Lake will be spots to target. Scattered schools of herring moved up the Maurice River, and the first official striped bass should be on the prowl during the new moon coming up.

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