<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river’s salmon fishing began to slow down, said Eric from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Lots of king salmon, no Coho salmon, filled the upper river. But no fresh salmon – salmon that recently migrated from Lake Ontario – swam the waters. The migration was almost finished, and the salmon enter the river to spawn this time of year, then die there. Egg imitations, egg sacks and flies, usual tackle, caught the fish. The river ran at 285 CFS, still low in the drought, but higher, for the first time this season, than the previous 185 CFS. Any plans to raise or lower the river? Eric was asked. “It’s day to day,” he said. A fair number of steelheads began to appear in the lower river. Steelheads migrate to the river toward the end of the salmon run. Steelheads will winter in the river, then spawn there in spring. Afterward they’ll return to the lake, not dying after spawning. A handful of brown trout, not a lot, swam the river.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Fishing on the lakes was tough, and the waters were probably turning over, said Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale. He fished a lake solo all day Saturday, with no bites. He fished with clients on a trip Sunday on the lake, with no bites. Still, the clients had a good time, Dave said. Dave returned to fish the lake solo afterward that day, landing one smallmouth bass. Fishing always slows during the turn over, but the turn over doesn’t last long, a matter of days, not weeks. Fishing usually turns back on after the turn over, and Dave anticipates good fishing at least into November, if not longer. He’ll keep fishing for walleyes and muskies on lakes. Weather was sometimes very windy on the trips, but the afternoons were beautiful. The changing color of leaves would probably peak in a week or two. Though trout were being stocked on rivers and streams, Dave prefers trout fishing there during spring. That’s because he specializes in fishing with lures for trout, and spring is ideal for that, usually offering higher waters free of debris. In fall, fallen leaves can clutter the waters, difficult for lure fishing. Streams and rivers can be lower in fall, exposing structure like fallen trees, also difficult for lure fishing. Dave’s next trip with a client is slated to fish a lake Sunday, and he hopes lakes stabilize by then. The lake on the weekend’s trips was 60 to 61 degrees, still warm. When lakes dip into the 50s, fishing can be awesome. Dave’s friend Paul Schmidt, a tournament largemouth bass angler from the Northeast Bass Masters, competed at Lake Hopatcong two weekends ago in the club’s final competition of the season. An angler with five bass totaling 13 pounds won, and some 3- and 4-pounders were nailed, not great fishing, but okay. Live to Fish Guide Service guides trips for trout, muskies, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleyes, crappies, chain pickerel, panfish, yellow perch, white perch, carp and more. Lakes fished include Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Monksville Reservoir, Echo Lake, Mountain Lake and Furnace Lake. Rivers fished include the Flatbrook, Pequest, Paulinskill and Ramapo.

The fall trout stocking was taking place, but customers complained the fish hardly bit, said Don from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. The shop was telling them to give the fish a week to “settle in,” Don said. The fish can take a moment to acclimate and begin biting. A few were banked, and customers bought a usual array of tackle for the fishing, including salmon eggs, Power Bait, garden worms and small spinners. Small Phoebes were popular. The Rockaway River ran somewhat high, but not flooded. Customers traveled to upstate New York’s Salmon River to fish. The river’s salmon migration seemed to be dwindling, and anglers began trying for steelheads that migrate next. The river’s water flow was raised somewhat.

The Knee Deep Club’s King of the Lake Contest, held on the lake during the weekend, drew “a low turnout,” said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in an e-mail. But Jack Dziduck “repeated as king,” Laurie said. He weighed in an 11-pound 7-ounce channel catfish, a 3-pound 3-ounce walleye, a yellow perch “and pickerel,” Laurie said. Bob Smith won second place with an 8-pound 3-ounce hybrid striped bass, a 2-pound 9-ounce walleye, a 1-pound 1-ounce crappie, a white perch and a chain pickerel. Lou Marcucci won third with a 3-pound 4-ounce hybrid striped bass, a 1-pound 5-ounce smallmouth bass, a yellow perch and a pickerel. Most of the tournament’s fish were caught on livelined herring. Fishing on the lake lately put up lots of hybrids, many 4- to 8-pounders, off Chestnut Point, “still fishing with bait,” Laurie said. Tony Farina whacked 15 hybrids to 9 pounds 8 ounces at mid afternoon Sunday. Jim Welsh heaved in a 9-pound 2-ounce hybrid. Pete Rathjens socked a 4-pound 7-ounce largemouth bass on a cast lure. “Several walleye also up to 4 ½ pounds,” Laurie said.

Passaic River’s northern pike fishing was very good at Two Bridges and Fairfield on shiners, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Sometimes the pike were 30 inches, and sometimes smallmouth bass were mixed in. A customer boated smallmouth bass, not super fishing, but catches, on the river at Elmwood Park on small Rat-L Traps and size 2 and 3 Mepps spinners. Trout began to be tugged in from the trout stocking. Healthy catches were winged at Ramapo River on butter worms and salted minnows and at Wanaque River on butters, meal worms, fathead minnows and Power Baits. Butters were especially effective for trout. Trout were honked from Pequest River and Big Flat Brook. A bunch of customers snatched yellow perch and crappies from Pompton Lake at the bridge on jigs or bait. A friend reeled in good catches of walleyes from Lake Hopatcong on Rapala ice-fishing jigs down 25 feet. Walleyes were jigged from Greenwood Lake around the same depths.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Trout were stocked, and customers said egg flies were key on Pequest River, said Darrel from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Pink was a popular color, and Darrel fished the Pequest at the hatchery Saturday, before stocking. He saw lots of big trout, reluctant to bite, because of spawning. But even then, the ones he saw caught were swiped on egg flies. Typical patterns like nymphs got no bites. But trout on Musconetcong River reportedly hit caddis flies and emergers from 7 to 9 a.m. Nothing was heard about other streams, and nothing was heard about other fishing, like smallmouth bass fishing on Raritan River. Everyone honed in on trout.

Most trout anglers headed for Toms River for the stocking, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in the town of Toms River. No results were heard yet, but one angler fished the South Branch of the Metedeconk River, saying he caught trout. Dennis usually trouts the South Branch, finding the stream easy to walk in boots. Fishing for chain pickerel and crappies started to improve in lakes in cooler waters. Bluegill fishing produced but became slower in the lower temps. Little was reported about largemouth bass fishing. But one angler landed a few largemouths to 5 pounds at Lake Horicon on shiners. Mostly pickerel are usually punched there. Nothing was heard about Manasquan Reservoir.

<b>South Jersey</b>

On Delaware River carp and largemouth bass were smoked, said Chris from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. The fishing was good, and largemouths at lakes and ponds, like at Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, chased any lure imitating baitfish like gizzard shad or shiners. Again, good fishing, and shiners and fathead minnows also beat them. Many customers geared up for trout that were stocked. Catches were productive on northern streams including the South Branch of the Raritan River. Smallmouth bass were slugged on Raritan River.

Crappies were on a bite at Rising Sun and Stone Tavern lakes at Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, said Karl from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Shiners copped them at the brush piles in the middle of the waters. Good fishing for largemouth bass was claimed from Assunpink Lake at the old road bed on Rat-L-Traps in red, blue-and-chrome or black-and-gold. Hybrid striped bass to 8 and 10 pounds, chasing busting shad, were smacked at Manasquan Reservoir on ½-ounce Rat-L-Traps in Smokey Joe or blue-and-chrome. Plenty of trout were grabbed from trout stockings in northern waters, including Musconetcong River and the South Branch of the Raritan River. Salmon eggs, yellow Roostertails and glow-bug flies worked well. Delaware River was quiet or dead,  Karl said. The waters were a little muddy.

Largemouth bass fishing was good, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. That included at Newton Lake and Stewart Lake. Salem Canal almost always gives up largemouths, and largemouthing improved on Delaware River. Top-water lures drew the largemouths to strike on lakes, and chatter baits began to gain the hits. Lots of chain pickerel were on a tear at the Pine Barrens ponds. Fishing for crappies and yellow perch was picking up in cooler waters. Abundant catfish were clocked from Delaware River. Small catfish were stocked at Haddon Lake. Big Timber stocks bait and tackle for fishing on all waters from fresh to offshore.

Grenloch Lake and Oak Pond were stocked with trout Tuesday, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b> in Blackwood.  Customers bought meal worms, minnows and Roostertails to fish for them. Results were yet to be heard but should roll in. Weather was rough for fishing much of the past week. But trout stocking will attract anglers.

Trout were stocked Tuesday, and two customers telephoned during the afternoon, saying they caught, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. One landed the fish at Giampetro Park Pond, and the location of the other was unknown. Waters slated to be stocked that day included Giampetro, Maurice River, Mary Elmer Lake and Hammonton Lake. Waters scheduled to be stocked today include Iona Lake, Greenwich Lake, Schadlers Sand Wash Pond and Swedesboro Lake. Smallmouth bass fishing began to improve at Lake Audrey. Parvin Lake was opened, after it was closed because of storm damage earlier this year. But nobody reported fishing there so far. Anglers hoped catches like largemouth bass would be good because of lack of pressure during the closure.

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