<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Anglers picked at steelheads on the river, said Eric from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. “Not fantastic,” he said. Weather was cold last week but warmed this week, and rain was expected throughout today. That would probably melt snow that had piled up along the river’s banks. Weather is supposed to turn cold afterward. The river level was supposed to be kept low at 285 CFS through Tuesday night, and whether the flow would be changed afterward wasn’t announced. Ice anglers reeled in yellow perch, northern pike and occasional walleyes from Sandy Pond and mostly perch from Henderson Bay.

<b>Adirondack Mountains</b>

Lake George was almost locked up with ice, said Tony from <b>FISH307.com</b> in the village of Lake George. From 2 to 6 inches covered some of the bays, and most other lakes held at least 6 inches. They included Glen Lake, Brant Lake, Schroon Lake, Loon Lake and Blue Mountain Lake. Ice anglers fished the waters all around. They probably fished at least bays at Lake Champlain, but Tony hadn’t heard about Champlain. At Lake George, ice anglers caught yellow perch, lake trout and landlocked salmon. At Schroon Lake they beat lakers and salmon, and at almost all other waters, they plucked perch and panfish. Weather was cold last week and was supposed to reach 50 degrees Tuesday. But the warm spell would probably fail to decrease ice. All baits are stocked including fathead minnows, shiners, icicles, hunts, mousies and more.

Ice averaged 14 inches thick on Great Sacandaga Lake and most lakes near <b>Fuel-n-Food</b> in Mayville, Lou said. Fishing went well during Saturday’s annual Walleye Challenge Ice Fishing Derby on Sacandaga. A total of 238 walleyes to a 3-1/2-pounder, about 24 inches, were entered. A record number of yellow perch, and record sizes to 15 inches, were creamed. A few northern pike, not many, were entered. At other waters, brown trout, lots, were busted at Piseco and Indian lakes. Fishing for walleyes was good farther north at Sacandaga Lake, a different lake from Great Sacandaga. Angling was decent for splake at Caroga Lake. Lake George finally froze over, holding up to 4 to 6 inches of ice, producing lots of yellow perch and good catches of lake trout. Fishing was good on Schroon Lake. Live baits stocked include shiners, fathead chubs, hunts, spikes and more. Tackle and gear includes a variety of jigs, all the terminal tackle, tip-ups, augurs and more. The shop includes a convenience store, fuel, beer, breakfast and lunch. Great Sacandaga Lake and plenty of other nearby waters can be fished, and the shop can point anglers in the right direction.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Ice fishing began to be heard about on Friday after last week’s cold, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Whether fishable ice would last in warmer weather now was a question. But ice fishing was reported from Cranberry Lake and some of the coves at Lake Hopatcong and Budd Lake. Kevin was in the Lake Aeroflex area, and ice anglers seemed to fish the lake. No customers talked about trout fishing on streams since last week’s cold.

The lake was pretty much covered with 5 to 9 inches of ice, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong in an e-mail. Ice anglers began fishing the lake during the weekend, reporting catching perch and chain pickerel. Shiners, fathead minnows, spikes, wax worms, tip-ups, jigging rods, hand augers, a large selection of jigs and everything needed for ice-fishing is stocked. The store is open at 6 a.m. daily. The Knee Deep Club will hold an ice-fishing tournament on Sunday, February 17. Info is available on the club’s Web site or by calling the shop at 973-663-3826.

Ice anglers reported 8 to 10 inches at Lake Waywayanda and good fishing there for perch and crappies, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Ice was fished for perch at Monksville Reservoir at the shallow end. Greenwood Lake’s south end gave up perch and crappies through the ice. Cranberry Lake supposedly held 8 inches, turning out perch and chain pickerel. Mostly live bait on tip ups caught at the different waters. After last week’s cold, ice somewhat built, and customers talked about as much as 12 inches covering some lakes. Nick found that difficult to believe, but there was ice fishing. “That’s the main thing,” he said. Passaic River was somewhat frozen upstream from the falls. A few anglers fished for trout on Pequest River and Big Flatbrook, scoring well.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Some of the state’s northern lakes were ice-fished, said Angelo from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. But not much was heard about it. Most who fished talked about trout winged at Pequest and Musconetcong rivers. Trouters could also fish Ken Lockwood Gorge. Warmer days, at least in the 40s, with cloudy skies will produce better. Trout will be spooky or leader-shy on clear days. If dry flies hatch, they’ll probably be sizes 18 to 24 midges or 18 to 20 blue-winged olives. For midges, standard patterns like Rainbow Warriors, zebras or bloods will work. The RS2 emerger will work for a blue-winged olive. A dropper rig could be fished. Round Valley Reservoir was frozen along the shoreline, and was open farther out. But that prevented both shore angling and boating.

Before the cold, chain pickerel and a few largemouth bass were rustled from Lake Riviera, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Trout were nabbed from Lake Carasaljo, the Toms River and the Manasquan River at Hospital Road. White perch were jabbed from the Toms. But little was reported from anywhere since the cold.

Local private ponds froze enough to ice fish, probably holding 3 to 4 inches, said Tom P. from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. That might change in current warmer weather. But when there was ice, crappies were clocked from the ponds on Kommander Krusher crappie jigs. No baits like mousies were available locally, so the jigs were tipped with artificial baits like Gulp maggots. Largemouth bass were landed from the frozen ponds on shiners. Trout were axed from Pequest River Trout Conservation Area. The trout are sizeable at that stretch, sort of the state’s showcase waters, located near the hatchery. Trout were tamed at South Branch of the Raritan River and  Musconetcong River Trout Conservation Area. Customers bought size-20 caddis nymphs and San Juan worms for the fishing. In saltwater, lots of ling were smashed on boats like the Dauntless from Point Pleasant Beach. Farther from the coast, offshore trips bailed sea bass and porgies, including limits of both on the Doris Mae from Barnegat Light, reportedly.

Skim ice had formed on lakes in last week’s cold, and had begun to melt this week, but the waters were still locked up through Tuesday, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. That prevented both casting from shore and fishing from a boat, except casting at open, moving waters, like at spillways. Anglers could fish those areas for whatever bit, like panfish or chain pickerel. Minnows and worms or live bait is the choice this season.

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