<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river’s salmon fishing was slowly improving, becoming a light trickle, said Jay Peck from <b>Jay Peck Guide Service</b>. Rain and cool weather were forecast for this week, and that should help, and was overdue, he said. A slug of rain fell Friday, triggering a good run of Chinook or king salmon into the river from Lake Ontario most of the day. The migration ramped down Saturday and Sunday, and salmon fishing was “flat” Tuesday. But Jay switched to steelhead fishing on the river that day, and enough steelheads migrated the river to do that. The river ran at 335 cubic feet per second, and rain can raise the level, inspiring salmon to migrate up to spawn. They spawn in the river each fall, and die in the river afterward. A fair number of salmon swam the upper river, and salmon were flat-out spawning now. Jay began fishing egg flies on the river, because of that. He fished streamers and wooly buggers previously. Steelheads migrate to the river from the lake in fall after most salmon do. A substantial population of steelheads usually holds in the river by mid-October, and that seemed on schedule. The river’s steelheading last year was unbelievable, he said, and Jay concentrates on the steelheading after salmon fishing on the river. Steelheads winter in the river, spawn there in spring, and return to the lake for summer. They don’t die after spawning. He also fishes for huge brown trout beginning in November in different rivers and creeks. For the salmon currently, fishing needed to cover lots of water. The more water covered, the more salmon caught. No large concentrations of salmon schooled the river, or they were scattered. Jay specializes in fly-fishing and catch and release, and books trips that fish with conventional tackle with his other guides.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Fall trout stocking began Tuesday, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Results of trout fishing were yet to be heard, but trout streams ran low. “It’s bad,” he said, and he wondered whether the state might stock trout in lakes, instead of streams, because of that. But good-sized trout were supposed to be stocked in streams this season, and probably were. They’ll become acclimated to the water after a moment, he said. Lakes still fished well. A few largemouth bass were reeled from Lake Hopatcong. Some good catches were reportedly made on spinner baits in mornings, like big, white ones, fished over weed beds. When the sun rose higher, anglers hit the bass with jigs.

Not a lot of fish were entered in Knee Deep Club’s walleye tournament on the lake last weekend, Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong wrote in an email. But Bill Hasse won first place, $272, with a 3-pound 13-ounce walleye. Bob Smith took second, $204, with a 3-pound 8-ouncer, and Michael Hujsa scored third, $109, with a 3-pound 4-ouncer. Jack Dziduch, Lou Marcucci and Edward Hujsa each won a $20 gift certificate from Dow’s. That was the year’s final tournament for the club. The next will be an ice-fishing contest in January, anglers hope. That’s if fishable ice forms. Lots of hybrid striped bass, averaging 4 to 8 pounds, were socked off the lake’s points on livelined herring and chicken livers. Dan Mazza, Glenn Hutchinson and Brian Zay “were happy with their hybrids,” Laurie said. They caught the fish to 8 pounds. Smallmouth bass, white and yellow perch and chain pickerel were seen from the lake. Some live herring are still stocked, “and we’re able to net them until the end of October,” she said. The shop will be open until November sometime. It’s always reopened for ice-fishing.

Passaic River ran low again, despite rain recently, said Joe from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook. That was rain during the nor’easter two weekends ago. But anglers – those who tried every week – still caught northern pike from the river. They’re going to find them, regardless, he said. Striped bass had been clocked from the river at Belleville. Anglers hooked them from shore on small swim baits like shads. Fall trout stocking began Tuesday, and customers bought bait and spinners for the angling. Trout supposed to be stocked included big, Joe read on Fish and Wildlife’s website.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Two trout heavier than 5 pounds apiece were already weighed-in Tuesday from the North Branch of the Raritan River at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook, Braden said. The river was included that day in the fall trout stocking. Both were caught on “reaction strikes.” Trout usually don’t feed aggressively when first stocked. They seem full from the hatchery. But a few seem to bite from instinct or reaction. Still, plenty of photos of trout landed that day were seen at the store. Most were hooked on silver spoons, and a few were taken on worms, that were heard about. Trout streams ran low, but not as low as they would’ve, if the last rain hadn’t fallen. Anglers also fished for native brook trout 6 or 7 inches at smaller waters, like streams that could be jumped across, with rods like 3-weights and nymphs like hare’s ears. Hybrid striped bass were boated on Spruce Run Reservoir, mostly on the troll, but a few on top-water lures like Zara Spooks, walking-type baits, at sunrise. Many customers began to travel to upstate New York to fish for salmon migrating into rivers. They hoped rain fell there that was forecast. That could help raise rivers, drawing in the salmon from Lake Ontario. In saltwater, the surf began to give up a few striped bass and blues.

The trout streams were stocked Tuesday near <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River, Dennis said. The Toms, Metedeconk and Manasquan rivers were slated to be included that day in the fall trout stocking. All trout supplies like PowerBait, eggs and spinners are stocked. A couple of customers who’d been fishing Manasquan Reservoir switched to saltwater, Dennis said! But they fished the reservoir last week, cranking in a couple of largemouth bass on killies, on a trip. Baits stocked include killies, nightcrawlers and garden worms. Four dozen shiners were stocked, and none will be re-stocked this season, when they run out, because of demand. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

Not a lot of anglers fished, said Jeff from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Trout will be stocked locally next week in the fall trout stocking. Those waters will include Maurice River, Giampetro Park Pond and Iona Lake. Largemouth bass should bite well in lakes. If Jeff were going to fish currently, he’d probably fish minnows or other live bait for panfish like crappies. That offers some of the best chances to catch.

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