<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River and Western N.Y. Rivers</b>

Salmon River’s steelhead fishing began to wind down, said Jay Peck from <b>Jay Peck Guide Service</b>. The flow had been 350 cubic feet per second, and was supposed to drop to 185. That’s low, and the fish were already dropping back to Lake Ontario. The low water will draw them to the lake quickly, but steelheading will remain decent on the lower river a moment. Plenty of steelheads filled the upper river beforehand, and the fish now will settle into the deeper pools in the lower. Jay’s trips will just work the lower river or move from spot to spot to find hook-ups. They’ll use the drift boat for that. Steelheads migrate to the river from the lake in fall, spend winter in the river and spawn there in spring, and return to the lake for summer. Once he’s finished steelheading on the river, Jay will fly-fish for trout on streams. He specializes in fly-fishing and catch-and-release, and his other guides fish with conventional tackle. Flies including Hendricksons began to hatch on the streams. One of his guides returned giddy from trouting in past days. The fish bit that well, and the trip fished with white marabou Muddlers.

A trip back-trolled steelheads with Rapala lures on Salmon River on the drift boat Monday with Capt. Rick Miick from <b>Dreamcatcher Guide Service</b>, he said. The river ran low at 490 CFS, and was potentially going to be dropped to 185 CFS afterward. The trip, a quick one in the afternoon, with anglers who had just arrived for fishing and turkey hunting over a series of days with Rick, scored four or five bites, landing a couple of the steelheads. Rick was fishing with them for walleyes on Oneida Lake the next afternoon, on Tuesday, when he gave this report in a phone call. A walleye, the first of the season for Rick, was boated during the call, on a Heddon Sonar blade bait. He had to jump off the phone and call back, because of that.  New York’s walleye season was opened Saturday, and the anglers had turkey hunted that morning with Rick.  Rick now will mostly turkey hunt and walleye fish. But the river’s steelheading will probably last another week. Some anglers prefer to avoid crowds on the river, and this was a time for that. White egg sacks, trout beads and pink worms will catch. Smallmouth bass will enter the river soon. Fishing for them will be an option. Brown trout schooled Lake Ontario close to shore, and Rick will also fish for them. He’ll also target king salmon that will give up a fishery in the lake before long. That lasts a couple of weeks. Cast and Blast Trips, a combo of fishing, for any of these available species, and turkey hunting, will continue to be an option. Actually, lots of options happen this time of year.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Delaware River’s striped bass fishing was tough for some last week, Bill Brinkman from Philadelphia’s <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> wrote in an emailed report from the shop. That included for him. He on a trip that week on Tuesday landed five stripers 8 to 14 inches and also a 22-incher. He boated the river again from 7 to 10 p.m. that day, only catching one small white perch. Another angler fished the river from shore every afternoon to evening, spending tons of money on bunker and bloodworms for bait, only hooking small perch, no stripers. Other anglers scored similar results. But others caught stripers well on the river that week.  Many 20-inch stripers were hooked then at Philly’s Station Avenue. Stripers 34, 36, 39 and 42 inches were also heard about from there. An angler who fished the shore near the Turnpike Bridge totaled nine stripers 12 to 37 inches and 12 catfish in a trip that Sunday. Farther upstream at Trenton, some anglers tackled stripers at the bridges on Daiwa and Bomber lures, pencil poppers and rubber shads. Bill didn’t mention the time of day, but that usually happens at night, and bait usually catches there during daytime. He did say that boaters there caught stripers 20 to 34 inches on bloodworms and bunker. Shad fishing was smoking hot on the upper river last week. Delaware Water Gap fished best, but an angler hooked 37 shad at Lambertville on a trip, saying nine boats fished the location, and the anglers hooked up throughout the morning. Another angler on two trips waxed 25 shad per trip at Lambertville that Sunday and Monday. Another at Lambertville that week drilled shad well but also nine walleyes to a 9-pounder. He connected on a bright-colored Rapala Shad Rap with a spoon trailing behind, removing the lure’s rear hook, tying the spoon to the hook eye. Anglers at Yardley and Washington Crossing fought 10 to 25 shad apiece on the river that week.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

An angler and 10-year-old son plugged for trout on Paulinskill River on a trip this weekend with Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale, Dave said. They landed several and missed some and had some trout roll on the lures, Rapala Countdowns. Another trip was supposed to plug the river the next day with Dave, but had to be canceled, because of illness. The river began to run lower than previously, because of no rain, but the current ran fairly strong. Few people fished the river, and plenty of trout remained in the water.  If weather remains in the 80 degrees like in past days, trout could begin to key in on bugs more than anything. Dave loves plugging for trout on rivers in spring, because the fishing is fun and effective and can attract large trout. Spring’s higher water also fishes well for plugs, helping to prevent hang ups on bottom debris like logs. Another angler seen that day on the river pasted 18 trout on Berkley PowerBait Floating Mice Tails. Dave ordered some afterward, though he prefers fishing lures, instead of bait, for the trout. Still, that depends on a client’s preference. Dave will boat for walleyes soon, usually at night, when the fish move to shallows and crash cast lures. It’s great sport, and the fish are big and delicious, and spawning alewives attract the walleyes to the skinny water. That can begin now, and Dave’s caught the walleyes in late May. But he already saw photos of walleyes boated at night from Lake Hopatcong. They were skinny fish that recently spawned, and walleyes will be finished spawning soon. Then they feed. This month can be prime for largemouth bass fishing on lakes. The bass are spawning, and are legally required to be released through June 15, because of that. But the catching and releasing can be good. Dave will give a talk about fishing structure for the East Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Rochelle Park at 7:30 p.m. June 10. He was unsure about the location, and will announce that, but that might be at the Knights of Columbus in the town. <b>***Update:***</b> The talk will be at the American Legion hall at 33 West Passaic Street in Rochelle Park.

Trout fishing was okay on streams, mostly on salmon eggs and butter worms, said Brian from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Water levels were probably about perfect, though the water remained somewhat cold for bug hatches. Still, fly anglers bought nymphs and other flies for the fishing. Lake fishing was picking up, as the waters warmed. Crappies and yellow perch were mugged on tackle like small jigs with curly tails at Lake Hopatcong, Swartswood Lake and lakes like that. Not much was reported about fish like walleyes from lakes yet. Landlocked salmon had been boated at Lake Aeroflex, high up in the water column. Whether that still took place was unknown. The lake might’ve been getting ready to flip, and that would affect the angling. Shad were fought from Delaware River as far upstream as Delaware Water Gap or Worthington State Forest.

The lake’s hybrid striped bass just began to bite, in shallower water on livelined herring, Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong wrote in an email. Many 2-pound trout were checked-in last week that were trolled, and Phoebes and small Rapalas seemed to catch best. John Fernandez nailed a 4-pound 3-ounce brown trout. Remember that largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are required to be released through June 15, for spawning. Walleye season was opened starting Friday, and the Knee Deep Club will hold a walleye tournament on the weekend of May 16 and 17 on the lake. The club held a chain pickerel and trout tournament two weekends ago on the lake. In the pickerel division, Pete Pelligrino won first place with a 5-pound 7-ouncer, winning $520. John Moran took second for a 3-pound 7-ouncer, winning $312, and Jim Archambault copped third for a 3-pound 3-ouncer, winning $208. In the trout division, Tom Focciola came in first for a 3-pound 8-ounce rainbow, winning $544. Bob Hegarty scooped up second for a 2-ound 11-ounce brown, winning $327, and Eddie Mackin claimed third for a 2-pound 7-ounce rainbow, winning $271.  

Passaic River ran a little low, and rain would help, but the river’s northern pike fishing turned on, said Cheryl from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook. One angler hauled in a 40-incher. Fishing in general was “waking up,” coming out of slumber, after winter, finally. That included for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, catch-and-release fishing by law, through June 15, for spawning. Crappies chomped at many different lakes. Trout were fished for at stocked waters. They were caught at Rockaway and Ramapo rivers. In saltwater, striped bass fishing was good on some days, and bluefish schooled.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Participation was down, but trout fishing was as good as ever on streams, said Braden from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. All reports said few anglers fished even on days when trout were stocked. The fish were hooked on everything, literally, he said. That included meal worms, other worms, spinners and Rapalas that caught well. Darker nymphs like pheasant-tails and Zebras worked well on South Branch of the Raritan River, not only in the fly-fishing stretch, but throughout the river. In lakes, largemouth bass, restricted to catch and release through June 15, for spawning, became much more active than before. Many anglers bought shiners to fish for them. But the bass also swiped spinner baits and suspending jerk baits or pre-spawn patterns. Hybrid striped bass caught were already heard about from Spruce Run Reservoir. A large rainbow trout, the second this season, was weighed-in from Round Valley Reservoir from shore. It had a Round Valley Trout Association tag, and the shore-fishing was late to start, in cold water, for the large trout that cruise along the shoreline this season. Lake trout were boated on the reservoir from 60- to 110-foot depths.

One angler who’s been fishing Lake Riviera with shiners, free-lined, with no bobber, was into good largemouth bass fishing, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Release the bass, according to law, through June 15, because of spawning. Some of the bass in lakes began to bed for spawning. Chain pickerel fishing was productive in Lake Riviera. Pickerel fishing was also good at Trilco in the Toms River. Trilco is a closed building supply, and no sign identifies the building, but locals know the stretch by the name, located near Garden State Parkway. A few perch bit in the river. Carp became more active in the river, but angling for them was slow. That can pick up as water warms. Farther upstream, the Toms was stocked with trout this week, and a customer hooked the fish on PowerBait. That’s all that was reported about trouting. Most ponds and lakes began to give up bluegills and other panfish. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Striped bass bit in Delaware River from Burlington to Trenton on bait, said Karl from <b>Sportsmen Center</b> in Bordentown. Atlantic herring chunks and bloodworms were fished, and a 35-pound striper was the biggest heard about on bait. But lure anglers hooked the river’s stripers at night in the Trenton area on Daiwa SP Minnows and Bombers. A 25-pounder was probably the biggest reported on plugs. Fishing for largemouth bass, catch and release by law through June 15, for spawning, was good at area lakes. Rubber creature baits, lizards and crawfish caused reaction strikes in the spawning beds. The bass won’t feed while spawning, but will hit lures like that, trying to remove the invader from the nest. Still, white or chartreuse spinner baits also clocked largemouths.

Trout fishing slowed, and stocking ended locally for the season, but a few trout were reeled from area lakes previously stocked, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b> in Blackwood. Customers fished for largemouth bass that must be released through June 15, because of spawning. However, the anglers said the fish were seen but reluctant to bite, because of spawning. Kids played sunnies at places including the spillway at Blackwood Lake, Grenloch Lake and Puppyland Lake. Anything like meal worms and garden worms nabbed the fish. Striped bass were still bloodwormed from Delaware River from shore.

Fishing was good, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Largemouth bass fishing, relegated to catch and release through June 15, because of spawning, kicked in, during the past week in lakes. The fish in fact were spawning, and soft-plastic lures landed many, like Senkos, lizards and Sweet Beavers. Chatter baits smoked the bass well, and kept selling. Many customers still trout fished, catching at usual places like Iona Lake. Maurice River produced, and South Vineland Park Pond was popular. In salt and brackish waters, striped bass fishing was good from shore at places around Fortescue on Delaware Bay, and from shore on Delaware River. The stripers included keepers, though bagging the fish is prohibited in much of the river this time of year. Check the regulations. Abundant, big bluefish schooled the bay and back bays along the coast. 

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