<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River & Central N.Y. Rivers</b>

Everything was about the same as before, said Jay Peck from <b>Jay Peck Guide Service</b>. He waited for the salmon migration to begin in Salmon River, to begin fishing for them, and currently dry-fly fished for trout on streams in central New York. That angling was some of the best of the year. Salmon currently schooled Lake Ontario, and they usually begin migrating the river in the next weeks. Fishing for them on the river is usually good by mid-September. Jay specializes in fly-fishing for them and catch-and-release, and books trips to fish with conventional tackle for the salmon with his other guides. Reports about the lake’s salmon fishing, from boaters, were mixed. The reports were positive a couple of days ago and slow a day before that. That just seemed like fishing, he said. Salmon River could use rain to raise the water level and help draw in salmon. A slug of rain fell last week, and that was like maintenance, he said, and always helps. The river rose a moment then. Salmon, mostly Chinooks or kings, and a few cohos, migrate up the river in late summer and fall to spawn, dying in the river afterward. Fishing for them can be world-class in the river during the run. The dry-fly fishing for trout was mostly with Tricos and Isonychias. When those mayflies failed to hatch, the fishing was with terrestrials like ants, beetles, hoppers and crickets. A long-time client and daughter are supposed to fish with Jay on the Salmon on Thursday, mainly for trout, but maybe bass. Anything kid-friendly, Jay said. Jay will give a spey-casting clinic on Saturday, September 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. along the river. Meet at the Pineville fishing-access parking. Spaces are limited, so pre-registration is advised. The cost is $125, and to reserve, a $50 deposit is required. Spey and switch rods will be available to use, if participants need. Call Jay at 585-233-0436 or email him at jaypeckguides@gmail.com with any questions.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale fished Clinton Reservoir in the Newark Watershed with his wife on Monday afternoon, he wrote in an email. The angling was tough at first – “crystal clear water,” he wrote – but improved at dusk. “Ended up with a few nice bass and a chunky pickerel,” he said. The email included photos of two largemouth bass. The trip’s fish were taken on Rage Tail Crawfish with coffee scent and top-waters. “There was a nice top-water bite,” he said, on a Heddon Baby Torpedo and a Rapala X-Rap Pop.

Delaware River fished well for smallmouth bass, Brian from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna heard, he said. The river’s flow was decent, so that helped, and the flow was probably because extra water was released into the river from Cannonsville Reservoir for maintenance or repairs to the dam. That’s what happened previously, at least, mentioned in the last report here. When the reservoir is filled back up, that should decrease the river’s flow a time. Small crawfish and hellgrammite imitations were fished for the smallmouths. Largemouth bass were angled at different lakes on top-water lures, like Zara Spooks, Hula Poppers, Jitterbugs and rubber frogs. They were also socked on Texas-rigged rubber worms or Keitech soft-plastic lures. They were Texas-rigged because of weeds. Or the Keitechs were fished on weedless jigheads. At Lake Hopatcong, hybrid striped bass seemed hooked mostly on spinner baits or spinners. Some anglers still trout fished on streams, though the season was warm for that. They fished small dry flies like Tricos and blue-winged olives. Isonychias probably still hatched sometimes. White flies or big, light-colored flies came off sometimes, he guessed.

Northern pike were fought from Passaic River, said Larry from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook. Spinner baits and Blue Fox spinners are often fished for them. Carp were eased from the river, often on commercial carp baits, like corn-flavored. The river didn’t run too low, he thought. Customers headed to Lake Hopatcong to fish for hybrid striped bass, but not many details were heard. They usually fish for them at dusk.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

A couple of anglers fished lower Raritan River for smallmouth bass at sunrise, said Braden from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. The smallmouths they winged weren’t large, but they caught decent numbers, four to six per trip, on top-waters: small buzz baits. So the fishing was fun. Passaic River gave up northern pike, good fishing for them, especially in mornings through 10 a.m., but fishing at sunup was unnecessary. Rapala wake baits were fished for them, and so were big, ½-ounce spinners. A few anglers swam shiners for the pike. Good channel catfishing came from Delaware River on chunk baits like sunfish and herring. Cats to 24 and 25 inches were heard about. Nothing was reported about hybrid striped bass from Spruce Run Reservoir lately. Anglers who fished for them were known about, but no results rolled in. Decent fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was drop-shotted at Round Valley Reservoir, along the dam or rock faces, on small, 4-inch twitch baits, 15 to 20 feet down.   

From <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River, a couple of anglers fished Manasquan Reservoir on Tuesday morning, Dennis said. They copped a slow pick of largemouth bass on free-lined killies, with no floats, in open water. A couple of catfish were hooked, when the baitfish swam along bottom. A few anglers fished for chain pickerel and carp on the Toms River at Trilco. 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. Raisins and corn caught the carp. Killies and nightcrawlers are stocked. Shiners will probably be carried starting in mid-September, when demand picks up. The store began stocking more freshwater tackle than before, like Senko rubber worms, Roostertails, spinner baits and buzz baits, because another tackle shop closed nearby. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Good  smallmouth bass fishing was smashed on Delaware River at Yardley on popper lures and small buzz baits, said Karl from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Some good-sized to 3 and 4 pounds were creamed. Catfishing was good along the river nearly everywhere. Largemouth bass were on a bite at Farrington Lake on Senko rubber worms in green pumpkin or watermelon. Nobody mentioned largemouthing on the lakes at Assunpink Wildlife Management Area that Karl reported previously. Many anglers were on vacation, and kids returning to school also kept some from fishing.

Anglers fished for largemouth bass, but talked about slow catches, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b> in Blackwood. Weeds and algae covered lakes, and maybe warm weather was also a cause. All of this was typical for the time of year, though. They fished shiners, minnows and rubber frogs, among other things. Ed would think the frogs would work in the weeds, but the heat or something might’ve affected that.

Wasn’t a lot happening, said Jeff from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Slow, he said. Heat, no water, need rain, he said. Anglers could probably panfish on lakes. A few minnows were sold. Some anglers fished for white perch in brackish rivers, too.

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