<b>NEW YORK</b>

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

Salmon River’s steelhead fishing was about finished for the season, said Jay Peck from <b>Jay Peck Guide Service</b>. Most of the river’s steelheads spawned there and returned to Lake Ontario for summer, and he switched to trout fishing on streams, after steelheading on the river previously. The trout fishing was good, and water flows were healthy for the angling, and bugs hatched. Blue-winged olives, Hendricksons and a couple of different caddis came off. That was mostly from late mornings to late afternoons, during the warmth of the day. The bugs might hatch in evenings on a warm day, and was amazing how a degree or two could affect the mayflies. Weather was cool, and is supposed to be warmer, later in the week. The area was somewhat dry from lack of rain, and was often sunny, but rain sometimes fell, including in the middle of last week. Anglers might still land a steelhead on the Salmon. The fishing was like, maybe an angler would catch smallmouth bass in a trip, or maybe two or three steelheads on a day. Jay will return to the river in late August to fish its salmon migration that lasts into October. Then he’ll fish the river’s steelhead migration again that lasts from late October to early May. He also targets the huge brown trout that migrate to rivers and streams in fall to early spring from the lake. Jay specializes in fly-fishing and catch-and-release, and books trips that fish with conventional tackle with his other guides.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Delaware River’s striped bass fishing was slower last week than before, maybe because of lousy weather, Bill Brinkman from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia wrote in a report on the shop’s website. Some great catches of the fish, including big, were made the previous week, covered in last week’s report here. The fish seemed to be spawning last week. Bill canceled a trip on the river last week on Tuesday, because of weather, and headed out that Wednesday. The males hooked on the trip milked all over, and the outing landed three stripers 27, 22 and 19 inches, and a couple of smaller. He thinks big stripers will depart the river in a week. One angler last week scored some good nights of striper fishing on the river near Neshaminy, including catching sizable to 36 inches. A few that week near Burlington-Bristol Bridge were known to reel in several slot stripers and to have a few runoffs from big that failed to be landed. Pennsylvania allows the river’s stripers to be bagged in a certain size or a slot, and New Jersey’s striper fishing is closed on the tidal river currently. Anglers release them there, and those fishing the river should know the regs, including because they’re different for each state. Jersey also requires certain hooks to be fished for the bass. Another angler lost a runoff from a huge striper at Philly’s Station Avenue last week. Many small stripers were angled near Philadelphia airport last week. Many of the river’s stripers were hooked on bloodworms or chunks of bunker in these areas. At Trenton on the river that week, 20- to 28-inch stripers were reported crushed on popper lures, crank baits and rubber shads late in the day and throughout night. Large catfish from the river were entered in a tournament from the Trenton area. The winner entered three cats that totaled 30 pounds, and the biggest among those topped 14 pounds. The river’s shad fishing was becoming slower downstream, and was best last week from Delaware Water Gap to Callicoon. The angling was best in the afternoon until dark on small darts and spoons in pink, orange and chartreuse. Pretty good walleye fishing was whacked from New Hope to Bull’s Island on the river.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Rain caused trout streams to rise to normal levels, about, said Brian from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. That was after low water previously, and the higher water caused hatches to slow. But anglers hoped the hatches got back on track. The fish were hooked on Trout Magnets and anything pink like San Juan worms, Gummy Worms and salmon eggs. Largemouth bass were spawning, and fishing for them is limited to catch-and-release through June 15, because of that. But the bass bit tackle like chatter baits and Keitech jigs, fished across spawning beds, triggering a reaction strike. The fish mostly refuse to eat while spawning, but sometimes bite because of habit or to remove an intruder from the bed. Not much was heard about walleyes and hybrid striped bass from lakes, maybe because of cloudy, stormy, windy, cool weather. The catches had begun to be reported previously. Nothing was heard about shad from Delaware River. The migration reached Delaware Water Gap, the last time news was reported, and surely reached farther upstream since. Saltwater anglers talked about lots of bluefish caught, and not so many striped bass, maybe because blues bit before stripers could.

Trout anglers were about the only who talked about catches, because of the weather, said Cheryl from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook. But trout anglers caught at waters included in the current spring stocking, no matter weather like rain. Passaic River flowed high, but not overflowing, because of the rain. It no longer flowed dirty, after anglers said the water was muddy during the weekend. Customers fish the river for catches including northern pike and carp that can be good angling.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Much needed rain improved trout fishing on streams, said Scott from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. The waters had been low, and the rain spiked them up to maybe normal levels. Then the waters came back down, and maybe rain forecast for Friday will draw them back up. Blue-winged olives and caddis hatched lately, and this was the tail-end of the Hendrickson hatch. Those dry flies caught, but so did smaller nymphs, anything imitating larva for those dries. Many largemouth bass and smallmouth bass were spawning in lakes. Fishing for both is restricted to catch-and-release through June 15, because of the breeding. But more tackle than usual was sold for largemouth fishing this early in the season, for unknown reasons. Lots of spinner baits were sold that can cause largemouths to attack when the lure is dragged across spawning beds. Anglers bought tackle for northern pike and muskies, but nothing was heard about the angling. Walleyes were fought, decent fishing, from Raritan River from the town of Raritan to Duke Island Park, including on jerk baits. No walleyes and hybrid striped were talked about from lakes recently, maybe because of rough weather. Trout and, from saltwater, striped bass and blues gain most attention from customers this time of year.

Trout anglers bailed the catches, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. An angler who fished the Toms River at Riverwood Park smashed the fish Monday on salmon eggs. That’s trout stocking day on local waters including the Toms, Metedeconk and Manasquan rivers, and Dennis has been talking about how trout anglers cleaned up on stocking day this year, and about how the angling’s been good this spring. Weather, though rough recently, seemed conducive to the angling this season. One of the crew from the shop and her son have been limiting out on trout on stocking day, mostly fishing with Trout Magnets. Dennis has talked about how Trout Magnets were popular this year. Practically all freshwater fishing was good currently, except largemouth bass fishing could be tougher, because the fish are spawning. Largemouths must be released through June 15 because of spawning. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. Go Fish is now open at 10 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 

<b>South Jersey</b>

Delaware River’s striped bass fishing might’ve been finished locally for the season, said Dom from <b>Barracuda’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Riverton. The angling usually wraps up by mid-May, and cold, rough weather lately probably didn’t help. The weather, including rain, didn’t help participation in trout fishing, though that angling had been on at Crystal and Sylvan lakes previously. Crystal was scheduled to be stocked through last week, and Sylvan was slated to be stocked through the previous week. Largemouth bass might not have been spawning, because of the cool weather. Fishing for them is catch-and-release by law through June 15 for spawning.

Customers still banked striped bass from Delaware River, said Joanie from <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b> in Blackwood.  Be aware about regs for the fishing, including because striper fishing is currently closed on the tidal river, and certain hooks are required to be fished for the bass, in New Jersey. Anglers release the fish. Not much was reported about trout fishing, after trouting had been great at Grenloch Lake this season, because of the spring stocking. Big trout, breeders that were designated for the lake’s stocking, were reported from catches there. Saltwater anglers still Mohawked many bluefish, like before.

Largemouth bass and chain pickerel were angled, and photos of the fish were seen at the shop from practically every local lake, said Mike from  <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. The largemouths are spawning, so they’re relegated to catch-and-release through June 15. But they bit, and Live Target sunfish lures were popular to hook them. One angler had just bought three more, and the lures are spendy. But the angler showed photos of the bass he nailed, probably more than 20. Mike lost count. Chatter baits could also pound the bass and also the pickerel. Mostly big Roostertails were popular for the pickerel. Trout were still caught, but fewer than before. Some large were seen from Grenloch Lake, and the spring trout stocking is winding down in South Jersey. The stocking was continuing through this week, ending afterward, at Maurice and Cohansey rivers, and ended at other local waters in past weeks. The stocking lasts through May farther north in the state, because of colder water suitable for trout. In saltwater and brackish water, striped bass were sometimes still tugged from Delaware River from shore and, from boats, near the Salem power plant. Know the regulations for fishing for the stripers, including because the angling is closed currently on the tidal river and requires certain hooks to be fished in New Jersey. Anglers release the stripers. Lots of bluefish were pasted from the back bay at Sea Isle City. White Zooms tackled them.

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