<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Water levels remained low at 100 CFS, but fishing was productive, said Eric at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. A spurt of 200 to 300 cohos averaging 8 to 15 pounds blasted through the river, taking single egg patterns in orange and pink. Most king salmon action took place near the top of the river by the hatchery, and considering water temps were 64 degrees, there was a halfway decent run near the ballpark area, and the kings averaged in the mid-20-pound range. The Chinooks were hitting larger egg sack patterns, milk and egg patterns, and Comets. Once the river gets a bit fuller with replenishing rains, the salmon runs will start in full force.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Smallmouth bass action continued to headline the Delaware River reports, said Bill of <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Bill and wife Helen were out on the northern section of the river and reeled in 38 smallies to 3 pounds and a bunch of catfish to 4 pounds, and most action was on live fathead minnows and 3-inch Power grubs in pearl white and smoke glitter. Treasure Island was also a hot spot for the bronzebacks, as one customer caught more than 30 smallies to 16 inches in the fast water between the islands. The Frenchtown section down to Point Pleasant held a pretty steady population of smallmouths, catfish and small stripers on small minnows and jigs tipped with curly tailed grubs. One customer was up past Portland fishing the fast water below the power plant to pick up 11 smallmouth bass, one walleye and all kinds of catfish and bluegills. The walleye pounced on a chartreuse grub.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Low water in the rivers and creeks kept lots of anglers off the streams, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. But anglers were ready to fish the deeper waters of the Musconetcong and Pequest rivers as trout stockings began this week.

The Passaic River served up a mixed bag of largemouth bass and northern pike for one angler, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. Both the bass and the pike bit spinner baits dragged across the surface. A steady carp fishery seemed to be developing in the river, because carp to 10 pounds were being taken on sweet corn and Uncle Josh Carp Bait dough.

Most trout anglers were focusing on fly fishing the Ken Lockwood Gorge, said Kevin at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus, and small, size-18, bead-headed nymphs were working well. Smallmouth bass got on a good tear in Lake Hopatcong, where smallies to 3 pounds grabbed Senkos and tube lures near the Lee’s Park section. Larger smallmouths seemed to be replacing the smaller ones, and 2- to 3-pounders were becoming more common.

A mixed array of species was coming from the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Anglers fishing with live herring off the Bertrand’s Island area, the ridge and off the points were catching nice stripers in the 7- to 9-pound range. Big smallmouth bass were also inhaling the herring baits, and the bronzebacks were pushing every ounce of the 3- to 4-pound class. A good show of largemouth bass to 4 pounds were also making an appearance. Small fathhead minnows and grub jigs were scoring lots of yellow perch and crappies. Customers trolling the weed lines with any larger lures such as Mepps Spinners were sometimes finding muskies, and pickerel were smacking small spinner baits in the coves.

A recent bass tournament at Pompton Lakes showed that bucketmouths were feeding aggressively, said Al at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The winner of the tourney combined for a 13-pound total, and that angler’s largest bass checked in at 4 pounds 13 ounces. A host of 2- to 3-pound caliber bass were caught by just about everyone on the lake, and worms and spinners took the bulk of the lunkers. Al said this showed there could be positive momentum on the largemouth bass fishing around the state.

Trout anglers were gearing up for the fall stockings, said Chris of <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Fly casters should be tossing small, bead-headed nymphs in size 16 as well as terrestrial patterns at spots such as the South Branch of the Raritan River and the Pequest. Trout stocking began yesterday, when streams in the northern and central portion of the state received fish. By the end of next week 20,000 brook, brown, and rainbow trout averaging 14 to 16 inches, and weighing 1-½ to 2 pounds, are supposed to be distributed in 16 streams and 16 lakes and ponds statewide. A change this week because of low water had the Black River not stocked, and the Lamington River would be stocked instead. Also, the South Branch of the Raritan River was only stocked downstream of the Route 513/Route 517 bridge in Long Valley for the same reason. For more info on the fall stocking, as well as the stocking schedule and any other changes, visit the division's <a href="http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_fall.htm" target="_blank"> web site</a>.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Wesley Clay checked in a good-sized, 3-pound 1-ounce largemouth bass, said Bob at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. He tackled the fish at the Delaware and Raritan Canal on a nightcrawler. Robbie Perchach hit up Spruce Run Reservoir to cast out live shiners during the daytime, and two hybrid stripers going 8 pounds 2 ounces and 5 pounds 3 ounces bombarded the baitfish.

Anglers were ready to hit up Spring Lake’s trout stocking, said Eric from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. Pink Power Bait and nightcrawlers will be the best baits. A better largemouth bass chew was going on at Manasquan Reservoir, and Roy from the store proved that when he won a battle with a whopper, 7.5-pound lunker. Look for the reservoir’s fishing to really kick into high gear as the waters cool down.

Freshwater anglers were keeping busy, said Dennis at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The Manasquan Reservoir’s largemouth bass fishery started up again, and one customer fished the banks with an 8-inch, Texas-rigged, purple worm to pull on bass to 3 pounds. Hybrid stripers were crashing bait schools during the mornings, and live herring will take the rockets. The Trilco section of the Toms River was holding steady pickerel and largemouth bass activity for those casting smaller spinner baits. The Presidential Lakes on Route 70 were a solid spot as well for pickerel on live shiners. Forge Pond put out a good showing of white perch and yellow perch for anglers lofting live killies underneath bobbers.

Largemouth bass became more active at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes and at Prospertown Lake, and buzz baits got the most attention, said Sean at <b>Harry’s Army & Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Lake Mercer offered pretty good muskie fishing, and big, black buzz baits found the mouths of the monsters in the 20- to 30-inch range. The Houdini Crab Lure was also super hot. Crappie fishing picked up, especially at Gropp’s Lake, and small jigs tipped with fatheads or grubs were getting hit.

Low and clear water was the name of the game at all local streams, said Bob at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. The Delaware River doled out continued smallmouth bass action on grubs, tubes and small spinners, especially north of the Trenton area. Largemouth bass fishing was improving at the Assunpink lakes, where rubber baits such as lizards and Senkos worked best. The low-light hours of early mornings and late evenings should call for a switch from rubber baits to top-water lures, because the fish can better see the top-waters gurgling and spraying.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Lake Worth got the nod for the best largemouth bass fishing of the week, said Ed at <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. One angler fished with live, medium-sized shiners to pick up eight bass to 3 pounds from the bank sides. Terrace Lake also held its fair share of bass grabbed from the shore line. New Brooklyn Lake and Blackwood Lake offered up numbers of chain pickerel for anglers launching out live shiners.

Spots such as Malaga Lake should be giving up largemouth bass, said Lou of the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Parvin Lake was the source of reports about crappie turning on, now that waters have cooled. Try throwing small fatheads or yellow grubs on small, 1/16-ounce jigheads to land the slabs.

The best largemouth bass action came from Parvin Lake, said Steve at <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. He sees the fishing only getting better as the waters cool, and most anglers were having luck casting Rat-L-Traps and crank baits. Big pickerel to 3 pounds were on the hunt in Union Lake and Sunset Lake, and any crank bait or spinner bait that was flashy and gold or silver worked. The tidal section of the Maurice River gave up resident small striped bass biting on bloodworms, and the freshwater section of the river will be hit by trout anglers once the stockings take place.

White perch, the usual suspects, were keeping anglers busy along the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Bloodworms were the best bet for the whiteys. Small stripers and even keeper-sized ones should be on the move into the river very soon as the fall migration moves south.

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