<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

The first fishable ice formed in New York State this past week, said Ron at <b>FISH307.com</b> in Lake George. Waters such as Brant Lake, Eagle Lake and Loon Lake held 3 to 5 inches of ice, and some coves on Lake George were getting skim ice. Most ice anglers were reeling up yellow perch that hit grubs and mousies and northern pike that attacked live shiners. A few landlocked salmon were pulled from the coves on Lake George, and if temps stay below freezing, the lake should be ice-fishable in a week’s time.

<b>Salmon River</b>

Mixed reports came from river, said Suzanne at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski, and some customers got into excellent steelhead action, and others only found a small pick. The best reports came from the Two Way Bridge to Altmar area, where anglers were working spey rods to cast orange floats with blue or pink egg sacks underneath. Local fishing guides also said the Ballpark stretch was decent. The steelies weighed 5 to 10 pounds, and brown and rainbow trout were also taken at Lake Oswego. Many anglers were using Loon Ice-Off on the rod guides and lines to keep ice from bunching up on the tackle.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Trout were the main affair, and Corr Creek and Levittown Lake were stocked Friday, said Bill at <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Meal worms, wax worms and pink Power Bait were all effective. On the Delaware River walleye fishing was decent up at Yardley and New Hope, and fathead minnows on small hair jigs were prime baits.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Determined anglers beat the winds and hit the Passaic River for northern pike, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. The waters at Two Bridges, the Route 80 Bridge and near the Willow Brook shopping center were hopping, and big, live shiners were the key. Boaters or kayakers had a better shot to cover more ground, but bank anglers were also having luck with far casts.

Skim ice formed on local lakes and ponds and brought hopes for an early ice-fishing season, said Kevin at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Split Rock Reservoir and the Stokes State Forest ponds were covered early in the week, and the icing seemed to be happening quickly, because of consistently frigid nighttimes. Meantime, anglers were stalking the smaller farm ponds for catches of yellow perch gobbling up meal worms.

Customers were chomping at the bit for the lake’s first ice, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. The Woodport section was covered with skim ice all last week, possibly suggesting an early season. But until the hard water got thick, walleye anglers were continuing to pick away off the points in 15 to 30 feet, using hair jigs tipped with shiners or fathead minnows.

Ice anglers were happy to hear that Barber’s Pond held 2 ½ inches of ice as of Monday, said Tom at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Verona Park pond gave up red-hot fishing for 17- to 22-inch trout that consistently chomped down on pink salmon eggs or pink Power Bait. Verona was more about quality than quantity, but anglers could expect to bring home a sizeable salmonid for the frying pan. At the Passaic River pike preyed on live shiners or 3-inch Storm shads, and customers checked in ones to 11 pounds. That fishing will only get better as the winter rolls on.

Trout fishers reaped the rewards of holdover stockers at the South Branch of the Raritan River and at the Pequest River, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Small, sizes-16 to -18 midge flies and nymph patterns worked best, and fish them slowly and deeply in the pools. Round Valley Reservoir’s trouting was hit or miss, and overcast days seemed to trigger the best action. Rainbows were inhaling marshmallow and meal worm combos, but 80 percent were 14 3/4 inches, just under the 15-inch minimum. Brown trout could be scored at the reservoir on trolled, fluorescent, 1-ounce Kroc spoons or J5 Rapalas in 10 to15 feet of water.

Trout were headlining catches for most anglers, said Sean at <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The Musconetcong River, the Big Flatbrook, the Pequest and especially the Long Valley stretch of the South Branch were notable, and one customer caught a good share of rainbows near Stevens State Park.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Fishing for trout was going off at the Pequest River, said Jim from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Small egg patterns and caddis or Pheasanttail flies in sizes 16 to 20 drew bites from 3 to 4-pound rainbows on every third cast. The key was to constantly quick-lift and pull on the flies as the trout followed and sipped away at them. The action was an all-day affair and even lasted into the night. In January the shop will start to hold a sale offering 20 percent off all fly-tying materials, and Trout Unlimited members will get an additional 10 percent discount to boot.

Trout anglers were plucking out fish from the Manasquan River, especially near the Bryce Park and Hospital Road sections, said Andrew at <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. Most of the fish were eating up nightcrawlers or meal worms and measured up to 16 inches on average. Tons of small brownies were stocked for the sea run program, and those fish were stealing worms off hooks with regularity, making anglers run through lots of bait. The pond behind the store was covered with skim ice, amping up hopes for ice fishing, maybe an early start.

Chain pickerel gave up the bulk of action, said Jeff at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The Trilco stretch of the Toms River was the best spot for die-hard anglers who braved strong winds last week and tossed out live shiners. Many customers were trying to target yellow perch in the local ponds, such as the Ocean County Mall ponds, with small meal worms and grub tails.

<b>South Jersey</b>

All the local lakes received a coating of skim ice last week, said A.J. at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> of Robbinsville, and for the most part that thwarted efforts to cast for bass, though it did create excitement in the ice-angling community. Stone Tavern and Rising Sun lakes were fully covered with ice, and Lake Assunpink was almost covered completely, save for a little section near the boat launch, where anglers were able to cast live shiners to trick a few chain pickerel. Gropp’s Lake was open enough to fish for crappie, and hair jigs twitched under bobbers attracted attention.

The Delaware River’s walleye fishing was fairly decent near Washington’s Crossing, said Tony at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Small chartreuse jigs fished with fathead minnows got the walleyes to hit during the early mornings, and 3-inch plastic Storm shads also managed to get strikes.

The air was cold enough for even the South Jersey lakes to get layers of skim ice, said Jeff at <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Malaga and Parvin Lakes had been locked up and weren’t unfishable for bass anglers who wanted to toss plugs from the banks, but they should be defrosted and castable now from this week’s above freezing temperatures. Trout were swimming the Maurice River, where anglers were slinging out garden worms to find a hit.

Striped bass kept invading the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. But mostly short bass and no keepers were in the mix to date. Smaller bunker chunks and bloodworms were taking the fish, and it was just a matter of getting out to try for them. Catfish were sucking down dead shiners and stink baits fished along the river bottom. White perch were a viable option on the Maurice, and a consistent pick of the whiteys could be nabbed on bloodworms bits.

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