<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

King salmon fishing was on a tear on the river, said Simon at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Larger ones in the mid 20- to mid 30-pound range moved through, keying in on chartreuse and orange egg sacks. The coho salmon run was dying down, but bruiser steelheads 6 to 13 pounds started to replace them, and some steelies pushed 18 pounds. Fly casters caught them on estrus patterns and Comets in the upper river near Altmar. Egg-sucking leech flies also worked on sinking tips to get them down deep in the 350-cubic-feet per second flow.

Mostly king salmon were waffled on the Douglaston stretch of the river, where <b>High Hook Guide Service</b> fished, owner Bill Ferman said. Thursday’s fishing was especially good, and the rest of the past week was mediocre. A few steelheads and brown trout were taken, and Bill saw no cohos landed through last week. Kings should continue to migrate upstream, and more cohos could still make the run. High Hook fishes at Douglaston, a private area on the river where anglers pay to fish, at this time of year. The area on the lower river offers a first shot at the fish, and anglers there seem to be more sportsman-like or accommodating to others. The public access on the river can be mayhem during the height of the season. More steelheads and browns should fill the waters, and targeting both fish specifically wasn’t possible yet but should be soon. Steelheads come up the river and other Lake Ontario tributaries and stay through winter, and big rainbow trout will also be in the mix. The salmon migration usually lasts until early November. High Hook both wades and drift-boats for all the fish with both spinning gear and fly rods.  

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Smallmouth bass fishing continued to slow down somewhat on the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Bill tried the waters, only coming up with 15 smallmouths to 2 pounds while fishing fathead minnows and Tiny Torpedoes. A customer scored a little better, reeling in 50 smallies in two days farther upriver while angling with watermelon grubs, top-water lures, tubes and fatheads. Tubing was best from Frenchtown to farther downstream, where waters were 63 degrees. Trout anglers were happy with action at Pennypack Creek, where many fat rainbows were available. They sometimes grabbed 20 trout per day on spinners, corn and mealworms. The Rhawn Street section was stocked only lightly, but more were stocked at Welsh Road, Verree Road, Roosevelt Boulevard, Krewstown Road and Pine Road. Levittown Lake and Wissahickon Creek were also stocked.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Trout fishers said the sizes and quantities of the fish stocked in the Musconetcong River was above average at the moment, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. A 4.6-pound rainbow that Mike Scerbo creeled was one of the lunkers, and so were a pair that weighed 3 pounds and 2.8 pounds that Greg Cartegena looted. Jerry Connelly hauled in a 5.7-pound rainbow from the Pequest. Merrill Creek Reservoir dished out a couple of quality smallmouth bass: a 4.4-pounder for Angee Ramos and a 4-pounder for 7-year-old Justin Dornblaster. Andy Mugovero hit Oxford Furnace Lake for a monster, 21.6-pound muskie, and Seth Anders plied the Delaware River for a 7.9-pound walleye.

Trout fishing was the best action, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. The Paulinskill River and the Denville section of the Rockaway River put out big, breeder trout that chased down spinners and sucked up nightcrawlers dragged across the bottom. A pike bite might’ve been starting on the Passaic River, because n 8-pound water wolf got hammered there on a black spinner.

The Pequest and Rockaway rivers were top places for trout, said Kevin at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. The larger fish chomped olive wooly buggers, streamers and small Rapalas. Largemouth bass fishing improved at Greenwood Lake, and the bigmouths moved into a little deeper waters in 5 to 7 feet. Chartreuse grub jigs and Sweet Beavers jigged on the bottom nailed up to 3 pounders.

Walleyes and channel catfish were the main fare on the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Paul Avenius creamed a 7-pound walleye, and other anglers stuck 4-pounders, usually on live herring. Tom Focciola won fights with a 6.2-pound walleye and a 6-pound 11-ounce channel cat. Tommy Fernandez beat an 8-pound 13-ounce channel. Hybrid striped bass, including Dave Smith’s 8-pounder, were lifted from deeper waters on Rapala ice jigs. Lots of yellow perch swam the shallows, inhaling small baits and jigs, and pickerel were pummeled off the weed lines on large Mepps spinners. Largemouth bass in the 3-pound range hung around the weed lines as well. The rental boats will be available through November 2, because of the lake drawdown.

Fishing for big trout was on fire at the Musconetcong and Pequest rivers, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The Muskie put up trout to 3 to 4 pounds, and the Pequest was even better, serving up 6- and 7-pounders. Waters ran low and carried leaves, so fish as deep as possible with weights, dragging the bottom. A few boaters pulled walleyes out of Lake Hopatcong off the points.

Rainbow trout officially moved in off the Round Valley shoreline, said Steve at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Anglers cast Power Baits in florescent orange or yellow to knock down the fish with consistency. One customer drilled 27 rainbows, and another lost an estimated 8-pound stocker at the rocks. Largemouth bass ate up shrimp at the coves. Ken Lockwood Gorge produced a beautiful, 2-pound brook trout for Tom Peck, who fished a gold, 1/6-ounce Phoebe. Hybrid striped bass were on the take at Spruce Run Reservoir, and determined anglers who fished shiners socked a half-dozen of the brokensiders per evening session.

Streams ran low, and trouters should use long, 9-foot leaders on fly lines to avoid detection, said Ron from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. They should also check out the Round Valley shoreline to fight rainbows cruising the boat launch area. Use size-8 wooly buggers and streamers.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Bert and Mike from the shop were casting size-18 midge and black gnat flies to play 12- and 14-inch trout at the Pequest River and Ken Lockwood Gorge, said Mike at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b>.  Doug Zichaznicki mugged a 4-1/2-pound hybrid striped bass at Spruce Run Reservoir on a shiner and checked in the fish.

Manasquan Reservoir was down 8 feet, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River, but largemouth bass anglers connected. They dropped down 7-1/2-inch, rubber worms in black and purple or vertical jigged black paddletail shads with purple tails to attract the bigmouths feeding along the bottom. The Trilco section of the Toms River was home to plenty of chain pickerel willing to pounce shiners. Be sure to cast into the main channel, where fewer weeds fouled lines. Trout gulped salmon eggs and Power Baits in the Lakewood stretch of the Metedeconk River, but anglers had to be stealthy not to spook the wary game. The spillover at Forge Pond also held good trout fishing.

Most customers got after pickerel, said Sean at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Gropp’s Lake and the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area poured out picks that hounded crank baits and spinners all day long. On another front, the Delaware River’s smallmouth bass fishing slowed but still produced the bronzebacks on drop-shotted Senkos at Lambertville, and catfish gnawed on Gulp liver baits up and down the river.

Quality muskies were pillaged at Lake Mercer on large shiners fished under floats, and that was the big news, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Crappies nipped at small hair jigs and trout magnets at Rosedale Lake. Pickerel hovered all over the place at the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area ponds, clobbering shiners and Mepps spinners.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Striped bass moved into the Delaware River in big numbers, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. The Camden area, National Park and the Gloucester Pier all offered amazing catches of 20- to 28-inchers, and bloodworms were the bait of choice. Also on the Big D largemouth bass in the 2- to 3-pound range were hooked near the Navy Pier, and smallmouth bass to 3 pounds were angled up from the mouths of Big Timber, Mantua and Woodbury creeks. Largemouth bass anglers also pounded Stewart Lake with buzz baits and top-waters for a battle.

Trout anglers were all about taking advantage of the new stockers, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Grenloch Lake and Oak Pond received a bounty of the fish, and Power Baits were the go-to choice, flying off the shelves. Chain pickerel were hungry and active at Grenloch Lake, Lake Worth and Collins Lakes, and shiners couldn’t be beaten.

Most customers focused on trout at the newly stocked waters, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Hammonton Lake, Mary Elmer Lake and the Maurice River were stocked yesterday, and Greenwich Lake, Iona Lake and Swedesboro Lake were supposed to be replenished today. Oak Pond and Grenloch Lake were also receiving hundreds of the fish. Toss Power Baits and baby nightcrawlers to do the job.

Striped bass fishing on the Maurice River was the hot word, said Jeff from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Schoolies ran all over the river, and anglers could tie into a dozen in an hour. Anything and everything worked, including spinners, plugs, poppers, worms and rubber shads. Largemouth bass fishers waited for cooler days and nights to turn over the lakes and ponds. Once that takes place, the fishing should considerably pick up.

Striped bass moved into the Maurice River on a daily basis, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Most ranged 24 to 28 inches, and the next two weeks should bring in the larger models -- 28-inchers and bigger -- as waters cool down into striper territory. Bloodworms and live peanut bunker tricked up the catches.

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