<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Fishing for king and coho salmon started to wind down on the river, said Suzanne from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. But the fish could be found in the upper stretches near the trestle, school house and the Wine Hole, and blue egg sacks attracted the kings, and red sacks worked better for the cohos. Steelheads, including monsters to 18 pounds, moved up the river in spurts, and when they did, anglers averaged three to five fish at the Compactor Pool and the ball park area, mostly on blue egg sacks. Brown and rainbow trout were slowly moving in, and wooly buggers, egg-sucking leech patterns and stoneflies did the job.

King salmon fishing started to trickle off a little, and the numbers of steelheads and brown trout somewhat increased, the typical scenario around this time of year, said Bill Ferman from <b>High Hook Guide Service</b> from Pulaski. But angling for the kings should continue a while, and more of them swam the upper river than the lower. A few coho salmon were fought. Steelheads were sometimes abundant enough to target specifically if anglers wanted, but every day was different, and lots would push upstream on some days, and only a few were around on others. Too few of the browns probably moved up the river to focus on specifically.  The salmon population is always much larger than the populations of steelheads and trout, because more salmon are stocked. But the salmon will soon die after spawning, and steelhead and trout fishing will take over. Steelheads remain in the Salmon River and other Lake Ontario tributaries all winter, a great fishery through the cold months. High Hook both wades and drift-boats for all the fish with both spinning gear and fly rods.  

The river’s fishing was sort of in transition, with salmon just starting to thin out, and more and more steelheads and brown trout arriving, actually a good time to try for a slam of all three, said  Paul Auguscinksi from <b>SAS Guide Service</b> in Pulaski. Anglers with him fished mid river, including private beats, mostly landing king salmon with a few cohos mixed in, not great angling, but a steady pick. The upper river at Ellis Cove and Altmar got the most pressure from anglers. Steelheads could probably be targeted now, and SAS’s first steelhead trip of the season will fish this weekend. SAS Guide Service spin fishes for salmon, steelhead and trophy trout on wade and drift-boat trips, and enjoys teaching anglers the techniques that will help them learn how to hook up themselves, in hopes that they can even return on their own and catch.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Largemouth bass injected activity on the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. He hit the Dredge Harbor area, throwing lizards, Senkos and crank baits, claiming 17 bigmouths from 10 to 16 inches, and a customer hooked 19 on lizards and crank baits. Bucketmouths also stacked up at Neshaminy Marina, grabbing worms, plastic worms and minnows, and a few customers said lunkers to 5 pounds hung out near Station Avenue. At the mouth of Pennypack Creek one angler hung 11 catfish and four small striped bass on shrimp, chicken livers and nightcrawlers. Striped bass 12 to 20 inches broke water, and poppers, Zara Spooks, Tiny Torpedos and buzz baits got them to attack. Smallmouth bass were on a tear at the New Hope and Bulls Island sections, where two anglers racked up 57 of the bronzebacks from 14 to 18 inches on poppers and buzz baits. On the river upstream of Point Pleasant another angler picked up 65 smallies in five trips while working grubs, tubes and leech imitations. Smallmouths really started to fatten up and get big for the winter layover.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Smallmouth bass fishing exploded at Merrill Creek Reservoir, and largemouth bass and trout also bit there, said Bill at <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Smallmouth catches included Dave Markle’s 5-pound 4-ouncer and 4-pound 10-ouncer, Jeremy Blackburn’s 5.2-pounder, Bill Bensinger’s 4.9-pounder, Kurt Ketchledge’s 4.1-pounder and 3.8-pounder and Scott Ketchledge’s 3-pound 11-ouncer. Carl Lambert reeled up a 6.6-pound brown trout and a 4-pound largemouth bass. Trout were also creeled on other waters. At Pohatcong Creek Mike Johnson nabbed a pair of browns 3.9 pounds and 4.8 pounds, and Joyce Reynolds stuck a 4-pound brown. Ben Allen fished the Musconetcong River for two rainbows 3 pounds and 3 pounds 10 ounces.  On the Delaware River Robert Russell muscled in a 23-pound 12-ounce striper, and Pat Strom wrestled up a 5-pound channel cat.

Streams ran a little low, but trout fishers pulled out quality breeders from the Flatbrook, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. Most action was on garden worms and white Roostertails in the fast waters. Pike anglers should be on the Passaic River, fishing large shiners.

Consistent fishing for trout to 18 inches went down at the Rockaway River, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. The stretch from Jefferson to Wharton was best, and the fish keyed in on garden worms and salmon eggs. The Randolph Township ponds offered plenty of 18- to 24-inch largemouth bass that smacked poppers, Senkos and nightcrawlers.

The lake was drawn down to 5 feet, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. The shop will rent boats until November 2, especially for walleye fishing. Five- to 7-pounders grabbed live herring in both shallow and deep waters. Yellow perch and crappie could be hooked on small jigs, and chain pickerel could be played on Mepps spinners along the weed lines.

Greenwood Lake hosted a Bass Federation Tournament during the weekend, and a 5-pound largemouth was the top catch, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Joe Sedora whacked a 4-pounder during the event. Upper Greenwood Lake was the spot to bag a bunch of chain pickerel and yellow perch on shiners, and Pompton Lakes gave up a load of largemouth bass on jig-n-pig combos and spinner baits. Trouters scored well on the Ramapo and Musconetcong rivers, red hot fishing for breeders that sucked down shrimp-colored salmon eggs and yellow or orange Power Baits.

Round Valley Reservoir doled out rainbow trout along the shoreline and lake trout, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Power Baits sent out on a bottom float rig was the presentation of choice. Largemouth bass were also caught at the valley, especially on rubber worms fished around the docks. On the South Branch of the Raritan River giant meal worms were the favorite menu for trout. Spruce Run Reservoir gave up quality crappie fishing and hybrid striped bass to 5 pounds. Boat anglers at the impoundment locked up on northern pike, and one customer knocked down five of the water wolves to 5 pounds on shiners.

Cooler temps helped trigger the trout feed, said Ron from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. Waters along the shoreline of Round Valley Reservoir were cruising grounds for plenty of rainbows that chased red Roostertails, Mepps Wooly Worms and size-8 Wooly Buggers. From breakfast to lunch seemed the best time.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

A few hefty hybrid stripers were landed at Spruce Run Reservoir, said Ron at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. James Snyder clubbed a 6-1/2-pounder on a shiner, and Brian Zach beat a 6.8-pounder. Joe Lella fished the South Branch of the Raritan to pin down a 3-pound smallmouth bass.

A medley of pickerel, crappies, white perch and largemouth bass to 3 pounds gobbled up shiners and pounced in-line spinners at Lake Riviera, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Mornings until mid afternoons were good hours. Marshall’s Pond poured out plenty of pickerel and crappies, and Brookside Pond was the place to be for largemouth bass that inhaled shiners. Stop into the store for great mark-down deals on all freshwater tackle.

Two monster fish were brought into <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville, Sean said. Homer Tye hauled in a 54-pound 9-ounce grass carp, a pending state record! The beast chomped a nightcrawler at a Mercer County lake. Greg Krawtshcenko checked in the other leviathan: a 40-pound 52-inch muskellunge that hammered his homemade plug at Lake Mercer. Word had it that more muskies were on the hunt at Lake Mercer as well.

Lake Assunpink went off with crappies that slammed shiners, said Tony from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Plenty of 3-pound largemouth bass were also on the bite. At Lake Mercer a combo of largemouths and pickerel were on the prowl, and the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area lakes were the place for all the pickerel anglers could handle.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Smallmouth bass gave up steady action on the Delaware River, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. The fish struck crank baits, Spro Little Johns and Skitter Pops along the edges from National Park on upstream. Catfish Hoovered dead herring and shiners at the mouths of Raccoon Creek and Mantua Creek. Trouters scored luck at Grenwich Lake on garden worms, and Malaga Lake hosted largemouth bass that whammed Senkos and Waveworms. Those looking to score a bucketful of white perch honed in on the Cohansey River with bloodworms.

Quality trout were taken from Grenloch Lake, said Ed at <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. One angler belted a 20-inch rainbow on a Roostertail, and Scott Bryant  limited out on the fish on crickets. Kent St. John angled at Lakeland Lakes to bag a 4.9-pound largemouth bass on a shiner, and another customer fished Lake Worth, pummeling five largemouth bass and three pickerel that also clamped down on shiners.  

Trout fishers were pleased with the recent stockings of breeders, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Oak Pond and Iona Lake gave up limits of the fish to 21-1/2 inches on meal worms and garden worms. As the trout get acclimated to the warm South Jersey waters, they’ll chase Roostertails and other in-line spinners during the week.

The Maurice River, Giampetro Park and Mary Elmer Lake were decent spots for trout catches, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Largemouth bass anglers were happy that most of the lakes turned over. Davis Mill Pond, Parvin Lake and Malaga Lake all produced fine largemouth fishing, and Rat-L-Traps worked well. The tidal portion of the Maurice River held scrappy striped bass 15 to 20 inches that socked Zara Spooks.

Striped bass were plucked from the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Most were schoolies, and keepers were bagged once in a blue moon. Bloodworms, small plugs and live peanut bunker took most of the fish on the higher tides. Herring and white perch were also on tap in the river.

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