<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

The ice on the big lake was finally fishable, said Ron from <b>FISH307.com</b> in Lake George. Harris Bay was covered with 4 to 6 inches, and both Huddle Bay and Saw Mill Bay held 3 to 5 inches, all of which was expected to be in the 5- to 8-inch range by this weekend. The rest of the lake was frozen across but unsafe, but the lake should be adding inches every day. Lots of fat yellow perch were coming out of the coves along with a few northern pike, the perch on Swedish Pimples tipped with maggots and fished right off the bottom, the pike on live shiners. Brant and Eagle lakes sported 8 to 10 inches of solid ice, and there was decent trout fishing in the 15- to 18-foot depths for anglers dropping down icicles and live shiners.

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river was running at 500 CFS, very fishable, so long as anglers could find a worn-down snow trail for access, said Eric from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. They slung blue egg sacks or black stonefly nymphs from sizes 8 to 14 to claim an average of two to six steelheads — 6- to 8-pounders — per day. The fish seemed to be feeding through the daytime, and drift boaters were catching more than bank anglers were, because the boaters were able to cover more ground to find the pockets of fish.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Ice covered lots of the coves on the Delaware River, said Bruce at <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. But anglers fishing Dredge Harbor in the remaining open water were finding loads of yellow perch that inhaled fathead minnows. Tullytown Cove gave up action on crappie, and wax worms were the ticket. Trout stocking that took place a few weeks ago had been offering good catches at Corr Creek, but ice now locked up many parts of the water. Try and hit the late afternoon hours, when the ice has melted some.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Ice anglers were ready to hit up Lake Musconetcong, because some of the lake was frozen over and safe, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. They could pick away at yellow perch, sunfish and chain pickerel in the shallow water, and live shiners were best. The entire lake could be fishable by the weekend, but use extreme caution, and be sure other anglers are on the hard water before you head out, Adrian said.

The store sold completely out of ice augers, said Dom at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Customers were heading to Lake Musconetcong to fish through the shallow weedy spots to pull up fat yellow perch through the ice holes. Split Rock Reservoir and Green Pond were also go-to spots that were frozen over thick from shelter from the mountains. Some said Bertrand’s Island and the River Styx areas of Lake Hopatcong held safe ice.

The lake was starting to freeze over completely, but lots of open water was still there, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Safe spots included waters at the Windlass, the River Styx, the state park and the cove near the shop, where 4 to 5 inches had formed, and yellow perch and chain pickerel were on tap. Most anglers were dropping down live shiners or were jigging Rapala jigs tipped with mousies. Tony Fernandez reeled up a 3.8-pound pickerel in front of the store. The ice should be fine to fish by the weekend, because maybe at least another inch or two will be added during the cold nights.

Ice anglers were hitting up Swartswood Lake for good action with pickerel and perch, said Al of <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Try fishing small Kastmasters tipped with mousies, jigging them right off the bottom. Upper Greenwood Lake had 5 inches solid and put out a mix of pickerel and largemouth bass on live shiners. Split Rock Lake was the place for crappie through the ice, and one customer jigged more than 20 on Sunday.

Plenty of catches came through the ice at the Windlass and River Styx sections of Lake Hopatcong, said Chris at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. He and Nick Niles set out tips ups close to shore at Hopatcong to chase down 14 flags that were lined with pickerel and perch. The ice was just barely safe, and there was open water off Nolan’s Point, and the ice was cracking underfoot. Ice anglers should be extremely cautious, especially until the ice is thicker.

A few trout anglers were plying the Pequest River and the Clinton Falls section of the South Branch of the Raritan River, said Tom from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The key was to toss out small, sizes 10 to 12 nymphs, working them ultra slowly, and the trout were hanging tight to the bottom, laying in wait for food to pass by. You almost had to hit them on the nose, so be patient, Tom said.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Lots of customers were traveling to New York’s Salmon River for steelhead fishing, said Jim at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. A few said they fished the Ellis Cove and Schoolhouse sections, hooking six to eight fish a day on chartreuse and orange egg sacks. Anglers locally were heading to Lake Hopatcong to pull perch and pickerel through the ice at the Windlass area. Be sure to mark down March 6 through 9, when the store is holding its annual Fishing Festival Sale.

Everybody had ice fishing on their minds, because word had it that Lake Hopatcong was fishable, said Roy from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. But trout were taken in the Manasquan River and up north in the Stokes State Forest section of the Big Flatbrook. Small, sizes 14 to 16 Hare’s Ears Flashbacks were the fly of choice. The shop is carrying incredible “Trout POV” that show a trout’s point of view from underwater, a definite must-see.

The lower Toms River was pretty much frozen around places such as Island Heights, so white perch fishing was out of the question there, but the upper river was open, and anglers in winter sometimes dunk nightcrawlers or small killies to catch the slabs, Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> said. None of those baits had been in stock, but warmer weather in the 40s was forecast for this week, so Dennis would probably carry both baits this week. The store had been open 9 a.m. to 12 noon or 1 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, but the doors might also be open Wednesdays if the warmer temps hold up. A few customers were trout fishing on the Toms in the Riverwood Park section at the Route 571 Bridge.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Some anglers were fishing the power plant section of the Delaware River, hooking smallmouth bass on live shiners, said Frank at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Monster rainbow trout from 3 to 5 pounds were chasing down Yo-Zuri Pin’s Minnows in the Musconetcong River, and pink and red were the must-have colors. Dam site No. 11 on Route 130 was a super spot for crappie that grabbed small shiners and jigs tipped with grub tails.

The Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes formed some ice but none that was fishable, said Tony from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. The spillways on Lake Assunpink were a good place to land yellow perch and crappie from the running water, and Rising Sun Lake also gave up crappie, perch and largemouths in the open water on nightcrawlers. Mercer Lake was a place to find smallmouth bass in the open water. The WMA lakes might be fishable by early next week, but always use caution, and many of the natural springs in the lakes can make the ice brittle.

The cold put an inch of ice on most lakes, but they weren’t safe enough to fish on, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. The key was to fish the open spillways on waters such as Rainbow Lake, Sunset Lake and Parvin Lake, where anglers could loft out a live shiner for a chance at largemouth bass, yellow perch or pickerel. The Almond Road section of the Maurice River was still holding trout for hardy anglers fishing with Power Baits and meal worms. Check out the new stock of Reaction Strike Lures that just came in. The 2008 products were coming in every day, so even if you couldn’t fish, you could do the next best thing: Browse the new gear!

Despite the cold, determined anglers were fishing the Maurice River for white perch, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. The whiteys were chowing down on frozen grass shrimp and FishBites, impaled on a size-8 hook and floated out underneath a bobber. A few dozen fish could be put in the bucket in a day’s worth of fishing, if anglers were so inclined.

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