<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

Frigid weather kept making ice on the big lake, said Jeff from <b>FISH307.com</b> in Lake George. About 15 miles of the south end of the lake were frozen with anywhere from 6 to 15 inches, and the stretch from The Narrows south into Basin Bay was fishable. The Hague area was still open, but the main lake held 3 to 10 inches. Northern pike and perch were biting in the coves, and sometimes landlocked salmon to 3 ½ pounds were taken in the bays on emerald shiners fished 1 to 10 feet below the surface. Lake trout were caught in the 60-foot depths by anglers who jigged sizes 7 to 9 Swedish Pimples. The store will hold an ice-fishing tournament at the Veteran’s Park section of the lake this Saturday with a $20 entry fee. Stop in and sign up.

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river was running at a manageable 750 CFS, said Suzanne from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski, and the banks were now accessible, because most of the snow was gone. Previously thick snow was forcing anglers to work to reach the banks. Customers were reporting one of the best steelhead seasons in quite a while, and average days were giving up one to three fish in the 6- to 12-pound class per person. Blue or pink egg sacks, trout beads and stoneflies were top choices.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Despite rains the Delaware River was not muddy at all, said Bruce from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Catfish were hauled in that pounced on stink baits on a regular basis from the power plant area. The Dredge Harbor area put out quality yellow perch fishing for those dropping down jigs or small fathead minnows, and striped bass anglers were eagerly awaiting the month of March to start fishing, because striper season will open for a moment on parts of the river. But check the regulations for specific dates and locations. Trout fishers were finding plenty of action at Levittown Lake, and the ice was now completely melted at Lake Luxemborg.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The Passaic River was flood city, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville, and heavy rains muddied the waters. Once the river clears, probably by tomorrow, northern pike fishing should resume. Remember to stop by the shop and pick up a free pike-fishing map that shows all the hot spots.

Practically all previously ice-covered ponds and lakes were now open, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. So anglers were starting to concentrate on casting for perch and largemouths from the banks. Trouters were finding the Big Flatbrook to be prime real estate, and small streamers worked well.

Barely safe enough ice covered the cove behind <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong over the weekend, believe it or not, Laurie said. Ice fishers did catch a medley of perch, pickerel, largemouth bass and crappies. The state park and River Styx areas also offered 4 inches or so, but all that probably won’t be safe this weekend. Check with the store for daily ice conditions if you plan on heading up.

Local rivers were flooded, though some anglers were trying to fish the Ramapo for trout with small flies, said Tom at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Ice fishers were running north for the 2-hour drive to fish the Catskills, where 13 inches of solid ice was the platform to hook largemouth and smallmouth bass on the ponds. The drive might just be worthwhile, because no fishable ice was in the local area.

Customers who wanted to trout fish were being forced to wait for the rivers to subside, said Chris at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b> in Lebanon. But a few were going to Round Valley Reservoir to catch trout from the shoreline on marshmallow and mealworm combos. Lake Hopatcong might offer a chance for ice fishing this weekend, because nighttime temperatures were expected to drop into the 20s in the next days. Cross your fingers!

As trout anglers waited for the rivers to clear up, now was the time to tie spring flies, said Ron from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. Be sure to craft Quill Gordons, early black caddis and stonefly patterns, the first hatches come March. Give it one to three weeks for the trout fishing to really open up at spots like the Pequest and the South Branch of the Raritan.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

The Rockaway River should be fishable by tomorrow, said Mark from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Trout anglers there should concentrate on fly casting with smaller nymphs. The Long Valley stretch of the Raritan River is always one of the first to clear up, because of its hard bottom, and that’s where trout fishers could already head for a hook-up. Spruce Run Reservoir was filled back up to full capacity, and that should harbor excellent springtime fishing for pike, perch and bass.

Trout anglers were pulling on catches in the upper stretches of the Manasquan River, as well as the Riverview Park stretch of the Toms River, before the rains, said Andrew from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. Spring Lake was also a place for trout activity for anglers fishing from the banks, and Power Baits and nightcrawlers found the strikes. The western end of the lake was also a spot to tangle with crappie that whacked live killies and small spinners.

The Ocean County College ponds dished up good shots of crappie, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The panfish walloped marabou jigs fished around the logs and trees. The Trilco section of the Toms River was home to pickerel in the quiet shallows – 8 to 18 inches of water – and live killies got crashing top-water attacks. Yellow perch were also on tap in that area.

<b>South Jersey</b>

The Delaware River was still very fishable after the storms, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Catfish were No. 1 on the hit list in the power plant section. Walleye had been chomping down on jigs at Frenchtown and Lambertville, and most of that action was by boat. Gropp’s Lake produced crappie for anglers casting small, 1/16-ounce jigs tipped with yellow twister tails.

Patrons who tossed out 4-inch Fin-S Fish and Yozuri Pins Minnows near the power plant section on the Delaware River were tying into a few striped bass, small ones to 15 inches, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Remember that all stripers inadvertently caught have to be released now until the season opens. Check the regs. Bass angles should start looking toward the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes to find a bite.

Pickerel were the mainstay, said Dick at <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Waretown. Most customers were simply fishing live killies or shiners in the Forked River for a tussle with the water wolves. Won’t be long: The shop will start to carry live bait again in March.

Warm weather during the weekend kept largemouth bass fishing alive, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Parvin Lake and Cedarville Lake doled out decent bass fishing on small crank baits and live shiners. Big, 3- to 4-pound pickerel also fed at those waters and Union Lake. Crappie were consistently, repeatedly hooked at Lake Lenape on twister-tailed jigs and Mini-Mizmo tubes in white, yellow or chartreuse. Mary Elmer Lake was hot for largemouth bass in the 2- to 3-pound range, and pickerel were hitting to boot. Trout fishers began to land more catches in the Almond Road section of the Maurice River, and Power Baits worked well to trick the holdovers.

The Maurice River fishery was all about white perch and catfish, said Ki at <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. More of the perch seemed to be actively feeding on frozen grass shrimp, and anglers willing to patiently wait for a nibble were reeling up catfish from the river bottom.

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