<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondacks</b>

The big lake was covered with “the best ice all year,” and the fishing was outstanding, said Jeff from <b>FISH307.com</b> in Lake George. The annual Lake George ice-fishing tourney last weekend put up impressive numbers of ice-caught fish. Notable catches included lots of landlocked salmon more than 4 pounds apiece, a 10.5-pound lake trout, a 1.3-pound yellow perch and a 13-pound northern pike. Jeff fished during the weekend and found 15 inches of solid ice over 90 feet of water. Areas north of Long Island and the tip of Tongue Mountain were best areas for perch and lakers, and depths from 30 to 35 feet over grass beds were spots for the perch. Depths from 60 to 120 feet gave up the lake trout on jigged Swedish Pimples, and salmon seemed to localize around the Hearthstone section. The Schroon Lake derby was slated for this coming weekend, and the outlook for the next few weeks seemed excellent for ice action.

<b>Salmon River</b>

More than 2 feet of snow dumped on the area, said Suzanne from <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. But bank anglers had already worn down paths to the river for access. Customers continued to sling out blue egg sacks, wax worms and even nightcrawlers to average 2 to 4 steelheads from 6 to 10 pounds per outing. The river was running at 900 CFS and could run harder this week with expected snow melt.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

A mix of action was going on at the Delaware River, said Bill of <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Waters around the Commodore Barry Bridge offered plenty of catfish sucking down chicken livers, and 10 to 20 of the fish per trip was average. At Dredge Harbor yellow perch were swimming, and at the marina in Tullytown Cove crappie were on the bite. The Trenton power plant stretch doled out walleye, crappie, bass, catfish and even a few small stripers, and all honed in on nightcrawlers and live fatheads. The wing dams in Yardley, New Hope and Bull's Island were places to score walleye on minnows, jigs and crank baits.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The Passaic River ran super high and dirty all week long, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville, and northern pike anglers will simply have to wait it out. The river might be fishable by the weekend.

An ice-fishing report actually rolled in, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Some brave anglers plied the ice at Split Rock Reservoir and found 3 inches on the north end to jig up panfish and yellow perch on meal worms. But that fishing is not recommended anymore, especially after the warmer temps this week. Stick to the streams such as the Pequest to angle for rainbow trout. The section below the hatchery was producing the ‘bows on pink Power Bait.

Lou Marcucci of the Knee Deep Club found safe ice on the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. The River Styx bridge area was holding 4 inches at best and put out pickerel, perch and one crappie on Rapala jigs. But the ice was very iffy there, and extreme caution should be exercised. Lake Forest was frozen over with 5 inches, and Marcucci fished 100 yards from shore there to jig up big sunfish and yellow perch.

With striped bass season opening in the rivers and bays this coming Saturday, anglers might want to try out the brackish waters of the Hackensack River to find a linesider, said Tom from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Some of the fish were already caught and released on Storm shads there. The Passaic River was running high and muddy, and probably won’t be too fishable until the weekend. Stop on up at the World Fishing and Outdoor Expo in Suffern, N.Y., this weekend to get good deals from Ramsey. The show is only a few minutes from the northern end of the Garden State Parkway.

Trout anglers were trying to loft small nymphs into the Clinton section of the South Branch of the Raritan River, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b> in Lebanon. But with snow runoff and 34-degree temperatures, the trout were moving slowly. Other anglers were hitting the Round Valley Reservoir shoreline with live shiners or Power Baits to trick a trout. Some ice anglers were reportedly fishing the state park section of Lake Hopatcong, but the ice around the edges was broken up pretty well and not recommended for fishing.

Both the Pequest and the Musconetcong rivers ran high but clear, said Ron at <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The water temps were in the high 30s from snow melt, and flies to toss out included large, No. 10 Hare’s Ears, No. 10 streamers or small, No. 18 bead-headed nymphs.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Customers were traveling to New York’s Salmon River to cast blue egg sacks to catch an average of 5 to 7 steelheads on a day out, said Ron from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Back at home, the Pequest River and the Flatbrook were the best trout bets. Don’t miss out: The store will host a gala sale event from March 6 through 9, featuring almost everything on sale, including waders, fly line, lures and Gulp baits.

Lots of anglers were buying up killies to fish Spring Lake, said Andrew from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. They were probably hooking trout and crappie, and the upper reaches of the Manasquan River was another trout bet. Try casting small nymph patterns or drifting bright pink M&M combos, or marshmallow and meal worms, on the Manasquan.

Warmer weather caused pickerel fishing to perk up, said Dennis at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The Trilco section of the Toms River was giving up a better offering of picks, and live shiners fished in the shallows were the way to go. Trout anglers continued to hit the upper reaches of the Manasquan River with Power Baits and small nymphs for holdover rainbows.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Crappie turned on at Gropp’s Lake, and small jigs tipped with yellow grubs got whacked around the stick piles, said Sean from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Crappie also gave up fights at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes, especially at Stone Tavern Lake. Look for largemouths to be on the prowl in all the Assunpink lakes in the coming days.

The Delaware River was the centerpiece of activity, said Carl at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Walleye were feeding in the river near the Trenton power plant as well as at Scudder’s Falls, hitting jigs tipped with white twister tails. Gizzard shad moved into the area now, and anglers awaited the next surge of the season’s migration, when American shad should be pushing in. Get your flutter spoons and shad darts ready to roll. Also in Trenton, White City Lake served up chain pickerel fishing, and Sylvan Lake turned out a host of crappie and largemouth bass for anglers livelining shiners.

Pickerel fishers were targeting Wells Mill Pond and the Manahawkin Lakes off Route 72, said Dale at <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Waretown. Mepps spinners and live killies worked best, and the store will start carrying live baits again by this coming weekend. White perch anglers were picking away at the fish at the local Forked River lagoons. Small, frozen grass shrimp or bits of bloodworms attracted the bites.

Largemouth bass were on a good tear again this past week, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Sunset Lake and Mary Elmer Lake were spots to hunt down 4- to 5-pound bucketmouths on Rat-L-Traps, Lucky Craft Pointers and live shiners. Cedarville Lake was also a place to stalk chunky bigmouths to 6 pounds that smacked suspended crank baits. Mary Elmer Lake was also a scene for monster pickerel to 5 pounds, and live shiners had the picks chomping. Crappie were chasing small, grub-tipped jigs at Union Lake and Lenape Lake. An influx of gizzard shad moved into the Maurice River. With the reopening of the back-water striped bass season this coming Saturday, any chrome-colored plug that imitates a gizzard shad should illicit a strike from a linesider in the river.

Bank anglers will be targeting striped bass in the Maurice River when striper season opens Saturday in the rivers and bays, said Ki at <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Try using bloodworms or bunker chunks to pin down your first linesider of the year. Although fresh bunker will be hard to find, frozen bunker chunks can be soaked in bunker oil for the same, fresh effect. Yellow perch were taken from Union Lake as well as from the ponds near the high school.

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