<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Note:</b> This will be the last report from New York State for the year, because all focus will be on waters in Jersey and the surrounding area starting in April. Look for New York coverage to start back up toward winter, when ice fishing is impending, and salmon are once again migrating up the rivers.

<b>Adirondacks</b>

This should be the last week of fishable ice, said Jeff from <b>FISH307.com</b> in Lake George. The edges were becoming “iffy” at best, with ice still holding once anglers got out onto it. Plenty of yellow perch and pike action went down in the coves on the South Basin in the past week, and so did catches of landlocked salmon and lake trout from 30- to 40-foot depths. Although this is the last report of the season from FISH307.com, the area’s fishing should continue to be strong all through the summer.

<b>Salmon River</b>

The river was running at 1,150 CFS yesterday but was slated to be dropped to 750 CFS by today, said Eric at <b>All Seasons Sports</b> in Pulaski. Lots of snowmelt kept water temps low or in the 33- to 34-degree range, but steelheads were smacking pink bubble gum worms. Customers averaged 2 to 4 steelies per trip, fish that weighed about 10 pounds. The river will give up “drop-back” steelheads through spring as the fish migrate back into the lake. Although this is the final report from the shop until winter, feel free to call the store to see how the drop-back fishing is going.

<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Striped bass officially began to push up the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia, and most action took place around the Commodore Barry Bridge. Catches included five keepers to 31 inches taken off Station Avenue, two fish over 28 inches off Linden Avenue and one 29-incher off Princeton Avenue. All were caught on bloodworms, and smaller bass and catfish were sometimes mixed in. More stripers were holding farther down the river, but they were generally smaller. The Salem area was putting out lots of 15- to 25-inch stripers and some big white perch. One customer fished off the Chester Ramp and picked up nine stripers and 16 catfish, all on bloods. Trout anglers were geared up for Pennsylvania’s season opener this Saturday, and best bets for success on the first day include Pennypack Creek, Wissahickon Creek, Levittown Lake, Core Creek and Neshaminy.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The Passaic River cleaned up enough for pike anglers to have at it, after the waters were previously muddied from rains, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. The Hawthorne section was pretty productive for those fishing large, live shiners. Humongous carp were also taken in the river lately. Try sending out cornmeal baits to the homely-looking creatures.

The Delaware River flowed high and muddy, said Dom at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. That sent a lot of people to Lake Hopatcong to fish, and they were scoring well on yellow perch, monsters up to 1 pound, and occasional smallmouth bass. The key was to work Senko worms in black or blue in the shallow back coves.

Yellow perch and crappie were the mainstay on the big lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. The Brady Bridge area was the spot to be, because the shallows held perch in the warm sunlight, and the fish were hitting live fathead minnows or jigs tipped with small, curly tailed grubs.

Most streams in the area were still flooded, said Mark from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. But anglers hoped they’d all be clear by opening day of trout season in two Saturdays. Meanwhile, bass anglers were starting to haunt the lakes such as Hopatcong and Split Rock Reservoir to tangle with largemouths and smallmouths. Cast shallow-water crank baits or Senko worms around brush piles and flats for a taker.

Spruce Run Reservoir’s pike fishing was slow, said Chris at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. The Division of Fish and Wildlife even picked up their nets and barely found pike. Largemouth bass anglers were starting to see activity along the banks, where Winston and Knightlius Peck found a few on live shiners. Trout fishers kept looking to Round Valley Reservoir to pull on lakers along the dam areas and rainbows from the shoreline.

Trouters were heading to the special regulation areas where fishing was allowed, such as the Ken Lockwood Gorge, while the season was closed on other waters, and were hooking brownies and rainbows, said Ron from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. Size-12, pink Glo-Bugs were the finest flies, and one angler released 17 trout on a day out with that specific pattern. Other special reg streams include a number of wild trout waters in Morris County, where one customer caught and released six native rainbows on a size-14, black stonefly nymph.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Spring Lake was getting stocked for the first-day trout rush, said Andrew at <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. But until then, largemouth bass anglers were starting to try out Manasquan Reservoir again for the spring bite, though no confirmed reports of success came back. Make sure that if you plan on renting a boat at the reservoir, you’ve passed the mandatory boaters course required in New Jersey. Get the certificate, and don’t get turned away from a day on the water.

Pickerel were on a tear at the Dumps in Toms River off Church Road, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Live shiners, top-water poppers and floating plugs were scoring picks to 3 pounds. Lake Riviera was also a chainsider producer and doled out a few largemouth bass. The Trilco stretch of the Toms River was a place for a mix of pickerel and yellow perch on live shiners, and mid-daytime hours were best for a hook-up.

Ryan at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville said he reeled in a quality pair of 3-pound crappie that inhaled live shiners at Carnegie Lake. The big slabs were chewing all over, and a trophy could be found, if anglers put in the time. Yellow perch were also feeding at Carnegie, taking meal worms on small jigheads. Loads of pickerel were hanging out at Gropp’s Lake and Mercer Lake, and Luke Lucas checked in a behemoth, 7-pound 8-ouncer. A decent largemouth bass fishery was also gaining momentum at Gropp’s.

Carnegie Lake seemed the top spot for customers at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown, Bob said. Crappie there were chasing down grub-tailed jigs tipped with fatheads. Trout casters were traveling to Ken Lockwood Gorge to pull on fish that were eating well. A few largemouth bass were fooled on live shiners at Mercer Lake, and a few herring and shad were showing up in the Delaware River around the Trenton power plant area, but not in any real numbers yet.

Most customers were focusing on Wildlife Management Area waters such as at Collier Mills and the campground ponds for fights with pickerel, said Dick from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Waretown. Try casting live shiners or working small crank baits.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Anglers looking for pickerel were cleaning up at New Brooklyn Lake and Clementon Lake, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. The best bet was to fish a live shiner under a float along the shallows. Kids and adults alike were having tons of fun pulling on sunfish at Blackwood Lake, especially near the spillway.

Customers were buying up killies to target pickerel at places such as Malaga Lake and Wilson Lake, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Both crappie and yellow perch should also be active at those impoundments, and to find them, scale down to fathead minnows or small jigs for the smaller fish.

After the cold front toward the end of last week, largemouth bass were a bit sluggish, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. But that action should change for the better this week with temps in the mid 50s. Dunk small fathead minnows in Malaga, Franklinville or Sunset lakes to trick a big-chested yellow perch. White perch were showing in the Maurice River, and so was the first real shot of herring, and that should spark striped bass fishing any day now. To tussle with a pickerel, swim a live minnow at any given sandwash or pond, the most guaranteed gig going now.

The first real reports of steady striped bass activity were still waiting to be heard from anglers at the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. But it was only a matter of days until the fish moved in, because herring began to migrate up the river. For an almost guaranteed striper hit in the next week or so, fish bloodworms or livelined herring.

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