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New Jersey Freshwater Fishing Report 10-10-18

<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Salmon River</b>

Salmon in the river were in all different stages of the spawn, from pre-spawners to post-spawners, and steelhead, a surprising number, began to enter the river, said Jay Peck from <b>Jay Peck Guide Service</b>. The salmon – the river’s salmon are always mostly kings or Chinooks – swam throughout the river from top to bottom. The pre-spawning kings were aggressive, full of fight. This past Columbus Day weekend is usually the peak of the salmon migration, and the peak of crowds of anglers. Officials announced a record number of anglers along the river last weekend, saying 1,100 vehicles were parked there. That’s a lot. Jay guessed that 25 percent fewer vehicles were parked at access points yesterday. That looked about normal for the time of year. His trips caught his season’s first steelheads on Saturday. He guided a group that landed six steelheads that day and also scored well on salmon. Was a great day of fishing. His trips reeled in two or three steelheads daily since, among salmon. The season was a little early for so many steelheads, and this was a great start to the run. Many of the steelheads weighed 10 to 12 pounds and looked beautiful. The river ran at 335 cubic feet per second or low. But rain began to fall, so the water level was holding its own. The reservoir was low but not dire. Rain fell at some time every day. Weather was dry previously this season and in summer. Yesterday was warm, so the river was probably in the mid-60 degrees. Today was supposed to be warm, but weather was supposed to become cool afterward. That will probably drop the water into the 50 degrees, and that’s good for fishing. Jay’s trips caught the salmon on egg flies, egg-sucking leach flies that worked well, and wooly buggers. The egg patterns began to work because of spawning. The salmon fishing was consistently good and will last a moment longer. Afterward, Jay fishes for steelheads that swim the river from now until early spring. Salmon migrate into the river from Lake Ontario in autumn, and spawn and die in the river soon afterward. Steelheads migrate to the river in autumn from the lake, spend winter in the river, spawn in the river in early spring, and return to the lake for summer. Steelheads don’t die after spawning like salmon do. Fishing for salmon and steelheads is world-class on the river. Jay specializes in fly-fishing and catch-and-release, and books trips that fish with conventional tackle with his other guides.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

Delaware River ran high, said Andy from <b>Stokes Forest Sport Shop</b> in Sandyston. Fishing was mostly uneventful, including because of that. Big Flatbrook ran at a good level for trout fishing, like the high water of spring. That could be good for fall trout stocking slated for tomorrow on the stream. More rain is forecast for that day, though. Paulinskill River was stocked yesterday, and ran high. Andy was yet to hear about fishing for the trout there. The Paulinskill can become muddy in high water, because the river runs through fields. The Flatbrook doesn’t become muddy, because it runs “through a mountain.” Nobody mentioned fishing lakes.

The one angler aboard Sunday nailed a 40-1/2-inch musky on a Top H20 plug from Lee Lures on a lake, said Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale. That’s a jointed top-water lure that, Dave said, is a crawler or a creeper. The angler wanted to try for the fish of 10,000 casts, and hooked the musky within 20 minutes of fishing. He seemed happy, Dave thought. Dave and his angler on the trip saw a canoer who landed about a 40-inch musky, too. That angler caught the fish while trying for largemouth bass with a Senko rubber worm on light line. The canoer also tipped over his canoe, ended up in the water, wasn’t wearing a life vest and clung to the canoe until Dave rescued him. Wear a life vest! The angler while in the water said he couldn’t swim. The water was 66 to 68 degrees, and the day was a little rainy. On the previous day, a trip was supposed to fish for panfish on a lake with Dave, but had to cancel because of family reasons. Weather was miserable that day anyway. Hybrid striped bass fishing with chicken livers on lakes is another type of angling Dave offers this time of year. That angling was slow recently, but could amp up any time. Fishing needs to find the hybrids that hold in pockets of fish. Catching is a matter of “hitting it,” he said.

Trout streams ran high, so nothing was heard about fishing the fall trout stocking that was beginning this week, said Brian from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. See the <a href="https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/flstk18.htm" target="_blank">trout stocking schedule</a> online. Maybe Big Flatbrook was fishable, because that drops quicker than most rivers after rain. Musconetcong River flowed very high, because Lake Hopatcong was being lowered that feeds the river. The lake was being lowered for dock repairs like is done every so many years. Hybrid striped bass were boated from the lake on chicken livers. Brian’s brother-in-law decked some on a trip. Did Brian hear about bass fishing? His brother-in-law’s brother pulled in a largemouth or smallmouth on the trip at Hopatcong.

Customers were all gearing up to fish the fall trout stocking this week, said Keith from <b>Hi-Way Sports Shop</b> in Washington. Paulinskill River was stocked yesterday, and Pequest and Musconetcong rivers were supposed to be stocked today. A bunch of customers were headed for the fishing this morning. He heard nothing about the angling, but should report about the fishing next week. The trouting will be a big deal the next couple of weeks. Anglers will hook the fish on the same baits as in spring: meal worms, baby nightcrawlers, salmon eggs and PowerBait. Hybrid striped bass were tied into at Spruce Run Reservoir. Herring became no longer available for the season to liveline for the fish. So anglers bought the shop’s shiners to fish for the stripers. Two sizes are carried. Weather is supposed to cool beginning Saturday, and that should pick up musky fishing on Mountain and Oxford lakes. Smallmouth bass catches at Merrill Creek Reservoir were the only notable bass fishing talked about. But the smallmouth fishing was good on shiners. Anglers had been fishing the herring for them. Delaware River ran crazy high, “as far as I know,” Keith said.

An angler had just reported good fishing on Passaic River near <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook when Larry from the shop gave this report yesterday, Larry said. The river ran way high, but the angler fished pockets along the banks, drilling three largemouth bass, two smallmouth bass and some perch. The angler said crappies also held in pockets along shore. He reported good fishing, on a 1/16-ounce marabou jig. Nothing was heard about northern pike from the river. The Passaic is one of a few waters stocked with the pike in New Jersey, and is known for fishing for them. Customers bought supplies for the fall trout stocking this week. Results of the trout fishing were yet to roll in. A customer who was headed to fish a lake was the only thing heard about lake fishing. In saltwater, plenty of porgies were bagged, some blackfish were landed, though one blackfish is the bag limit, and striped bass were angled here and there, but were angled. Most stripers were throwbacks. The blackfish limit will be increased to five beginning Nov. 16.

Water levels were decent for the fall trout stocking that was getting underway, said Virginia from <b>Hook House Bait & Tackle</b> in Toms River. The Toms, Metedeconk and Manasquan rivers were slated to be stocked locally. The water was low last year for the stocking. Anglers could even sight-fish for the trout then. Fishing for chain pickerel and yellow perch was good at lakes. Pickerel will bite nearly anything. Nightcrawlers hooked the perch. Most anglers threw jigs who fished for largemouth bass. But if they wanted to avoid pickerel, they tossed buzz baits or spinner baits. The bass were around and willing to bite, but pickerel could be quicker to the hook. Sunnies and bluegills were still nabbed at lakes. They’re most active in warm water, so the lakes were still warm enough. Generally, fishing was good, and waters were at a good, high level for fishing, and not dirty. Hook House, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

Fall trout stocking, happening locally next week, is the year’s best time to whack big ones, said Mike from <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. That’s because more of the trout are big breeders 6 pounds and heavier. Customers geared up to fish the stocking, buying PowerBait and trout worms, but also minnows, because minnows can attract the breeders. Some customers horde the worms, buying lots, in case the worms become scarce. Little news rolled in about largemouth bass, but surely the bass could be reeled from lakes. Use chatter baits or 3-1/2-inch Swim Senko rubber worms from Gary Yamamoto. Or fish minnows. In saltwater, lots of small bluefish and a few striped bass chomped.

Largemouth bass fishing was a little sluggish, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. That seems to happen every year around now, when weather is transitioning. Once lakes turn over, the fishing picks up again. Still, quite a few largemouths were plucked from Salem Canal during the weekend. So were snakeheads, unfortunately, he said. Snakeheads are an invasive species. Decent largemouthing was reported from South Vineland Park Pond. Some regular customers scored well. Chatter baits worked well on largemouths. Top-water lures still caught, like buzz baits and Zara Spooks. The water was warm enough. Chain pickerel were fired up at lakes. Lots of minnows were sold for them and crappies that also hit in lakes. Fall trout stocking was taking place this week. The stocking was supposed to include Giampetro Park Pond, Maurice River, Grenloch Lake and Oak Pond next week on Tuesday and Iona, Greenwich and Swedesboro lakes and Schadler’s Sandwash Pond next week on Wednesday.

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