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New Jersey Freshwater Fishing Report 1-9-19

<b>NEW YORK</b>

<b>Adirondack Mountains</b>

Ice-fishing seemed about the same as before in the Adirondacks, said Renee from <b>FISH307.com</b> in Lake George. Nights were cold, and days were a little warm. Six to 8 inches of ice covered Schroon Lake that gave up landlocked salmon, lake trout, yellow perch and northern pike. Seven to 8 covered Eagle Lake. To the south, 4 inches lay across Glen Lake, but that was unconfirmed. All ice-fishing baits are stocked except mousies. Jeff from the store earlier this season said mousies were going to be scarce because the supplier had a kill. <a href="http://www.fish307.com" target="_blank"> FISH307.com</a> is both an online store and a brick-and-mortar one. It’s the Ice Fishing Super Store, located near the New York Thruway’s south entrance to the Adirondacks.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

Delaware River was fished for walleyes with Rapala ice-fishing jigs or rubber worms on jigheads in deep holes, said Brian from <b>Stokes Forest Sport Shop</b> in Sandyston. The water was beginning to drop after being high from rain. Big Flatbrook flowed a little high and could probably be fished for trout. Brian would probably fish a streamer there, because the water was a little high and a streamer would give “a little flash.” No ice covered lakes, none at all. But anglers hope some will build, because the weekend’s supposed to become cold. Ice had begun to form a while back. Then weather became warm.

Good trout fishing was had sometimes on streams when the water wasn’t too high, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Rain this season kept the streams in good shape, and weather was yet to be too cold. Plenty of big breeder trout milled around Musconetcong River, jumping on gold spinners or gold spoons. Those trout were also hooked on nightcrawlers fished slowly in deeper holes. South Branch of the Raritan River was another that produced trout. Nothing was heard about Delaware River. Sometimes customers fished reservoirs and lakes for crappies. One of them hooked the slabs on jigs. No ice covered reservoirs or lakes. Catch the shop’s exhibit at the Fly Fishing Show in Edison on Jan. 25-27 at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center. Stop at the store’s annual <a href="https://www.ramseyoutdoor.com/events/event/eventview/id/45/" target="_blank">Cast and Blast, Cabin Fever Day</a> on Saturday, Feb. 23, featuring speakers, tackle reps, clubs, lure demos and more.

Customers bought shiners today to head for walleyes on Delaware River at the Delaware Water Gap, saying they’ve been catching, said Keith from <b>Hi-Way Sports Shop</b> in Washington. They’ve been fishing the shiners on jigheads, and the store is stocking medium shiners and large. Not much was reported about trout fishing on streams, and the streams ran a little high. But catches of trout were reported from Musconetcong River at Bloomsbury and Asbury, all on nightcrawlers. A customer whacked a 40-inch musky at Mountain Lake on a 5-inch, white Keitech swim bait, and afterward was going to Oxford Lake to try for muskies. Other customers plucked a couple of landlocked salmon from Tilcon Lake on shiners. Keith was unsure what they fished the shiners on, but probably split shots, he thought. Maybe ice-fishing will kick in again at lakes because of the cold that’s coming. That’d be great, Keith said.

The lake was rough in ripping wind today, said John from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Otherwise he would’ve been fishing it, he said. The water was only 2 feet down, after being lowered 5 feet down for dock repairs. So the lake was filling back up. The water was wide open, holding no ice. Anglers waited for fishable ice, and maybe some would begin to form this weekend in forecasts for cold.

Passaic River near the store flowed quite high, said Cheryl from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook. At lakes and ponds, largemouth bass and trout were still pulled in. Johnson Thinfishers, a blade bait, hooked the bass. In saltwater, customers sailed for blackfish on the ocean, though strong wind probably canceled those trips the past couple of days. Visit the shop’s exhibit at the Garden State Outdoor Sport Show on Thursday through Sunday at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center in Edison. The shop will exhibit all kinds of bass rods, reels and tackle.

Lakes were high and muddy, like chocolate milk, because of 1 or 2 inches or rain every week, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. So not much was doing with fishing on them. Lake angling was a tough pick. Chain pickerel socked on minnows at lakes was the hottest game, and minnows are stocked. In saltwater, sometimes customers jumped on boats to fish for blackfish on the ocean. Some sailed for sea bass on the ocean before sea bass season closed beginning Jan. 1.

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