<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Fishing on the Delaware River was all about smallmouth bass, like it’s been, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. One customer scored more than 40 of the fish, though most were small, on the river at Lambertville on fathead minnows. Capt. Deiter Scheel consistently pulled in both smallmouths to 16 inches and schoolie striped bass in the New Hope section while fishing with fatheads, and said waters were 60 degrees and ultra clear. Another customer nabbed smallmouths and stripers, both up to 14 inches, and medium-sized walleyes on the Point Pleasant stretch on Senko worms, Zoom grubs, hellgrammite imitations and Rapala lures. The river around the Stockton Bridge held action on all those species as well. In other news, the upper Neshaminy River, especially around Playwicky Park, produced smallmouths, sizeable rock bass and big bluegills. Try tossing in nightcrawlers, spinners or popper lures.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Fish suddenly got on the feed, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. That was after he reported slower catches on the Delaware River in past weeks. But the river now got a shot of activity. Walleyes went wild, and catches included William Blackwell’s 9.9-pounder, Charles Blackwell’s 7.5-pounder and Marty Carrone’s 5-pound 9-ouncer and 5-pound 3-ouncer. Channel catfish, like Chris Bogoly’s 6.4-pounder and Shawn Dornblaser’s 6-pounder, were eager to hit. Dornblaster also tackled a 13.8-pound carp on the river. Merrill Creek Reservoir served up catches including brown trout to 6 pounds and pickerel to 5 pounds. Bobby Mercado landed a 5-pound pick from the impoundment. Delaware Lake gave up action on bucketmouths including Tony Jenkins’ 5.8-pound largemouth bass and Pat Storm’s pair of 4.8- and 4-pound lunkers. The Lehigh River could be a place to chase big carp. Ray Campbell drilled a whopper 26.9-pounder.

Lake Hopatcong’s angling went red hot, said Don from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. With the cooler weather, herring schools began to pod up and rise to the surface, and big walleyes blitzed them from the surface to 10 feet down. Chain pickerel and northern pike also pounced on the herring schools. Use live herring or try working wide-profile spoons. Trout anglers get ready, because the statewide trout stocking started this week. Jersey began dumping into the streams thousands of big breeders to 8 pounds. This is the time to land a wall-hanger!

Lots of walleyes were hung in 20-foot depths on live herring, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Pete Rathgen tangled with a 6-pound 11-ouncer. Deep-water jigging should put even more walleyes on the plate. Channel cats were on the chew, and Hunter Good muscled in an 11-pound 15-ouncer. Plus this was the time of the year to troll for muskellunge along the weed lines with large spinner baits. The Knee Deep Club’s Members-Only King of the Lake Tournament takes place this weekend. The shop can be called for info: 973-663-3826.

Monksville Reservoir highlighted angling, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The 20- to 30-foot depths off the drop-offs and points attracted 2- to 3-pound largemouth bass, smallmouth bass to 4 pounds and 3- to 4-pound walleyes. For all the species, try fishing Keitech jigs on the bottom. A formidable walleye fishery was going on at Lake Hopatcong. 

Shoreline fishing at Round Valley Reservoir really opened up for rainbow trout catches, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Just about everything worked to claim the ‘bows to 20 inches, including Power Baits, nightcrawlers, meal worms and small shiners. The bite was an all-day affair, both in overcast and sunny weather. Spruce Run Reservoir began to turn out better northern pike fishing, and anglers beat the scrappy fighters to 30 inches on large shiners.

Water levels were good on the trout streams, and the cool temps seemed to get the fishing going, and this was a great time for the angling, said Bill Hoffman from <b>Skylands Angler</b> from Clinton. Nymph fishing with generic patterns like Hares Ears, caddis nymphs or midges like sizes 20 or 22 Griffiths Gnats will probably be top choices, with dry-fly fishing slowing down in the cooler season. But if rising trout are seen, they could be on sizes 18 or 20 blue-winged olives, always early-season and late-season dries to come off. Maybe the only difficulty was to decide whether to take advantage of either the trouting or surf fishing that was also gaining momentum. Bill also fishes the surf, and the fall migration was beginning in the suds. Fishing for false albacore in the wash was tapering off, after Bill had great fly angling for them at Sandy Hook in the past weeks. But that was right on schedule, and the speedsters only travel along the shoreline a moment. But bluefishing was going bonkers in the surf all around the Hook, and that was also typical for the season. They were the biggest kind, huge slammers, and should wreak havoc through the next couple of weeks. Throwing a jig for them was probably best, and most of the fish swam the bay side. Short striped bass were angled mostly from the ocean side of the Hook, and the wait was on for big, migrating stripers to slam the coast. Jigs were probably also best for the bass. So both the trouting and the surf casting were coming into their own, and that could last into November. Skylands Angler guides fly-fishing trips for trout on the Musconetcong and Pequest rivers and Ken Lockwood Gorge. Bill aims to teach anglers, whether beginners or advanced, how to fish the rivers, even so they can come back and catch on their own. That includes fly selection, how to fish the flies, casting lessons and all aspects. He also offers trips for other freshwater fish, like pike, hybrid striped bass, carp and largemouth bass, if anglers want to fly rod for them. Plus he guides trips in the ocean and bay surf during the spring and fall migrations at Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Trout fishing should be the main affair through the week, because the state was stocking big breeders at most streams, said Mark from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Break out the nymph flies or cast butter worms. The South Branch of the Raritan River and the Pequest River should be good options. Catch the store’s 60-percent discount on Sno-Bee waders.

Lake Riviera was the top producer, said Harry from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Largemouth bass in the lake began to feed in the fall pattern, and fathead minnows or thin, paddle-tailed shad bodies will get strikes. But willow-leaf-blade spinner baits will also hook up, because the waters are clear.

Largemouth bass fishing picked up at Lake Assunpink, Stone Tavern Lake and Rising Sun Lake, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Shiners grabbed the bulk of them, and work the drop-offs and underwater ledges to connect. On the Delaware River smallmouth bass and walleyes bit from the Frenchtown area to the north, and fathead minnows will gain a look.

Crappies were in feeding mode at Carnegie Lake, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Fathead minnows or 2-inch Fin-S Fish in Bubble Gum or Rainbow Trout on 1/16-ounce, white jig heads scored the slabs. The Delaware River held quality smallmouth bass fishing from Stockton to Trenton. Rapala Countdowns and green-pumpkin-colored tubes will do the job.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Chain pickerel were on the hunt now, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Large ones were sometimes taken at Grenloch Lake and Blackwood Lake, and Dave Briant checked in a big one that attacked his Rat-L-Trap at Clementon Lake. Haddon Lake was a spot for trout, and Justin Emerle nailed a 2.5-pound rainbow there.

Trout anglers chomped at the bit for the breeders that will be stocked, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Tuesday will see Oak Pond, Grenloch Lake, Giampetro Park Pond, the Maurice River and Mary Elmer Lake get filled with trout to 8 pounds. On the next day Greenwich Lake, Iona Lake and Schadler’s Sandwash Pond will receive bountiful breeders. Be sure to stock up on Power Baits, because the trout, after being fed at the hatchery, will be keyed in on that type of food.

Try the Delaware River’s tributaries for the best spots to angle in small striped bass, said Matt from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Salem. A healthy selection of white perch were in the mix. The Salem River and Mad Horse Creek were two places to find them, and bloodworms and shedder crabs will get gobbled up.

Largemouth bass were some of the top fish on the prowl at this point in the season, said Sam from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. So take advantage. The Salem Canal and Rainbow Lake held plenty of the fish, and Rat-L-Traps and jerk baits drew them to take a swipe. But pickerel were also beginning to open up their mouths with the cooler waters. Shiners enticed them to hit at Cumberland Pond and Dennisville Lake.

Short striped bass pleased anglers on the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Send out bloodworms to fight and release them. Catfishing was steady on the river, and up to 4-pounders devoured dead baits fished on bottom.

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