<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River ran high, so fishing was mostly limited to the lower stretches, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Smaller, 12- to 18-inch striped bass, catfish and white perch mostly held around the bridges, creek mouths and sand bars, but the catfish swam a little deeper at drop offs, and early mornings or late afternoons were better times to fish. Good amounts of largemouth bass bit in the main river, and spinner baits, Rat-L-Traps, crank baits, jigs and plastic worms hooked them. One customer fished the mouth of the Neshaminy Creek, angling up 11 largemouths from 10 to 14 inches. Another tangled with more than 20 while working crank baits below the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

</b>North Jersey</b>

Reservoirs became the popular spots for anglers, because the rivers flowed high, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Spruce Run Reservoir began to produce fish like Avery Daly’s 8.1-pound hybrid striped bass and Brian Russo’s 6.9-pound hybrid. Damian Greene fished Merrill Creek Reservoir for a 4.6-pound largemouth bass. But some fished on the Delaware River, including Mike Riffert, who banked a 5-1/2-pound smallmouth bass, and Andrew Wilchuck, who claimed a 3-pound 12-ounce channel catfish.

Saw Mill Pond was a place for quality fishing for largemouth bass, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Greg from the shop bailed a couple of dozen largemouths to 3 pounds while casting Senkos and Keitech swim baits. A mat of weed growth covered many lakes, so weedless top-water lures became part of the arsenal. Trout anglers scored on the Rockaway River when they could get baits to the bottom with heavier split shots in the high waters.

Some healthy catches were entered in the Stew Lant Lake Hopatcong Challenge during the weekend, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Eddie Mackin won first place with a combo of a 7-pound hybrid striped bass, a 6.3-pound walleye, a 2.7-pound smallmouth bass and a 2.2-pound largemouth bass. Lou Marcucci finished second with a 2.4-pound largemouth, a 1-pound 11-ounce smallmouth and a 1.1-pound trout.  Jason Cummings took third with an 8.1-pound hybrid and a 1-pound 11-ounce smallmouth. Catch the Knee Deep Club’s hybrid striped bass contest from 5 a.m. Saturday, July 11, to 12 noon Sunday, July 12. Entry forms are available online at kneedeepclub.org or at Dow's.

Phenomenal largemouth bass fishing was whacked at Lake Hopatcong, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Big bucketmouths pounced on crank baits and top-waters. Night fishing on the lake was outstanding, and one customer was catching a half-dozen 6- to 7-pound hybrid striped bass and some walleyes every night while casting crank baits. Decent smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing was on tap at the Passaic River, and carp were heavy on the chew as well. Anglers who dunked corn or Uncle Josh Carp Baits landed the donkeys to 15 pounds.

Hybrid striped bass finally began to get on the bite at Spruce Run Reservoir, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. The brokensiders chased top-water poppers and live herring trolled at 10- to 12-foot depths during the evenings and at night. Trout fishing was fairly active on the South Branch of the Raritan River, but more largemouth bass and carp were available from the river. Carp vacuumed up corn or Uncle Josh Carp Baits during daytimes and evenings.

With trout streams somewhat high and dirty, Bill Hoffman from <b>Skylands Angler</b> from Clinton fly-rodded for largemouth bass at the ponds at Hoffman Park, he said. Good catches were made on a <a href=" http://skylandsangler.com/Knight_Slider.html
" target="_blank">Knight Slider</a>, a pattern with a spun-deer-hair head, a rabbit-fur collar and a marabou tail. A slowly fished, sinking presentation got the strikes. The smaller to mid-sized bass were quicker to attack like usual, and the bigger ones were warier. A couple of huge ones swiped the flies but never got hooked, pouncing tentatively at the tails. But that’s how they grew huge: Caution! Trout could’ve been caught, but the bass seemed a better option, and Hoffman Park offers convenient access on trails that anglers can walk to several ponds, instead of traipsing through growth or woods, dealing with abundant ticks that Bill recommends avoiding. But he looks forward to trout fishing soon, and high waters kept him from the fishing a while, and he couldn’t be positive which hatches were best by now. Sulfurs probably still came off like before, and nymphs will always work. In the high waters anglers can drift San Juan Worms or larger stoneflies because of the worms that get washed into the streams or the flies that get forced into the flow from under the rocks. Trico hatches should kick in soon, and the white fly hatch on the Musconetcong River, a great one to fish, will get under way afterward. The big, white flies are fun, and the hatches from evenings to nights are good timing, when the trout began to get lazy during the mid days of summer. But mid days will still be able to be fished. Bill had been guiding fly trips in the surf, but the spring migration of striped bass and bluefish was slowing down in the suds. After all, it’s summer! He’ll return to the wash for the fall migration. 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, so they can even 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, hybrids, carp and largemouth bass, if anglers want to fly rod for them. Plus he guides fly trips in the surf during the spring and fall migrations at Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

The Little Lehigh River turned out good numbers of trout that inhaled small midges and brown caddis, said Mike from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Tom Krok walloped a huge, 6.4-pound rainbow trout at the river on a Mepps spinner.

Largemouth bass and chain pickerel were the main fare that kept anglers busy, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The Winding River, Lake Riviera, Lester’s Lake and the Ocean County College ponds all shoveled out the bass and picks, and swim shiners for the bass, and throw crank baits for the picks. A customer drilled a 4-pound bucketmouth at the Trilco stretch of the Toms River on a rubber worm. Look for Manasquan Reservoir’s bassing to pick up, especially around the docks and timber lines, Jeff said.

The Delaware River ran high and off-color, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. But smallmouth bass were taken high in the water column around trees that got flooded out. Anglers had to fish the river banks like angling in mangroves, casting between branches with tubes and flashy spinners. A couple of walleyes hung out in the submerged branches and roots, too. Largemouth bass fishing was fully in summertime mode, since the fish moved off the beds, and began attacking Senkos and top-water baits in the mornings.

Largemouth bass fishing cranked up, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Carnegie Lake was hot and heavy for the bassing, mostly on Senkos in watermelon, green pumpkin and black with glitter. Bigmouth fishing ran rampant at Manasquan Reservoir, and lunkers hung around the edges of wood piles and sunken timber fields. The key was to send out a Senko on a drop-shot rig, because the bass suspended in the water column to feed.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Schoolie striped bass provided the bulk of fishing on the Delaware River, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. Bass to 26 inches roamed the Bull Island and National Park areas, chomping bloodworms and chicken livers. Largemouth bass fishing held steady at the mouths of Big Timber Creek and Mantua Creek. Largemouths were ready and willing at Malaga Lake and Wilson Lake in the mornings, and shiners were best baits. The mouth of Rancocas Creek was a spot for solid catfishing, and 5- to 10-pounders were fairly common.

Anglers were out and about all weekend in the clear weather, and they brought in fish, said Jay from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Blackwood Lake produced a 4-pound largemouth bass for Tina Ridana, a 6-pound catfish for Sam Zitterman and a 1-pound sunnie for Phil Fransco. Joe Reilly slammed a whopper, 7.1-pound largemouth at New Brooklyn Lake. Ryan’s Pond gave up a 4-pound 14-ounce trout for Jim Koehler. Alex Bonk fished Lake Rene for a 4-pound largemouth.

Crappie hit big-time at Lake Lenape, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Jason King, 12, fished the waters with Mister Twister grub tails and meal worms, loading up on dozens of the specks. Another customer waxed four pickerel to 26 inches and a 1-1/2-pound largemouth bass at Wilson Lake on fathead minnows.

“Grateful” Bob “Bobstock” Trainor from the <b>Friends of Victory Lakes Association</b> and his dad beat five pickerel, four largemouth bass, two crappies and a yellow perch at the lakes on a trip during the weekend, Bob said. They hooked up on minnows, spinner baits and Gulp Tequila Sunrise Worms. Bob, his dad, family and friends on Fathers’ Day lambasted 18 pickerel and five largemouths at the lakes, and his daughter picked up a catfish. Minnows and spinner baits were thrown from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Anglers can fish Victory Lakes with a $5 day pass. The waters are private and hold largemouths, pickerel, crappies, yellow perch, bluegills, sunnies and an occasional catfish. Check out <a href=" http://www.fvlaonline.com/cms/" target="_blank">the association’s Web page</a> for info. Bob is also from <a href=" http://www.myspace.com/bobstock " target="_blank">Bobstock Productions</a>, promoting concerts in the area, including Jam on the Lake, open to the public. See the site for info or to attend the events.

A variety of species could be targeted, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Largemouth bass could be fought at Sunset Lake and Wilson Lake on rubber worms or top-water frogs. Big numbers of the bucketmouths could be found in the Salem Canal, but most weighed less than 1 1/2 pounds. Rainbow Lake and Parvin Lake offered fair bassing, and Jig-N-Pig combos worked well there. Look to Union Lake for consistent smallmouth bass catches, and drop-shotted Senkos will corner plenty of the bronzebacks during daytime hours.

The Maurice River settled in to the summertime pattern, with white perch and catfish providing most action, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. The perch were going after bloodworms and frozen grass shrimp fished near the bottom. Catfish jumped on stink baits fished right on the bottom.

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