<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

A mixed bag of fish could be angled on the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Capt. Deiter Scheel hit the New Hope area, boating more than 30 fish, including smallmouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish and walleyes, and both the stripers and the walleyes pushed the 23-inch mark. A customer fished the Bull’s Island stretch, picking up smallies, walleyes 15 to 17 inches and a few stripers, including a 30-incher, on rubber grubs. More stripers swam the lower river, like at Linden Avenue, where a customers reeled in seven of the bass along with catfish. The river at Station Avenue and at the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge were other striper haunts. The waters right below the sailboat club held carp 27 to 35 inches, and bigger ones were mixed in, and they inhaled bagel chunks.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Fishing now centered around the lakes and reservoirs, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Merrill Creek Reservoir served up a 4-pound pickerel for Bobby Radison, a 3-pound 12-ounce pick for Pat Storm and a 5.7-pound largemouth bass for Jerry Chidsey. Action picked up at Spruce Run Reservoir, and Justin Dornblaser fished the impoundment to land a 1-pound 13-ounce crappie. Jim Daley also fished there, scoring an 8.1-pound hybrid striped bass. Bushkill Creek put out a 2-pound 12-ounce rainbow trout for Blair Stem and a 2-pound rainbow for Randy Stem. On the Delaware River Damion Ricaard wrestled in a 21-pound striped bass and an 8-pound 12-ounce channel catfish.

Smaller lakes and ponds produced better largemouth bass fishing, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Greg from the shop banked 20 of the bigmouths at Saw Mill Pond using Senkos, and he also fished Split Rock Reservoir for similar results on Husky Jerks, for example. A decent bass feed was also going on at Horeshoe Lake, especially because not a lot of vegetation filled the lake to get hung up on.

Live herring did the job on walleyes to 6 pounds and loads of 2- to 3-pound largemouth bass on the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Small, rubber jigs worked for crappies on the lake. During the Knee Deep Club’s hybrid striped bass tournament over the weekend, Pete Cusick won first place with a 7-pound 12-ouncer. Dave Kliano took second with a 7.9-pounder, and Kenny Stelmack came close, winning third with a 7.3-pounder.

A tournament at Pompton Lakes proved that plenty of largemouth bass could be found, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. A 5-1/2-pounder was the largest taken during the event, and lots of healthy 2- to 3-pounders were claimed. Greenwood Lake was another happening bass option, and 3-inch Senkos in green pumpkin tickled the bass’s fancy as well as yellow perch and crappies.

Round Valley Reservoir’s trout fishing held steady, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Rainbows fed well into the night, and nightcrawlers and small shiners dropped to the 30- to 35-foot depths caught them. Lake trout 15 to 20 inches also attacked the offerings. Smallmouth and largemouth bass could be fought at the coves. At Spruce Run Reservoir hybrid striped bass fishing was hit or miss in the evenings. Streams were full of trout, if anglers could pick the right days to fish, when the waters were clean and clear.

Trout streams last week were blown out with high, off-color waters when Bill Hoffman from <b>Skylands Angler</b> from Clinton checked them out, he said. Time had passed since the deluge of rains earlier this season, but the streams were still recovering. He took a look around but found the trout absent from the usual places, and little was happening. So he fly-rodded for largemouth bass at the Hoffman Park lakes instead. A 2/0 Puglisi baitfish fly that imitated a sunfish gained chases. Bill enjoys fishing at the park, where trails provide convenient access to several lakes. When the streams clear, he’ll probably trout fish with large, black stoneflies, and even if the waters remain cloudy, a Montana stonefly can work well in those conditions. Pheasant-tail nymphs will also hook up, and trico hatches should be coming off. Tricos are usually active by now, typically appearing in the warm weather of July and August. But the year’s been unusual, with all the rains and cool weather. By now trout fishing is usually a matter of low, warm waters, but not this year. Not a bad thing, though, because at some point, the streams should mellow, and the trouting should take off. Bill also fished on saltwaters in the past week, competing in the Sandy Hook Bay Fluke Tournament. He located non-stop fluking around the tip of Sandy Hook on all phases of the tide, mostly for sub-legal flatties in the year’s large size limit, but a couple of keepers were creeled. Many of the summer flounder were just under legal size. He could even watch the fluke chase baitfish in the shallows, something he’d never seen before. At some locations like in the southern states the flounder are commonly seen in the shallows, and people even spearfish for them. Not so common in Jersey. Bill was about to take a trip to Boca Grande to fly-fish the run of giant tarpon. 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 ocean and bay surf during the spring and fall migrations at Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

The South Branch of the Raritan River was a decent spot for trouting while tossing wooly buggers, said Mike from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Ken Lockwood Gorge was also a producer. The ponds at Colonial Park coughed up a 4-pound smallmouth bass for one customer who fished a nightcrawler under a bobber. Hybrid striped bass were on tap at Spruce Run Reservoir, if anglers were willing to burn the night candle. Round Valley Reservoir’s brown trout fishing was tops, and the deep waters more than 100 feet attracted the fish.

Families were out in full force to fish the Ocean County College ponds for bluegills and sunfish, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The waters at Seacourt Pavillion and at Lake Riviera featured a good show of pickerel. The lakes at Lacey Road were the place to wrangle up bullhead catfish, and shiners drew them in. Lake Assunpink offered a solid largemouth bass fishery at night on black spinner baits and black poppers.

Walleye fishing was consistent around the Trenton bridges on the Delaware River, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. The marble-eyes to 20 inches and a few 20-inch striped bass hammered crank baits. The Lambertville stretch doled out smallmouth bass better than anywhere else on the river. Lake Assunpink and Rising Sun Lake were homes to giant yellow perch and slab crappies hitting pink jigs and small crank baits. Hybrid striped bass fishing came alive during night hours on Manasquan Reservoir, and shiners or top-water poppers dragged across the surface worked best.

Delaware River’s fishing bounced back after the high waters from rains earlier in the season, said Bob from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Smallmouth bass struck away at tubes grubs and Yum Dingers on the river. Catfish and carp prowled the slack waters off Duck Island, and Eagle Claw carp bait in pineapple flavor was best. Look to Carnegie Lake for steady largemouth bass action on rubber worms worked along the bottom. Some muskies were reported caught Lake Mercer.

<b>South Jersey</b>

The American Bass Anglers held a tournament on the Delaware River during the weekend, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn, and Steve Parker won with a combined four-fish weight of 9.54 pounds. Largemouths also cooperated in the Salem Canal and at Blackwood Lake, and jig-and-pig combos and Senkos fished wacky-style were key. Small striped bass hung around the Big D, willing to jump on small crank baits.

Loads of big bluegills and sunfish kept anglers busy at Puppyland Pond, Blackwood Lake and Grenloch Lake, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Pickerel at Lake Rene and Wilson Lake were another hot fishery, and shiners were a bait to swim.

Most customers played around with pickerel at Parvin Lake, Malaga Lake and Iona Lake, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Simply cast a minnow hung a foot underneath a bobber for the best chances for a fight.

Largemouth bass attacked both on top and down below on local waters, depending on location, said Dave from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Salem. Top-water buzz baits got whacked at Haddon Lake, but rubber worms rigged Texas-style had better luck at the Deepwater Canal, for instance. Some of the local ponds held plenty of big crappies, some more than 2 pounds, that swiped fathead minnows and small, curly, rubber grubs. Catfish and white perch pooled in the back meadow cuts off the Delaware River, and nightcrawlers will take either. Small striped bass to 26 and 28 inches suddenly seemed to move into the back creeks, fun on light tackle, Wade from the shop said. He racked them up on 4- and 5-inch swim shads, fighting the fish on a 5-foot largemouth bass rod. Baits including shedder crabs, bloodworms or fresh bunker could also work.

Early mornings and late evenings were prime times to bang out a bucketmouth bass at Parvin Lake and Sunset Lake, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Top-waters such as buzz baits and Zara Spooks were a main menu. For outstanding catfishing, head to the tidal portion of the Maurice River on outgoing waters.

Catfish became the main fare for anglers on the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. The whiskerfaces gobbled up Mr. Catfish baits and nightcrawlers. Lots of tiny, 10- to 15-inch striped bass ran though, eating up bloodworms intended for white perch that were also nabbed.  

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