<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Fishing started to bounce back on the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Apparently the season’s heavy rains that finally began to end helped clear up the waters to get fish active. He wrangled in 11 smallmouth bass 8 to 12 inches, three small striped bass and a 17-inch walleye at Point Pleasant on Zoom grubs cast along the shoreline. The Point Pleasant Bridge abutments attracted good numbers of walleyes in the waters that continued to be high. One customer drifted down the river from the mouth of Tohickon Creek to nail six walleyes in the 18- to 22-inch range on nightcrawlers on a Lindy rig. The Treasure Island area held smallmouth bass and large bluegills at the weed lines, where small twister tails, leech imitations and meal worms got nabbed. The river at Lambertville was hot for smallmouths and walleyes that swiped minnows. Mickey Melchiondo bailed dozens of smallies, walleyes and small stripers in the area on Rapala Husky Jerks from noon to 4:30 p.m. Loads of all the species gathered at the Stockton rapids.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Merrill Creek Reservoir simmered with action, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Catches included Angee Ramos’s 4-pound smallmouth bass, 6-year-old Daniel Lewis’s 4-pound smallie and 3-pound 12-ounce largemouth bass, Derrick Krisko’s 5.6-pound bronzeback, Russel Woeppel’s 4-pound rainbow trout and Marion Palance’s 5-pound pickerel. Brian Russo fished Spruce Run Reservoir, drilling a 5.8-pound brown trout. The Delaware River became fishable again, because rains fell less frequently. Fish picked up included Ken Butchko’s 26-pound 12-ounce striped bass, Charles Benson’s 7.8- and 6.7-pound channel catfish and Brandi Shelly’s 5-1/2-pound walleye. The streams were loaded with trout. Carl Anderson hit the Musconetcong River, turning up a 6-pound rainbow.

Largemouth bass were on the bite, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Greenwood Lake put out six bass to 3 pounds for a customer who tossed Sweet Beaver Magic Craws, both at the drop-offs and deep along the weed beds. Trout will feed again at the rivers, now that waters subsided, and small terrestrials and blue-winged olives will work during evenings, when the streams cool.

Thunderstorms limited the number of anglers on the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. But those who got out between the storms were rewarded, hooking walleyes and hybrid striped bass with regularity. Mike Longo stuck a 5.7-pound walleye in the shallow waters near Woodport. Night fishing was great for walleyes and hybrids, and Zara Spooks and Bomber-type lures made enough commotion to get attention.  Largemouth and smallmouth bass were rustled up on shiners and Yozuri Pins Minnows. Catch the Knee Deep Club’s striped bass contest on the lake this weekend. Call the shop for further info: 973-663-3826.

Pompton Lakes produced some better bigmouth bass angling, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. He fished the lakes with Strike King frogs, working them over the weed cover, landing four largemouths to 2-1/2 pounds. The waters were off-color but were clearing up each day, and the bass seemed to hang especially close to cover. At Greenwood Lake, largemouths fed off the deeper points.

Rivers began to settle enough to toss nightcrawlers back to trout, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Try focusing on smaller streams that will clear up before the larger ones. At Round Valley Reservoir, rainbow trout could be taken on shrimp dropped to the 40-foot depths or cast right off the shoreline at night.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Hybrid striped bass began to hit at Spruce Run Reservoir from 10 p.m. through the night, said Nick from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Shoreline anglers threw out nightcrawlers on egg-sinker slide rigs to tie into hybrids to 6 pounds. Rainbow and brown trout were on the chew at Round Valley Reservoir, mainly in the 40-foot depths, and shiners and trolled Rapalas or Sutton spoons socked both. Hillsborough Pond gave up a 4-1/2-pound largemouth bass for one customer.

Manasquan Reservoir offered great opportunity, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Largemouth bass swam large and deep, pouncing on 7- to 10-inch rubber worms on ½-ounce weights dragged along the rougher bottom. Plus hybrid striped bass were willing to strike shiners at first light. Lake Assunpink was another largemouth hotbed, and black spinner baits and buzz baits worked during the night from 9 o’clock onward. Bigmouth bass fishing should be spectacular now, with the waning full moon to light up the waters. The dirt road section at Lake Riviera was the spot to find crappies and pickerel, and the Ocean County College ponds shoveled out a sustained catfishery during the dark hours.

The Delaware River started to churn out smallmouth bass at Frenchtown, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. The water color was yet to clear from the rains, but should clean up by late in the week. Largemouth bass were on the hunt at Carnegie Lake, Lake Assunpink and Stone Tavern Lake, and shiners and Senkos gained a tug. The shop will carry a full line of live baits in the next few weeks.

Lake Assunpink was a solid bet for largemouth bass, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Five-inch Senkos in black with blue flakes got whacked in deeper waters. Manasquan Reservoir was on fire with hybrid striped bass activity, and one customer fished for largemouth bass there during mid-day, when hybrid bass began to bust baitfish on the surface. The angler worked a Rat-L-Trap, battling more than 25 hybrids. Waters started to subside on the Delaware River, becoming fishable.

<b>South Jersey</b>

With the Delaware River cleaning up, largemouth and smallmouth bass were on the menu, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. They lay in wait at the grass beds, on the flats and around the dock pilings. Striped bass were also active at places including the Gloucester Pier, the concrete pier, National Park and Big Timber Creek. The Cooper River was a alive with a variety of largemouths, smallmouths and crappies. Look for catfish that will suck in stink baits off the bottom in the river at Mantua and at Raccoon Creek.

Good fishing went down all week long, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Tons of large sunfish kept kids busy at Puppyland Ponds and at the spillway at Blackwood Lake. Grenloch Lake dished out a 27-inch pickerel for one angler and six largemouth bass to 6 pounds for John Fitzpatrick on shiners. Quality pickerel were on the prowl at Wilson Lake and Lake Rene. A good amount of eating-sized yellow perch to 1-1/2-pounds roamed Lakeland Lakes.

Check out the decent fishing at the state’s newly acquired Stella’s Farm Pond, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Rich Crowe loaded up on crappies to 2 pounds and big sunfish to boot on worms fished under bobbers on the waters. Tom Lemos hit up Union Lake, cleaning up on catfish and chain pickerel on Banjo Minnows and some fantastic homemade buzz baits

Largemouth bass provided the bulk of action, said Dave from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Pennsville. Elkington Ponds, the Water Works Ponds and the Deepwater Canal were productive. Senkos in natural brown or pearl were right choices for a fight. Catfish and white perch hung out in the back ditches that stemmed off the Delaware River. Fish bloodworms for the perch and dead herring for the cats.

Largemouth bass fishing really turned on, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Parvin Lake, Rainbow Lake and Sunset Lake were the three main arenas. Early mornings were better on top-waters like Zara Spooks, and mid day was best on Senkos and Spro frogs. Monster panfish hammered nightcrawlers at Union Lake and Rainbow Lake, and even though they were panfish, the sizes made them worthwhile for the frying pan. The tidal section of the Maurice River was super for catfishing and largemouth bassing.

White perch seemed to dominate the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. The slabs attacked bits of bloodworm and grass shrimp either floated out or fished on the bottom. Catfish will also pick up bloodworms or dead baits fished on the bottom.

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