<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River ran high but fishable, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Deiter Scheel scored a river “slam,” catching striped bass, walleyes and small mouth bass, including a couple of 17-1/2- and 19-1/2-inchers, all in one trip, on rattle lures. Most customers bailed 15 to 40 smallmouths per trip, fishing grubs, tubes, spinners, crank baits or minnows. The stretch from Lambertville to Frenchtown was especially productive. At other waters, the lake at Falls Township Park dished out a bunch of 12- to 14-inch bigmouth bass on 4-inch Power Worms, 3-inch Senko Worms and grubs in dark colors. Churchville Reservoir was also a largemouth haven, and one angler there landed quality bass on 7- to 10-inch Culprit Worms in 15- to 25-foot depths off the side of the dam. At night the fish hit buzz baits and Jitterbugs on the surface.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Water levels began to return to normal on the Delaware River, so anglers began hooking up again, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Lots of striped bass in the 5- to 10-pound range were around, and Tyron Benson slammed a 25-pounder. Cliff Smith heaved a 6.9-pound channel catfish from the river. Merrill Creek Reservoir’s angling also rebounded, serving up catches such as Paul Randolph’s 4.6-pound brown trout and John Barner’s 6.9-pound largemouth bass. Notable catches from other locales included Sean Mercotta’s 5.2-pound rainbow from the Pequest River, Eric Chalmer’s 5-1/2-pound bigmouth from the Lehigh River and Jamie Kline’s 3-pound brookie from Pohatcong Creek.

Largemouth bass were willing to smack weedless presentations such as plastic frogs at Saw Mill Pond and Split Rock Reservoir, said John from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Ramsey will move to a new store at the Roxbury Mall on September 1.

A pick of crappies, walleyes and largemouth bass was copped from the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Byram Cove, Elba Point and the waters at the Yacht Club were productive spots, mostly in the mornings. The Knee Deep Club’s Catfish Tournament is slated for the weekend, and anglers can call the shop for details.

Most anglers looking for largemouth bass headed to Lake Hopatcong, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Fishing at the weed beds with weedless lures and staying away from the docks was key, and try Byram Cove and Raccoon Island. Greenwood Lake’s largemouth fishing was only so-so, but might be better in the cooler, night hours.

Round Valley Reservoir’s rainbow trouting was on, said Steve from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. There was no let up, and the 55-foot depths or deeper was the place to find them in the hot, humid weather. Fish at night, and shrimp worked best, and lights were a must to attract them to the boat. Paul Silva at the valley trolled two channel cats to 14 pounds on stick baits and Sutton spoons. Spruce Run Reservoir shoveled out a mix of hybrid striped bass, crappies and largemouth bass, and evenings and early morning hours, with no sun in the sky, were  best.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Fishing was a good pull on yellow perch and crappies at the D&R Canal, and Mepps spinners hooked both,  said Nick from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Largemouth bass were cooperative at farm ponds, and Nick connected on weedless poppers and Heddon floating mice, mongering bass to 3 pounds. Water levels subsided on the rivers and streams, making them entirely fishable again.

Pickerel were on the bite every day on the Trilco section of the Toms River, said Jim from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The fish also prowled the Winding River and Long Swamp, eating up shiners. For the best largemouth bass fishing, hit the Ocean County College ponds or Prospertown Lake, casting Senkos in the prime times: mornings and evenings.

The Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes should hold largemouth bass around the weed mats, said Sean from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Throw weedless offerings like Jitterbugs in the mornings and evenings.

Smallmouth bass began to feed again on the Delaware River, now that high waters dropped down, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. The Frenchtown area was best, and wing out crank baits and Senkos in watermelon and chartreuse/pepper neon. Small Rapalas also hung striped bass to 20 inches in the Frenchtown stretch. Farrington Lake was the top place for largemouth bass, and anglers there worked the deep drop-offs with Senkos and Venom Salty Swingers, pulling out the bigmouths to 3 1/2 pounds.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Franklinville Lake and Iona Lake were loaded with largemouth bass, said John from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. Customers swam fathead minnows either free-lined or fished underneath bobbers. Catfish galore was the scene on the Delaware River, with the catties able to sniff out Mr. Catfish dough baits and nightcrawlers in the muddy waters. But striped bass to 24 inches nibbled bloodworms in the river.

Terrace Lake maintained a formidable largemouth chew, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. One customer cast out rubber lizards to bail a bevy of the bass from 3 to 5 ½ pounds. The Puppyland Ponds were home to smaller bass from 1 to 2 pounds, and they seemed to key in on shiners.

Laurel Lake was a surprise hit, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown, because white perch and crappies got all over fathead minnows on small hair jigs in the waters. Plenty of largemouth bass could be angled from the DOD area of the Delaware River on shiners and Senkos.

Now that the Delaware River cleaned up a bit, fishing for small striped bass rebounded, said Matt from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Salem. The linesiders gobbled up bloodworms, especially around the Hill Creek jetty. Bigger stripers to 32 inches will be caught when the river cools in fall. Lots of spots crammed the Delaware, and fish bloodworms for them, like with white perch fishing. The perch and catfish plied the waters, and croakers even pushed up the river to Pennsville and Salem, coming from Delaware Bay. The hardheads will eat squid, clams or nearly any bait. Snapper blues could also be found on the river. Largemouth bass got active in the Salem Canal, and a deftly placed Senko will get a strike.

Outstanding largemouth bassing was on the run at Union Lake, Parvin Lake, Rainbow Lake, Sunset Lake and the Salem Canal, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Using 10- to 12-inch rubber worms, Zara Spooks and buzz baits in the mornings and evenings was among the successful methods. The catfish crowd scored great on the Maurice River, tackling double digits of the fish to 5 pounds.

The one-two punch on white perch and catfish dominated the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. The whiteys sucked down grass shrimp and bloodworms on the high tides, and the kitties vacuumed up dead herring and Mr. Catfish dough baits through the night.

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