<b>North Jersey</b>

Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> lure-fished for trout on Paulinskill River on Saturday, banking two browns and five smallmouth bass, he said. Though the river ran at a good level, because of rains, waters were warm. Warm-water fish like the smallmouths will begin to bite when that happens, and trout caught will often be browns, the final trout stocked in spring, because browns are more tolerant of warm waters than other trout. Lots of trout fed on bugs, so fly fishing for them will probably be good. But Dave specializes in lure fishing for trout in spring, including because he’s looking for big trout. Large trout, of course, can be fly-rodded, but fly fishing will hook many small trout. The weather was so hot, becoming uncomfortable, that Dave only fished 2 hours. That might be his final trout trip of the season, and lure fishing for trout is best before the warmth of late spring and summer. Usually that’s because trout streams begin to run low in the warmth, and lure fishing requires depth to avoid snags. Still, though waters like the Paulinskill ran at a healthy flow, the peak of lure fishing probably passed, including because of factors like the warm-water fish like smallmouths that began to bite. Walleye fishing on the lakes in the middle of the night should be good, and that will be one of Dave’s next focuses. He already caught the fish this season, and walleyes, as the season warms, begin to stalk the shallows in the quiet of the night, feeding on baitfish or herring that move to the skinny waters then. Walleyes can be top-water plugged then, great sport, and that’s what Dave does. Boats were finally able to be launched on the northern end or New York side of Greenwood Lake, after the lake had been too low to launch, because of the drought earlier this year. The lake was still 2 feet low, but Dave will probably begin to fish there, one of his favorite lakes, including for walleyes. Lakes like Greenwood that recreational boaters, like water skiers, frequent, can be difficult to fish during the middle of the day, during the warm seasons, because boat traffic can put the fish down. But fish like walleyes then begin to feed at night, hours after the recreationals leave for the day. Dave pulls overnighters for the walleye fishing, a unique, interesting experience, and productive for catches. Musky fishing, another of Dave’s specialties, should be good and only getting better, and he’ll do more of that fishing now. Muskies like warmth, and late May to mid or late June can be the “summer peak” for the fishing. The warm weather was probably pushing lake temps up to the 70s. In musky fishing, a catch is never a guarantee. But anglers fish for muskies, the fish of 10,000 casts, because a catch can be the biggest fish an angler ever landed. A follow is even considered success in musky fishing.  Live to Fish Guide Service guides trips for trout, muskies, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleyes, crappies, chain pickerel, panfish, yellow perch, white perch, carp and more. Lakes fished include Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Monksville Reservoir, Echo Lake, Mountain Lake and Furnace Lake. Rivers fished include the Flatbrook, Pequest, Paulinskill and Ramapo.

Weather was hot, but Ben from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna and a friend managed a few largemouth bass and a couple of sizeable chain pickerel at ponds at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation on Senko worms, he said. Sunfish sat on spawning beds, but the bass, limited to catch and release in the state through June 15, because of spawning, were off the beds. “Out and about,” Ben said. He did no fishing on the streams, because of rains, but planned to go soon, because of trout stockings. Ben and a friend beat up big crappies at Lake Hopatcong at the docks. They caught on Trout Magnets and small, rubber grubs, and saw another angler landing them on fathead minnows. Ben earlier this season had been waxing walleyes and hybrid striped bass at Hopatcong at night, first from 8 to 10 o’clock, then from 10 to 11. But the fish no longer bit then, and probably began to feed later in the night, Ben guessed. 

The lake was “just about full pool,” said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. That and warmer weather made for a busy holiday weekend on the waters. Good-sized walleyes were weighed in. Joe Tekula’s 8-pound 13-ouncer and Stan Stelmack’s 7-pound 6-pouncer were taken on livelined herring. Paul Grel smacked a 9-pound 11-ounce walleye and several hybrid striped bass at night on a Bomber lure. Joe Forlenza, fishing with his son for hybrids at night, tackled a 25-pound 47-1/2-inch musky on a livelined herring. Walleyes and hybrids were banged at night on top-water lures including Bombers, Knuckleheads, Yozuri Minnows and Chug Bugs. A few smallmouth bass and some yellow perch and chain pickerel were plucked.

Trout news was drying up, but water levels were good on the streams, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Ramapo and Pequannock rivers still turned out the catches. Nick and a friend walloped largemouth bass, probably 75, at a private lake in Vernon on Sunday on Keitech Easy Shiners. Largemouths, limited to catch and release through June 15, seem to like the heat at the lake. The lake doesn’t get a long season for the fishing, because of low water temperatures, so when the lake heats up, the fishing seems to take off. Waters can reach the 80s, and the bass still seem aggressive. Largemouths gave up good catches on Lake Hopatcong at the docks, escaping the heat in the shade. Plastics on jigs grabbed them. A friend released largemouths at Highland Lakes on 4-inch Keitech Swing Impacts. Another friend plastered northern pike and some largemouths at Pompton Lakes on Yamamotos. One angler top-watered chain pickerel and a couple of 3-pound smallmouth bass at Monksville Reservoir. Smallmouths must also be released through June 15. Boats could finally be launched on Greenwood Lake, on the northern end, and loads of walleyes were bombed there on livelined herring. The lake, previously too low for launching, because it was lowered for dock repairs in winter, then because of the drought, was rising from rains. Nick hoped anglers will salvage a season on the lake. 

Lots of small lake trout were boated at Round Valley Reservoir on a trip that Dan Smith and son took Thursday, said Jody from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport</b> in an e-mail. Many of the fish were marked off the North Tower. Two Saturdays ago from the reservoir, Ron DeGraff came in with a 6-pound rainbow trout, and Joe Satkowski brought in a 5.34-pound rainbow. On the same day on Round Valley, Mike Roman trolled 14 lakers 17 ½ to 22 ½ inches, four rainbows 16 ½ to 18 inches and four brown trout 17 to 18 ½ inches. The Round Valley Trout Association’s tournament was held on the impoundment that day. Ninety-three lake trout 1.1 to 3.82 pounds and 25 browns and rainbows, including 17 that topped 2 pounds, were entered. Rocco Catania mugged the largest laker, the 3.82-pounder.  Steve Welgoss two Sundays ago, fishing the South Branch of the Raritan River at Clinton, clocked a 13-inch rainbow on a small Rapala and a 10-inch brown on a fathead minnow. On the same day on the South Branch, Daniel Siemens reeled in a few sizeable smallmouth bass and some rock bass.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Three brown trout and two rainbows were netted at the South Branch of the Raritan River on a trip that Burt from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook took Monday, Ron said. The browns were swiped on parachute Adams, and the rainbows were snapped-up on emergers. The river was 62 degrees, slightly off color and a foot high, but very fishable. Lots of flies and bait were sold for fishing. Lake trout fishing began to amp up on Merrell Creek Reservoir on livelined herring. Catch discounts to 30 percent on select Winston fly rods at the shop.

Not a lot was heard about largemouth bass, maybe because of the post spawn, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Largemouth fishing is restricted to catch and release through June 15 for spawning. Hybrid striped bass fishing was good at Manasquan Reservoir on chicken livers drifted along bottom. Nobody mentioned trout anymore, and the heat takes its toll on trouting, on waters like Toms and Metedeconk rivers. One angler socked chain pickerel at Lake Shenandoah on spinners fished in channels between weeds. Catfish were wormed along bottom at Pine Lake Park at the waterfall. Carp were “going crazy,” Dennis said, in the Toms at Trilco, the closed-down building supply near the Parkway. Dough balls, worms and sometimes corn caught them. Bluegills were active at all the lakes and ponds like the pond at Ocean County College. Killies, shiners, nightcrawlers and all the usual freshwater baits are stocked.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Fishing for largemouth bass on top-water lures at dusk became very good at lakes and ponds in past days, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Lures like Jitterbugs and buzz baits caught them at waters like the lakes at Assunpink and Colliers Mills wildlife management areas, Gropp’s Lake and local ponds. Largemouth and smallmouth bass must be released through June 15. Smallmouths, decent catches, not great, “but a bite,” Eric said, were plugged on Delaware River from Trenton to Frenchtown, including on Yozuri Pins Minnows and twister-tailed rubber grubs. A few walleyes bit when anglers fished for the smallies. Catfishing began to be best at night in the warmth on the river and ponds. Little was heard about trout fishing in the heat.

Though one angler said Ken Lockwood Gorge was 70 degrees, plenty of trout were picked on the streams, said Tom P. from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Many anglers stop fishing for them when the season warms, but there’s no reason. The fish are there. Tom caught on the Musconetcong River one morning this week, finding the waters 67 degrees. Trout were yanked from the D&R Canal at Washington’s Crossing on Trout Magnets in early mornings.  One angler bested a 6-pound brown trout on the lower Big Flatbrook. Largemouth bass, restricted to catch and release through June 15, were wacky-rigged on Sylvan Lake, Carnegie Lake and local pounds. Senkos 4 and 5 inches in oatmeal whaled 5-pounders when rigged that way. Tom and friend smoked the bigmouths on wacky-rigged 4-inch Yum Dingers in bumblebee. Crank baits and spinner baits probably also caught. Rubber rats and frogs knocked around the bucketmouths when worked over the weeds. Plenty of sunnies were cork-poppered on the lakes. Crappies were smashed everywhere on Crappie Magnets and fathead minnows. Beautiful channel catfish were clubbed on Delaware River at the Bordentown ramp. Millstone River’s northern pike fishing dropped off. Tom had been whaling big pike 21 to 24 inches on the Millstone earlier this season. But suddenly the fish seemed gone.

Trout fishing slowed, but a few anglers in the know caught, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b> in Blackwood. A couple of buddies kept angling trout at Rowan’s Pond on minnows. Not much was heard about largemouth bass fishing. A little was heard about chain pickerel catches. New Brooklyn Lake is always a place to find them, on minnows. Grenloch Lake was opened Saturday, after being closed because of a fuel-oil spill in January. Kids played sunnies at Puppyland Pond and the spillway across the road from Blackwood Lake.

Largemouth bass probably finished spawning, and began to jump on soft-plastic baits, and just started to pounce on rubber frogs, said Vince from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Popular waters for largemouthing, limited to catch and release through June 15, included South Vineland Park Pond and Wilson Lake. Parvin’s Lake is always a place the bass can be hooked. Smallmouth bass, restricted to catch and release through the same date, and largemouths were rustled up from Union Lake. Usual catches like chain pickerel and bluegills were pummeled from the lakes. Crappies were still wrangled up from the lakes on minnows. In saltwater, summer flounder fishing was slow on Delaware Bay. A buddy boated a keeper flounder and released nine throwbacks in the back bay at Atlantic City. Delaware Bay’s drum, a few, were heaved aboard off Delaware’s Slaughter Beach. An occasional drum catch was heard about from the New Jersey side. 

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