<b>North Jersey</b>

With Chuck Bobrowski aboard, one of the overnight trips for walleyes whaled 16 of the fish to 7 pounds Friday with Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale, Dave said. So the fishing was great, though Dave was surprised, because the lake was warm, full of algae and brown. “But man, they were hitting,” he said. He couldn’t know how long the angling would last now, because once waters warm, and once herring stop spawning, walleyes usually retreat to deeper waters. But the fishing’s been great, and four or five walleyes caught in a trip would normally be a success, but Dave’s last three overnighters drilled more than 10 apiece. The trips chase the walleyes in the shallows close to shore in the middle of the night. Walleyes move to the skinny waters to feed on spawning herring then, and can be cracked on top-water lures. The trip nailed the fish on Original Floating Rapala lures in size F18 in chartreuse with silver. Dave usually fishes black or gold with silver, but fished chartreuse, because of the discolored waters. Plenty of spawning herring flipped around, and the lake was 85 degrees. Once walleyes move deep, Dave will still catch them, but by trolling, usually during daytime. However, he’s got planer boards that light up, and wants to try trolling them in the dark for the fish. Walleyes are big fish that give up a strong fight – good sport – and taste great, are a member of the perch family. If interested in the fishing, don’t delay. A trip Sunday with Robert Miller and nephew aboard tried for muskies on Echo Lake. But no muskies, the fish of 10,000 casts, were seen in 10 ½ hours of fishing. That’s musky fishing, and a catch is never a guarantee, though Echo holds plenty of the fish. Anglers still fish for muskies, because a catch can be the biggest of a lifetime. A friend that night drilled a 27-inch musky at Echo after 15 minutes of fishing. Then Dave on Wednesday, fishing solo on Echo, landed and released a 32- to 34-inch musky on a cast Spoon Plug. Fishing was slow on the trip until the catch. Next Dave crossed the lake, trolling Spoon Plugs, and two big yellow perch were caught. Then a 6-pound walleye was crushed on one of the trolled Spoon Plugs. The walleye jumped on the plug at a drop-off after the boat was motored over a hump. Dave on the trip was trying Buck Perry’s Spoon Plugging technique where the plug, either trolled or cast, is used to map the bottom structure to find fish. For example, if the plug hits bottom then suddenly does not, the angler knows there’s a drop-off. Dave also tried rubber-worming for largemouth bass on the trip, but panfish kept pecking at the worm. Upcoming trips with Dave include one with an angler who wants to largemouth bass fish. Dave’s friend, tournament bass angler Paul Schmidt, sent Dave a recap of the Northeast Bassmaster’s first Buddy Bass Tournament on Greenwood Lake on Saturday. Seventeen teams competed, and all but one limited out on five largemouths on the hot day. About 14 pounds was the winning weight for a five-fish total. Check the Northeast Bassmasters’ Web site to participate in the tournaments.   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.

Smallmouth bass jumped on 3-1/2-inch Keitech Swing Impacts on 1/8-ounce jigs at Greenwood Lake at submerged weed beds, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. He caught them, and the fishing was good. Smallmouth fishing was also hopping on Delaware River. At Lake Hopatcong, lots of walleyes bit at night at places like Byram Cove on lures like Jitterbugs.

Anglers bombed lots of northern pike and largemouth bass at Pompton Lake on jerk baits and Senko worms, said Nick from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. A friend tackled 15 of the bass on a trip. Decent largemouthing was copped at Greenwood Lake, mostly along the docks, because water temps skyrocketed. A friend’s son kept trolling walleyes on Lake Hopatcong at night off the deep points. Smallmouth bass were socked on Ramapo River. Chain pickerel were bailed at Ramapo Lake on shiners if anglers hiked there. Passaic River’s fishing was phenomenal. Mostly smallmouth bass and yellow perch chewed. But the river’s pike fishing was good, and even eels were caught, and Nick landed a 3-pound largemouth there at a log.

 “Some nice fish (were) seen over the weekend,” said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong in an e-mail. “(Anglers were) fishing off the points and around Raccoon Island. Most (were) using live herring or shiners, with some fish still hitting topwater at night.” Catches included: Jim Welsh’s hybrid striped bass to an 8-pound 14-ouncer; Bob Orta’s 3-pound 4-ounce largemouth bass and 3-pound 12-ounce chain pickerel; Tracey McBride’s 2-pound 11-ounce smallmouth bass; Rich Christensen’s 3-pound smallie; and Lou Marcucci’s variety of fish, including a 2-pound 11-ounce smallmouth. Good-sized crappies to 1 ½ pounds were clapped on fathead minnows or jigs.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Smallmouth bass were clocked, mostly from the South Branch of the Raritan River, said Braden from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. The fish were small there but swiped Mister Twisters or Wooley Buggers. A few big channel catfish grabbed livelined crawfish meant for smallmouths on the Raritan. Largemouth bass anglers dealt with weeds on lakes, but scored on Scum Frogs fished along the surface or wacky-rigged Senko worms dropped in the pockets. Passaic River’s northern pike fishing was good on ½- to 1-ounce spinner baits. Several anglers were known about who punched multiple pike larger than 25 inches in a trip. Walleye fishing was very good on Greenwood Lake from 11 p.m. to later. Nothing was heard about Lake Hopatcong’s walleye fishing, but walleyes got winged from Spruce Run Reservoir at night on top-water lures or livelined herring.

On Toms River, chain pickerel and 10- or 12-inch striped bass were played near Trilco  or the Garden State Parkway on spinners or lures, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in the town of Toms River. Trilco is a closed down building supply, and no sign identifies the building, but it’s located near the Parkway, and locals call the stretch of river Trilco.  At Lake Riviera, a few largemouth bass and pickerel were picked from the pier. Waters were warm, starting to make fishing difficult. But loads of bluegills nibbled at Ocean County College Pond. Weed killer must’ve been used there, because few weeds filled the waters. Not much was heard about Manasquan Reservoir. Crappies previously were nabbed there near bottom between the trees. Largemouth bass should be able to be managed in the reservoir’s trees, and jigs and pigs usually catch them this time of year. Shiners, killies and nightcrawlers are stocked.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Largemouth bass smacked top-water lures in evenings at lakes, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Smallmouth bass were on the bite in Delaware River. Tons of 6- or 8-inch striped bass began to nip in the river. Fishing for catfish and carp was solid in different waters that held them.

Delaware River’s smallmouth bass fishing was good, said Carl from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Fish with small white or green-pumpkin twister tails.  Catfish and carp milled around the river in Bordentown. The cats will scoop up Gulp Catfish Bait, and the carp will inhale Uncle Josh Carp Bait. Largemouth bass fishing was very good on Carnegie Lake at the Millstone River on Senko worms in black or oatmeal. Largemouths slammed buzz baits at Manasquan Reservoir in the wood in mornings till 9 o’clock. Largemouths at different lakes whacked lures like Spro frogs or Scum Frogs along the grass and lily pads.

Lots of catfish, small striped bass and good catches of white perch were slugged from Delaware River, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. Salem Canal turned out plenty of chain pickerel and decent catches of largemouth bass. The DOD ponds and Wilson Lake were notable largemouth producers. Cooper River shoveled out a few largemouths, and Grenloch Lake gave up largemouths and crappies. Largemouths were mostly pounded on creature baits or worms like Senkos. Big Timber stocks bait and tackle for fishing on all waters from fresh to offshore.

Anglers fishing for largemouth bass connected at Grenloch Lake on minnows where the waters run underneath Route 168 to Big Timber Creek, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b>. At Blackwood Lake largemouths and chain pickerel were minnowed, and yellow perch were wormed. Kids beat sunnies at the spillway at Blackwood Lake and Puppyland Pond. Nothing was heard about New Brooklyn Lake that’s usually a reliable hole for pickerel.

The storm Friday night knocked out electric that remained off Wednesday at <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. So no news was available. But the shop was running on electricity from a generator.

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