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Delaware Bay Fishing Report 8-1-18

Rain pretty much blew out Delaware River, said Andy from <b>Stokes Forest Sports Shop</b> in Sandyston. No fishing happened there. The water began to drop, but more rain is forecast for this week. Before the high water, two weeks ago, good catches of smallmouth bass were hung from the river. Channel catfish had begun to be heaved from the river then. Big Flatbrook ran high but began to drop and became clear and very fishable for trout. The stream might become high again. Fly anglers on the Flatbrook this time of year fish small flies including midges, sulfurs and blue-winged olives. When the water was high but fishable, some fished streamers. Some then also fished terrestrials like ants and beetles. Higher water is conducive to streamer fishing, helping to keep those flies from snagging on logs and such. High water or rain also washes terrestrials into the stream. At lakes, largemouth bass fishing had seemed to slow down because of heat. But the stormy weather was cooler, and seemed to pick up the bass fishing somewhat. Anglers fishing for the bass are throwing crank baits, spinner baits, Jersey-rigged Senkos rubber worms, and drop-shots.

Fishing was tough because of rain in the past week, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Largemouth bass were reeled from local ponds, nothing spectacular. Sometimes anglers on bigger lakes like Hopatcong this time of year jig for largemouths successfully with spoons like small Phoebes and Kastmasters. They jig the metal in deep water, down deep, and the bass seem to be escaping boat traffic that can be heavy in summer. Nothing was heard about walleyes and hybrid striped bass from lakes like that, apparently because the weather kept many from fishing. Some anglers fished for trout on streams because the rain raised the water from the usually low water in summer. Weather was also cooler because of the storms, and that helped. Trout catches were heard about including from Ken Lockwood Gorge. The fish were hooked including on beetle flies and ant flies in mornings and evenings, cooler times of day. Rain and high streams knock bugs like that into the water.

Keith from <b>Hi-Way Sports Shop</b> in Washington fished for largemouth bass at Lake Hopatcong on Saturday, he said. He landed lots, though the fishing was tough. All the thunderstorms seemed to make the bass “weird,” and the moon was full. Sometimes the light of the moon seems to make the bass feed all night and be less willing to bite during daytime than usual. He tied into the bass on soft-plastic lures on jigheads in grass beds in 8 to 10 feet of water and on Senkos at docks. Delaware River was probably flooded, muddy and unfishable because of rain. Despite the weather, many customers bought herring to liveline for hybrid striped bass at Spruce Run Reservoir. That fishing was great, and mostly produces at night in summer. But the hybrids can be socked in early mornings. Some customers buy the herring at 5 a.m., head right to the angling and score well. Nobody really trout fished.

Not a lot happened last week, because of rain, Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong wrote in an email. But a few good catches were weighed at the shop from the lake. Those included Jimmy Welsh’s 4-pound 7-ounce smallmouth bass and 3-pounder. Richard Hilton checked-in a 5-pound 10-ounce largemouth bass and a 4-pound 4-ounce channel catfish. He cast rubber worms along docks to catch those. Kirra Gilfilan stopped at the shop with a 6-pound 8-ounce channel cat. Tommy Togno brought in a 4-pound 4-ounce walleye that he walloped on a rainy afternoon while fishing with his family. Hybrid striped bass, crappies and chain pickerel also bit in the lake. The Knee Deep Club will hold a catfish tournament from 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, to 12 noon Sunday, Aug. 12, on the lake.

Passaic River near the shop was very high and muddy, though less so than last week, said Joe from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook. Rain caused that, and he heard little about fishing, including nothing about angling for catches like largemouth bass. That was because of rough weather. Larry from the store fished for fluke on Raritan Bay in saltwater on a party-boat trip. He caught okay. The same boat headed out the next day and caught rather well. Joe thought Larry’s trip was probably on Raritan Bay, and the next day’s trip might’ve pushed out to the ocean a little.

Fishing for largemouth bass was actually fairly good this week at lakes, said Virginia from <b>Hook House Bait & Tackle</b> in Toms River. She was seeing photos of sizable caught. Largemouth catches were made including on rubber frogs in lily pads and buzz baits along edges of the pads. Manasquan Reservoir gave up the bass and also smallmouth bass. The smallmouths were on small swim baits on jigheads. Most of the reservoir’s anglers seem to fish artificials. But Virginia bets live bait could really hook up. She’d fish large killies. Not many largemouths were heard about from Forge Pond. But good angling for pickerel was copped there. Pickerel and yellow perch could be picked up on nightcrawlers or killies on a single hook with a split shot at many lakes. Crappies could be whacked including at Ocean County College Pond and the lower Lake Riviera on worms or small killies under a bobber. Catfishing was productive, including at Spring Lake, Lake Riviera and Ocean County College Pond. A couple of big came from Spring Lake that weighed 10 and 15 pounds. Lake Carasaljo and the Toms River at Trilco were places to connect with nearly every species. Carasaljo is especially a spot for that. Sunnies will give up action at almost all lakes, including for kids. But also adults, Virginia added. Everybody likes to catch. Hook House, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

Fishing was “down” because of weather, Mike from <b>Creek Road Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn wrote in an email. But some great largemouth bass fishing was pasted on Culprit rubber worms and Keitech swim baits. Chain pickerel were very willing to pounce on shiners and swim shads from Storm. Fishing for snakeheads, the invasive species, was the best it’s been in recent weeks. Anglers get after them in tributaries and ditches off Delaware River. 

Those who ventured out still reported some good fishing, a report said on <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> from Williamstown’s Facebook page. Weather kept some from fishing. At Wilson Lake, one angler took a 6-pound largemouth bass on a Live Target bluegill lure. Also at Wilson, an angler wrestled in three largemouths to 2 pounds on neon nightcrawlers, and another drilled a handful of bluegills on red trout worms. At Oak, an angler pulled in five yellow perch and three pickerel on a Mepps spinner. At Clarks, a six-year-old drilled six bluegills on red trout worms.

Fishing began to pick up a little after last week’s rain, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Still not great, but better. Union Lake was the hot spot for largemouth bass. That fishing was good, and occasional smallmouth bass were also socked at Union. Top-water fishing was decent for largemouting. The top-water lures included Whopper Ploppers and buzz baits. The top-water Zara Spooks began to “move.” Customers began to buy them more often. A bite on rubber frogs, another top-water, of course, began to be heard about from Lake Lenape a little. Saltwater was a little snotty from wind for fishing. But when trips fished, some found decent summer flounder catches at ocean reefs. Decent reports were heard from Delaware Bay about flounder. Lots of sharks were fought from the ocean surf at night. So fishing was happening, and anglers just needed fair weather.

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