<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River’s smallmouth bass fishing was red hot, said Helen at <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Bill from the shop fished the Hankins area of the river on Tuesday, picking up 35 fish from 11 to 16 inches on Zoom grubs, both trolling and casting to the shore line. Customers reported excellent action around Treasure Island, the Yardley stretch and the Point Pleasant area on a variety of baits, including minnows, leeches, nightcrawlers, grubs, tubes, shallow crank baits and surface lures. One patron fished Manasquan Reservoir and got into fantastic largemouth bass and pickerel activity, nailing 11 bass to 16 inches and nine pickerel, all taken on 5-inch watermelon Senko worms before 9 a.m.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The searing heat kept the channel catties on the prowl in the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Matt Guthrie pinned down a 6-pounder, and Blake Atkinson drilled a 5-pound 9-ouncer. Barry Hagan double-barreled a pair going 7 pounds 8 ounces and 9 pounds 10 ounces. Other notable catches included John Pursell’s 3-pound 9-ounce smallmouth from the Delaware and Gary Heil’s 5-pound largemouth from Merrill Creek Reservoir.

The week was typical for summer, and most customers were hitting up the larger impoundments to find fishable areas without much weed growth, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. Monksville Reservoir and Lake Hopatcong were favorites for largemouth bass anglers throwing weedless frogs and spinner baits. Hopatcong held a nighttime hybrid bite on live herring off the points.

Smallmouth bass attacked along the Dingman’s Ferry stretch of the Delaware River, said Kevin at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus, and Senko worms and Mister Twisters in black, blue and purple worked best. Largemouth bass were hitting Gulp worms in the local ponds and Lake Assunpink, especially right at sunup.

The Knee Deep Club’s catfish contest was held during the weekend on the lake, said Laurie of <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. The top three catfish were: 11-year-old Hank Sudia’s 12-pound 9 ouncer for 1st place; Jim Archambault’s 10-pound 7-ounce brute for 2nd; and Eddie Mackin’s 9-pound 12-ounce whiskerface for 3rd. All the fish sucked down chicken livers, and a good number of smaller, 1- to 3-pound cats showed up. Smallmouth bass to 3 1/2 pounds clamped down on herring off the points in 15 to 20 feet of water, and herring were also finding hybrid stripers to 8 pounds. A few pickerel to 3 1/2 pounds were holding among the weed paddies. Crappies were heavily schooling along the drop-offs and weed lines, and most averaged about a pound. Walleye from 3 to 6 pounds were caught at rock piles and weed lines of the main lake, mostly eating up live herring as well.

Shepard Lake gave up the most largemouth bass, said Steve at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Fish from 12 to 14 inches were slamming Senko worms and live shiners, and a few pickerel were in the mix. Some customers traveled up to Lake Champlain to knock out a bunch of smallmouth bass, and that may be a good option for Jersey anglers to get away from the warm water.

Lake Hopatcong put out a mess of 16- to 19-inch smallmouth bass, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Pickerel, catfish, yellow perch and crappie also rounded out the catches, and so did a 24-inch walleye for one customer who was dropping down herring at the points. The South Branch of the Raritan River produced better largemouth bass fishing than before, and Chris Walkowicz bailed 12 bass to 3 1/2 pounds while casting Rapala Firetiger jerk baits. Round Valley Reservoir gave up smaller trout from the boat launch area.

Rainstorms filled back up lots of the local streams to fishable status, said Ron at <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The Pequest was a good rainbow trout producer for one customer who cast size-10 brook trout streamer flies. Cooler and more productive trout waters could be found at the Big Flatbrook as well. Spruce Run Reservoir dished out a medley of rock bass and panfish for anglers fishing from the banks, and one patron threw small popper flies to connect.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Round Valley Reservoir was the place to be for smaller species, said Ron from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Joe Satkowski tossed out a Thunderstick lure at one of the coves to pull in a 13-inch yellow perch and a whopper, 11-inch bluegill. The coves also served up largemouths and smallmouths, and live shiners fished under a float fit the bill.

Largemouth bass at Deal Lake and Manasquan Reservoir were the focus, said Eric at <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. The mornings and evenings were producing on Rapalas and Roostertails along the edges of the weeds. But during mid-day bass hounds were better off fishing weedless frogs at the lily pads, because the bass hid under the pads for cover from the sun. Kids could have fun at both impoundments while catching panfish on simple hook and bobber rigs tipped with mealworms.

Largemouth bass anglers were pulling on bucketmouths at Manasquan Reservoir, said Dennis at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Jig-n-pig combos could be worked along the tree lines, and during daytime, 7-1/2-inch worms could be drifted over 15- to 20-foot depths for a strike. Hybrid bass were also taken in the reservoir while anglers swam live herring on the surface right before dark, and small gator spoons were also catching the hybrids. The Ocean County Mall pond was a good spot to pick up all the panfish you could want, and the Presidential ponds off Route 70 were giving up a bunch of chain pickerel. The Toms River also produced a mess of pickerel on Roostertails along with a few crappie.

Largemouth bass were lethargic in the heat, said A.J. at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> of Robbinsville. But small crank baits dragged slowly through the water were getting them to bite at Lake Assunpink. The Delaware River continued to offer smallmouth activity, though it slowed down just a bit because of sultry weather. With cooler weather forecast this coming week the smallmouth fishing should bounce back to top form.

Lake Assunpink and Rising Sun Lake were best bets for bucketmouths, said Carl at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Early mornings and top-waters were the trick, though during the heat of the day, anglers were finding bass along old roadbeds and off the deep edges while casting 10-inch Power Worms. A few muskies were reported caught at Lake Mercer on large, white Mepps Musky Killers.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Blackwood Lake was the shining star, said Ed of <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Largemouth bass were hitting in the lake on large shiners and Senkos during the mornings until noon. The spillway behind Blackwood doled out sunnies and bluegills for a tug on the line. Bottoms Lake in Clementon behind the water company has been a secret spot for bucketmouths with little pressure at all, meaning many more largemouth could be found there for a change of pace from the usual lakes.

Water levels at Franklinville Lake and Malaga Lake got a good shot of the H20 because of rains, said Lou at the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown, and anglers there were playing plenty of sunnies, bluegills and occasional, 1- to 2-pound largemouth bass from the banks. Medium-sized shiners will attract the bass, and small poppers or curly tailed grubs will have the panfish on the hook.

Fishing all around picked up, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Largemouth bass fishers connected with the fish at Union Lake during the late evenings as they drop-shotted Shaky Head worms in the deeper sections. Parvin’s Lake put up a selection of largemouths on Senko worms, and a few reports about the bass were coming in from Malaga Lake and Mary Elmer Lake. The tidal portion of the Maurice River was a hot spot for bucketmouths, and catfish really went on a tear there, chewing dead herring or stink baits.

Catfishing was the hot ticket at the Maurice River at the moment, said Ki at <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Stink baits, dead herring and chicken livers were convincing the catties to bite during all hours of the day and night, but night fishing was best for the larger, 4-pound plus models that bit with more frequency. A simple bottom rig with size-B split shots would get you into the cats, and circle hooks could be used to allow the whiskerfaces to pick up the bait, inhale it and run with it and avoid a gut hook set.

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