<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

An absolutely outstanding smallmouth bass fishing frenzy was going down on the Delaware River, said Bill at <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. He and another angler combined for 68 smallies to 18 inches, three catfish and a 20-inch striper while fishing with minnows in the morning and grubs in the afternoon. Watermelon, smoke, cotton candy and clear glitter were hot colors on the grubs during the week. One customer was wading above Washington's Crossing and fishing with minnows, leeches and grubs, picking up plenty of smallies from 14 to 16 inches. Another was fishing at Yardley and catching more than 50 fish to 14 inches on minnows, poppers and 4-inch worms. Lot of anglers were heading to Point Pleasant to rent canoes, kayaks or tubes and do the drift down the river in the Treasure Island area, averaging catches of 20 to 40 fish per person. Upper Black Eddy was also a hot smallie spot, and one fellow and his kids picked up more than 20 fish apiece to 16 inches and also hooked two smalls stripers, a 6-pound catfish and lost a battle with a 20-pound carp.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Smallmouth action was very good in the Delaware River near <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg, and most were caught on medium shiners, crawfish and leeches, Bill said. Andrew Nemeth fished the river and scored a 3-pound 8-ounce smallie, but the bronzebacks weren’t the only catches on the river. John Moser hit the Big D for a 27-pound 9-ounce striped bass, and Kyle Frankenfield pulled a 5-pound channel cat from the river. Lincoln Powell also hoisted a channel from the Delaware: a 7-pound 8-ouncer. Merrill Creek Reservoir was another good spot for smallmouths, and large shiners seemed the preferred bait there. John Fowler fished Merrill and took a 5-pound 6-ounce brown trout. Terry Hoffner checked in a 10-pound catfish that came from Oxford Furnace Lake.

The Passaic River needed heavy rains to get it back up to normal height, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. But that didn’t stop northern pike sharpies from finding secret holes where pike hid. Anglers who were applying themselves with small tin boats and using live shiners were finding pike to 8 pounds. Monksville Reservoir and Lake Hopatcong were mainstays for bass anglers, and the waters were high and fishable.

A decent night feed on hybrid stripers was taking place at Lake Hopatcong, said Dom at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Live herring fished under slip bobbers were finding bass off the points. Lots of anglers were heading to the Salmon River for the run of kings, and for some reason, an unusual amount of pink Senko worms were being sold, though Dom wasn’t yet sure what people were using them for.

Hybrid stripers to 8-pounds-plus were chasing bait on the surface between the Yacht Club at Bertrands Island and Sharps Rock, said Laurie at <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Tom Facciolla landed a 9-pound 9-ounce brokensider, and Dominic Sarinelli scored a 9-pound 14-ounce hybrid bass. Not only were hybrids on a chew, but walleye to 6 pounds, along with nice smallmouths and crappie, were coming up for anglers fishing herring in 15 to 20 feet of water. Pickerel and largemouths to 3-1/2 pounds were rounding out the mix, and each species was taking herring and slowly worked crank baits around the weed lines.

Most customers were hitting streams for trout as the water temps were dropping daily, said Steve at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Trout that were taken would be holdovers and still very nice size for the frying pan, Steve said. Lots of his patrons were heading north to the Salmon River for kings.

Recent rains fueled largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing in the South Branch of the Raritan River, said Chris of <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Senko worms in watermelon and black cast along the banks were bringing in both species, especially in the Clinton stretch of the river. Hybrid bass were hitting live shiners near the boat launch at Spruce Run Reservoir, and it was mostly a late evening proposition.

The Musconetcong River was holding a few brown trout to 12 inches, said Ron of <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The brownies were chasing size-16, tan caddis flies. At Spruce Run Reservoir largemouth bass were hanging outside the weeds in the coves and were aggressively smacking size-8 chartreuse poppers. You could also try casting Jitterbugs and Zara Spooks during the evenings for a strike.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Smallmouth were on a tear off the Route 202 sections of the north and south branches of the Raritan River, said Jim from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. The Lamington River was a hotbed of activity, with the bronzebacks going after Little Joe poppers and Zonker flies in size 8. Some carp to 15 pounds were also spotted in those rivers, but they were very wary to chase baits. At Round Valley Reservoir decent nighttime angling for rainbow trout was happening in the 30- to 40-foot depths. Drop a night light over the side and use nightcrawlers for a hook up.

Trout fishers were heading far up the Shark River to tangle with fish, said Eric from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. The cooler waters upriver were getting trout to nibble on nightcrawlers and meal worms. Spring Lake was a good bet to try for catfish, and nighties and trout nuggets were hooking fish to 5 pounds. The lake was also giving up trout for anglers that could find the deeper holes.

Lake Riviera was the active spot of the week, said Jeff at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Live shiners fished under bobbers or simply free lined hooked largemouths and pickerel, and the Wading River also put out largemouth bass, but most were very small and in the 5- to 8-inch range.

The Delaware River maintained a solid smallmouth game in the upper stretches near Lambertville, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> of Robbinsville. Senkos and small crank baits in gold and black patterns were the ticket. Largemouth bass were hitting at Gropp’s Lake and Lake Assunpink near Dam Site 19, and live shiners were the best bet at those locales.

Shiners were being sold like crazy, said Carl at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown, because most customers were heading to the Assunpink and Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area lakes for largemouth action. The Delaware River stretch from Trenton to Bull Island was roaring with smallmouth bass, and an all day bite was going down. Early morning hours should see top-water action, and when the sun is high in the sky, switch over to a shad-colored crank bait, a wooly bugger or a hellgrammite fly.

<b>South Jersey</b>

A local customer was fishing private lakes in Gibbsboro and pulling on monster largemouths in the 5- to 7-pound category on a daily basis, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood, and large shiners were the key bait. That meant bass should also be on a heavier hunger mode in Blackwood Lake and Gren Loch Lake, Ed said, and largemouths should be the main fare there, now that rains cooled the lake. Gren Loch Lake gave up a nice, 2-pound rainbow trout for one customer fishing a live shiner.

Largemouths and panfish were picked at local lakes, such as Malaga Lake and Wilson Lake, said Lou at <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown, and nightcrawlers and shiners were all-around baits. Word came in that crappie were starting to feed more aggressively at the campground lakes, and small grubs and garden worms were hanging the slabs.

The tidal portion of the Maurice River gave up the most consistent largemouth action, said Steve at <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. With recent rainfalls, anglers should expect the bucketmouths to get energized, especially in smaller waters such as Daretown Lake and Cedarville Lake, which will adapt to the quick temperature changes faster than larger impoundments. Reports rolled in from the Menantico sandwash ponds about bass attacking Power Worms and spinner baits. Union Lake was a solid smallmouth bet this week in the 8- to 12-foot depths, where Senkos and tube worms caught the attention of the bass. The brackish sections of the Maurice River continually served up 4- to 8-pound channel cats that were eating nightcrawlers and cut baits.

White perch and catfish were the main fare in the Maurice River, said Ki of <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Bloods were getting the whiteys to the hook, and dead herring were bringing in the whiskerfaces. Union Lake offered a good shot of largemouth bass for anglers livelining medium shiners.

Back to Top