<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River kept giving up loads of striped bass, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. He boated the Tacony Bridge stretch, jigged up a bunch of herring for bait and bailed 11 stripers 15 to 33 inches and nine catfish to 6 pounds in 4 hours. Lots of stripers filled the Station Avenue area, and customers who fished there landed several 20- to 35-inchers, mainly on herring, bloodworms and clams. The river off Linden Avenue was also a spot to hook bass to 32 inches, and one customer there nabbed four stripers 20, 24, 25 and 33 inches on chunked herring. Several customers were hitting the river at the Frankford Arsenal, grabbing lots of catfish and occasionally a striper on chunked herring and clams.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Quite a few big channel cats were pulled from the Delaware River at Easton, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. They included Jamie Senkos 8-pounder, Chris Bogoly’s 7-pound 12-ouncer, Jack Markle’s 7-pound 9-ouncer, and Alexia Connor’s 6-pound 8-ouncer. Also on the Big D, Carl Adams banked a 6-pound 6-ounce walleye, and John Berrios hauled in a 19-pound carp, and Jerry LaFleur tackled a 16-pound carp. Trout that were creeled were also big news locally. Some of the catches included Mike Melise Jr. 3-pound brook trout caught from the Musconetcong River and Paul Demeter’s 3-pound 3-ounce rainbow lifted from Pohatcong Creek.

The state’s trout stocking finished up, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville, and trout anglers scored at the Big Flatbrook, where quality fish to 4 pounds bit, and Power Baits and Roostertails worked best. Lake Hopatcong hosted a fun nighttime chew on walleyes and hybrid striped bass in the coves, and live herring took both.

Shad were on the minds of Delaware River anglers, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Dingman’s Ferry up to Milford was the hot section, and small gold darts hung the bucks. Lake Hopatcong began to give up largemouth bass, as the spawn was coming to an end, and buzz baits got the breeded-out females to attack. Greg from the store hit up Split Rock Reservoir, tossed small popper flies and fought a mess of crappies, sunfish and bluegills.

Despite rough weather that often rolled through, anglers still got out and caught fish on the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Trout that were tricked included Dick Pedati’s 2-pound rainbow and Gary Bruzaud’s 3-pound 4-ounce ‘bow, and most trout were caught on the troll in the shallow waters in the coves. But other fish also came up. Roman Pera landed stripers in the 7-pound range, a respectable walleye and a smattering of 3-pound pickerel in the 3-pound range, all on herring. Richard Morgan reeled up an 8-pound 8-ounce hybrid on herring fished off a dock.

High waters started to recede, so more anglers were finding trout once again, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The Ramapo, Pequest and Big Flatbrook delivered, and nightcrawlers worked best. A solid mix of white perch and catfish were taken on the Passaic River, and Nick Luna hung a bunch of both on nightcrawlers cast from the bank.

The South Branch of the Raritan River dished out a medley of fish, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Suzie McKay stuck largemouth bass on the Clinton stretch on Senkos. Trout, like 20 stocker-sized rainbows and two big, 2- and 4-pound browns that Chris caught on Zug Bugs and Pheasanttails, were also eager to chase down small, bead-headed nymphs on that part of the river. Strong winds kept customers from fishing Round Valley, so lots headed to Lake Hopatcong to hook hybrids, trout, pickerel, walleyes and muskies on trolled herring in the 18- to 20-foot depths around the points.

Fly fishers connected on all the main streams, said Sean from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. Best hatches included sizes-14 and -16 sulfurs on the Pequest, sizes-10 and -12 March browns on the South Branch, size-14 beetles on the Black River, sizes-14 and -16, tan caddis flies on the Muskie and sizes 14- to -18 ants on the Big Flatbrook.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Rick Brescia nailed a monster, 7.8-pound rainbow trout on the Pequest River on a nightcrawler, said Ron from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. John Jackson muscled up a 7.9-pound channel catfish at Millstone Creek, also on a nightcrawler. All rivers were fishable and should continue to be, provided that major rains hold off.

Manasquan Reservoir’s fishing finally turned around, and both largemouth and smallmouth bass were on the feed, said Andrew from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. Both species mostly hound-dogged Senkos, small spinner baits and creature baits. Manasquan River and Spring Lake received another trout stocking, and trout anglers will head to both spots during the weekend to put a stringer together.

Trout anglers scored plenty of catches on the Toms River on Power Baits and white Roostertails, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Stillwater fishers targeted Lake Riviera, a good spot for a mess of pickerel, largemouth bass and crappies that will eat live shiners. Lester’s Lake was a producer of bass, pickerel and catfish that attacked shiners fished deep.

Quality fishing abounded all around, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Largemouth bass seemed to be coming off the spawn, because Mercer Lake, Rising Sun Lake and Lake Assunpink doled out lunkers from 3 to 6 pounds on Rat-L-Traps and Senkos. Try to focus on the creeks in the back of Mercer Lake, and in the back marshes of Lake Assunpink. Crappies and pickerel were also in the mix in the lakes, though both keyed in on slider worms fished a bit deeper. Dam 19 was a solid bet 1- to 2-pound crappies that favored Gulp Fish Fry plastics. Shad put tackle to the test on the Delaware River, especially in the ball park area of Trenton.

Mercer Lake was a hotbed of activity, and largemouth bass and pickerel made up most catches, often on medium-sized shiners, but extra large shiners were starting to attract some of the pike, and also muskies, said Tony from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Lake Assunpink and Carnegie Lake were crappie friendly, and small to medium shiners were key there.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Lake Pohatcong kept attracting trout anglers, and stringers full of hatchery fish seemed possible every day, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Mystic Island. Meal worms, baby nightcrawlers, CP Swings and white Roostertails worked. Chain pickerel aggressively hunted live shiners and top-water buzz baits at the Stafford cranberry bogs, and mid-day hours were most consistent.

Big trout were plucked from Oak Pond and Grenloch Lake, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Lake Worth put out a mix of largemouth bass and pickerel that sucked down fathead minnows. Lake Rene was on time for bottom-brawling catfish, and dead shiners fished with a split shot on the bottom caught up to 5-pounders.

Rainy and windy weather certainly came through, but anglers nevertheless pounded the lakes for largemouth bass with success, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. One customer who fished Wilson Lake walloped three bass and five pickerel on live fathead minnows under a float. Parvin Lake held a good show of crappies to 2 pounds that were glad to grab jigs tipped with small fatheads. Big trout came out of Iona Lake, especially near the tailwaters that spill into the dam. A 3-1/2-pounder that bit Power Bait was checked into the shop.

After the week’s full moon, largemouth bass fishing was expected to be on a tear, said Zack from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Parvin and Sunset lakes will be best bets, and Senkos, buzz baits and frogs in any type of watermelon pattern will connect. Giampetro Park was a decent spot to tangle with crappies on small tube jigs, and trout anglers headed to Mary Elmer Lake to throw Power Baits and in-line spinners to find fish for the frying pan. 

Herring were still abundant in the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Anglers who livelined the baitfish pinned down stripers that averaged 18 to 29 inches. But lucky anglers fought 15- to 20-pounders, and Ki hoped more of that caliber would move in. White perch rounded out catches on the Maurice, and try fishing bloodworms on the higher tides.

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