<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Lots of rains filled the Delaware River area, but by yesterday the waters cleared quite a bit,  said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. The mouth of the Skippack was a better spot for smallmouth bass, and a day out had anglers into more than 30 on grubs and in-line spinners, and some of the smallies topped out at 3 pounds. Tohickon Creek was a decent bronzeback locale to use plastic hellgrammites with a 1/16-ounce jig, and one customer drilled 28 smallies there during the daytime. The Washington's Crossing area on the Big D sometimes gave up smallmouths on fathead minnows, and so did the river at the New Hope wing dam, where one angler landed 11 along with seven catfish. Boaters who drifted the Byram stretch reeled in smallmouths, walleyes and cats that chowed down on crawfish, minnows and grubs.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The Delaware River really turned on for catfish, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Trout and bass catches seemed to drop off a bit, but probably only because of heat that kept people in. The cooler weather this week should put both fish back on the boards. Channel cat catches from the Big D included  Mike Kinney’s 6-pounder, and he also smoked a 5-pound 3-ounce walleye. Cody Hanisak took a 5-pound 6-ounce channel, and Dustin Weber angled in a 6-pound 7-ouncer. John Stankosh walloped a 25-pound 13-ounce striper off the Big D. On other waters, Jerry Clymer at White Lake claimed a 5-pound 4-ounce largemouth, and Sam McKee at Merrill Creek Reservoir did the job on a 3-pound rainbow trout.

Temperatures cooled off a bit in the Passaic River, and that fared well for anglers, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass got active, especially around the two bridges area, specifically at the Elmwood Park stretch by Route 80. Small Rapala crank baits earned the attention from both species.

The hybrid bass bite continued at Lake Hopatcong, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. The key was to fish the midnight hours after 11 p.m., when the waters cooled down, and live herring was best bait. The Boonton and Denville area ponds held impressive catches of 4- to 6-pound bucketmouths, and light-brown Senkos were whacked when slow-twitched on the drop.

Anglers on the lake tangled with a smorgasbord of species, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Hybrid stripers hit live herring, as Lenny Stelmack proved with an 8-pound 4-ouncer and Tyler Lambert showed with a 6-pound 14-ouncer. Monster channel cats also inhaled herring, and Stelmack hauled in a 10.7-pounder that did. Wayne Bryant lambasted a 16-pound 3-ounce whiskerface that pounced on a herring. Waters off Nolan’s Point offered plenty of smallmouth and largemouth bass 2 to 3 pounds that were willing to take smaller herring tipped on jigs. Tom Milicia wrestled up a meaty, 4-1/2-pound chain pickerel that attacked a crank bait.

Trout casters found the fish on the feed at the Paulinskill River, said Al at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Garden worms fished with a size-BB split shot did the trick on the river bottom, because the current ran at a medium pace. Channel catfish were hungry at the Delaware River Water Gap, where the 4- to 7-pounders gobbled down hot dogs and nightcrawlers. A 6-pound northern pike was weighed in from the Passaic River, meaning more pike might be on the feed.

The South Branch of the Raritan River hosted all sorts of action, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b> in Lebanon. John Hausdoerffer hit the Clinton stretch during a night shift, used nightcrawlers and bagged a 10-pound carp, dozens of eels to 2 pounds and a selection of panfish, for example. Round Valley was a sure bet for nighttime fishing, because chunky rainbows and lakers 15 to 20 inches took on worm and Power Bait combos sent to 60-foot depths on a 3-foot leader.

The Pequest River gave up trout in the mornings, said Ron at <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The best fishing was below the hatchery, and flies such as midges and Tricos in sizes 16 to 24 were the choice. The North Branch of the Raritan River hosted a solid smallmouth fishery, and Rapala crank baits and size-1 Clouser minnows were the way to go.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

A whopper, 6-pound chain pickerel was caught at Round Valley Reservoir on an orange, jointed Rapala, said Nick of <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Most anglers looked for 20- to 24-inch lake trout at the valley with trolled spoons in the 65- to 70-foot depths. Other options included drifting of live shiners in the early mornings or at nighttime, when the fish came off the bottom, staging in the more manageable, fishable mid depths.

A mess of largemouth bass settled in along the Winding River, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The 1- to 4-½-pounders keyed in on large shiners fished under floats. Bigmouths were also on tap at Manasquan Reservoir, and anglers there fished the deeper waters and channel edges with Senkos and slow-rolled spinner baits. Try using chartreuse down deep, because the fish there can see them better.

It’s been a bass bonanza, said Eric at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Lake Assunpink, Gropp’s Lake and Prospertown Lake all held plenty, and the best method was to fish Cavitron buzz baits in black or dark gray in the early mornings. On the Delaware River, smallmouth hangouts of the week included Upper Black Eddy and Fireman’s Eddy. Small striped bass could also be found on the river on small poppers in the Trenton bridge area.

A plethora of largemouth bass swam local waters, said Tony from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Carnegie Lake held action on nightcrawlers, and Lake Assunpink and Mercer Lake produced more on live shiners. Catfishing picked up in the Delaware River, and 4- to 8-pounders came up with regularity at Trenton. Chunked herring was the main methodology.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Most customers headed to Tuckerton Lake for an array of species willing to eat up nightcrawlers, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Mystic Island. Largemouth bass, sunfish and pickerel were all on the menu, and those looking to target larger pickerel could head to the Stafford Forge ponds with live shiners.

Some great catfishing was available, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. Feeder creeks that led into the Delaware River such as Big Timber Creek and the Schuylkill River coughed up catties to 8 pounds, especially around dock pilings, and where a little bit of current ran through. Largemouth bass fishing was super at Newton Lake, Stewart Lake and the Mullica Hill farm ponds. The trick for bringing them in was to cast Senkos or Sweet Beavers around the lily pads, letting them drop through to fish poised to pounce underneath. Blackwood Lake and Wilson Lake were also bass hangouts.

Lake Worth, Penn Bryn Lake and Blackwood Lake were all bucketmouth locations, said Ed at <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Shiners worked better at Penn Bryn and Blackwood Lakes, and Senkos did better at Lake Worth. The spillway at Blackwood also attracted plenty of sunfish that nibbled meal worms, perfect for children or those looking for a guaranteed fight. Catfishers made trips to Big Timber Creek to find excellent action on channels to 10 pounds.

Malaga Lake and Wilson Lake were the two top spots locally for largemouths, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. The bass were getting active in the early mornings around the water edges, and top-waters scored well.

Bigmouth bass fishing picked up at Sunset Lake and Mary Elmer Lake, said Jeff at <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Senkos in black with blue flake or Scumfrogs in natural green or brown fooled fish through the daytime hours, so long as lures were worked slowly but twitched often. The Maurice River was raging hot for small striped bass below the dam, and anglers could catch more than 30 between 18 and 20 inches in an hour. The small linesiders hit mainly at nighttime, and 3- to 5-inch top-water poppers or Couser minnows got both to strike.

Catfish were most definitely on the chew in the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. A 9-pound 9-ounce brute was checked in that sucked down a nightcrawler. Small striped bass went on a tear in the river, and live grass shrimp were best bait to bring a short to bankside for a little catch and release action.

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