<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Smallmouth bass and walleyes were top hitters on the Delaware River, said Bill at <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. One customer who fished the Byram section nabbed smallmouth bass and walleyes to 21 inches on cast and trolled grubs. The bridge area at Frenchtown gave up 20 smallies to 15 inches that grabbed minnows for another angler. The New Hope stretch of the river also held a sustained smallmouth chew, and not only conventional tackle connected, but popper flies tricked big bronzeback to 14 inches. Catfish lay thick in the Yardley area, and the anglers swam minnows to score 20 per day apiece. At Station Avenue, Rhawn Street and the Frankford Arsenal several customers latched into plenty of catfish and small striped bass while fishing with shrimp, chicken livers, bloodworms, nightcrawlers and bagels, each averaging three to six fish daily.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing was excellent at Merrill Creek Reservoir, with lots of sizeable fish nailed, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Live crawfish were most productive for the bigger ones. Steven Karcher pulled a monster, 6-pound 2-ounce bronzeback from the reservoir. The Delaware River gave up quite a mix of fish. Desmond Simmons nailed a 20.6-pound striped bass, and Ray Marley banked a 7-pound channel catfish. John Smith drilled a 6-pound walleye, and Rich Dipple scored an 11-pound 12-ounce carp. The Pequest River served up a 4-pound brown trout for Shawn Cornish, and Oxford Furnace Lake turned out a 4.9-pound largemouth for Marty Piccone.

The Passaic River was in good shape, despite recent rains, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. However, most anglers fished the Pequest, Rockaway and Paulinskill rivers for trout that were on the feed. Fly casters fished the high, muddy waters effectively with Muddler Minnows, Wooly Buggers and anything big and bushy.

Lake Hopatcong offered the most action, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Largemouth bass anglers found the fish hanging around the coves and weeds, and cast out Gulp sandworms and smelt-flavored pogies for a hook-up. The Rockaway River cleaned up since the rains, and trouters were out and about, finding Wooly Buggers and nightcrawlers attractive to browns and rainbows.

An “eclectic mixed-bag of fish” were claimed from the lake, said Laurie at <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Hybrid striped bass, walleyes, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and catfish all put up fights.  Ted Lang weighed in a 4-pound 12-ounce largemouth that fell for a purple lizard. Jim Welsh creeled a brace of walleyes 4 and 6 pounds, both on herring. Adam Kasica rustled in a 7-pound 13-ounce hybrid and a 4-pound 6-ounce walleye.

Ramapo Lake was hot for bucketmouth bass, said Tom from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Green pumpkin Senkos rigged wacky-style racked up four of the largemouths in the 3- to 4-pound class for Tom during the morning hours. Trout action picked up in the Big Flatbrook, and in-line spinners such as Panther Martins worked well.

Round Valley Reservoir was the place to be for rainbow trout, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Shrimp and worm combos fooled the ‘bows along the shore, but pink Power Bait was a good substitute. At the South Branch of the Raritan River carp kept busting in the shallows all over. Try casting dough baits or corn for a wild, drag-screaming ride from the bottom feeders.

The Pequest and Musconetcong rivers ran clean and clear, completely fishable for trout, said Ron at <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. Focus on mornings and evenings for the best feeds, tossing out size-16 elk-winged caddis or sizes 16 to 20 blue-winged olives.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Spruce Run Reservoir gave up a whopper bucketmouth that got weighed in at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook, Ron said. Tony Hudson fished a Senko worm to hammer the 7-pound 22-incher, releasing the bass after weigh-in. Smallmouth bass crushed sizes 6 to 8 Clouser Minnows on the Musconetcong River. Fly casters should note that the store is holding a 20-percent-discount sale on all Orvis fly rods.

Anglers picked away at yellow perch, white perch, pickerel and largemouth bass at Lake Riviera, said Jeff at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The yellow perch were big, up to 1 ½ pounds, and the white perch were up to 2 1/2 pounds. Lester’s Lake and the Ocean County College ponds held fair shares of pickerel on the prowl. Largemouths could be seen in the Winding River, but were reluctant to bite because of warm waters. This week’s cold front should turn that around promptly. Anglers who worked over the Manasquan Reservoir for largemouth bass found a key to be to drift deeper waters with rubber worms rigged Texas-style.

Smallmouth bass were a main dish on the Delaware River, said Sean from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Fathead minnows got whacked during mid-day hours, while buzz baits got more attention in the mornings. Lake Assunpink and Rising Sun Lake were homes to largemouths that got hungry at dawn and dusk, and the bigmouths hung in deeper waters under the weed paddies. Try drop-shotting Senkos through the growth to get down to the bass underneath.

Cooler weather predicted for the week might just start to turn over the lakes, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Largemouth bass will start hitting on top-waters once again at Lake Assunpink and Gropp’s Lake as the water column switches over. The Manasquan Reservoir put out decent hybrid striped bass activity in the cooler, deeper waters in 20 to 25 feet. Trolled Rat-L-Traps in shad color were a ticket to get the ‘brids to hit. Smallmouth bass ran thick in the Delaware River from Bull Island to Trenton. Natural-colored, 3- to 4-inch grubs, Zara Spooks, Yo-Zuri Pins Minnows, crawfish imitations and hellgramite patterns were all attacked.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Feeder creeks leading to the Delaware River were hangouts for largemouth bass, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. Big Timber Creek, Mantua Creek and Woodbury Creek all carried a supply of bass that ate up jig-n-pig combos, shad bodies, and slow, shallow-diving crank baits on the fuller tides. Lakes such as Blackwood Lake, Newton’s Lake, the Swedesboro farm ponds and Rowan University’s pond also had elevated bass action, maybe because of the full moon or the change to cooler weather. Lots of catfish and white perch loitered in the Big D along the National Park area.

Largemouth bass gobbled up shiners at Lake Rene and Penn Bryn Lake, said Ed at <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Simple float rigs fished in the mornings did the best job. Rumors flew around about a would-be state-record largemouth bass that was caught. Ed saw a cell-phone photo of an 11.4-pound lunker that was supposedly taken out of Bell’s Lake and released!

The 23rd annual Kids Fishing Derby took place at Wilson Lake during the weekend, said Lou at the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. The kids fought plenty of largemouth bass a half-pound and bigger, and Christen Wilson won first prize with a 1-1/2-pounder. Alyssa Heisler of Williamstown grabbed second place. Most of the largemouths were taken on nightcrawlers fished under bobbers. Look for largemouth action to pick up at Malaga and Franklinville lakes once the waters turn over, Lou said.

After the current cold front, local lakes should turn over, said Jeff at <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Best spots to hit will include Parvin’s Lake and Wilson Lake, and the key to success will be to use Rat-L-Traps and deeper-diving crank baits in the deeper sections of the shallow lakes. The bass will school up in the middle of the lakes and over the channels as the waters switch over.

Catfish were the mainstay on the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. The kitties chowed down on Mr. Catfish stink baits and herring chunks, and some of the fish were quality caliber, more than 7 pounds. Small striped bass swam in and out with the tides, and bloodworms caused them to stop and pounce. Striper anglers waited for the movement of larger bass to come in with cooler weather now starting.

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