<b>North Jersey</b>

Big Flatbrook was filled with trout but ran low, said Joe from <b>Stokes Forest Sport Shop</b> in Sandyston. That was after the river ran high, and the shop’s customers who target trout mostly fish there. Currently they mostly fly-fished with blue-winged olive dry flies or different nymphs. But the fish could be caught on bait like salted minnows and meal worms. Delaware River fished well for a bunch of striped bass and catfish. Most stripers were hooked while anglers catfished with chicken livers or cut bait. When the store begins stocking eels, the bait will be livelined for stripers, and that catches the big ones. Not many smallmouth bass were yanked from the river yet. On lakes, largemouth bass fishing picked up well. The fish were in their summer pattern, like hanging along weed lines, swiping top-water lures. Or they pounced on Senkos and other rubber worms. The worms are popular this time of year in colors like blue or black – dark patterns – or watermelon.

 A couple of anglers joined one of the nighttime trips that top-water plug for walleyes on a lake Saturday with <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale, Capt. Dave Vollenweider said. Dave was concerned about the full moon, the so-called super moon, because full moons can seem to slow the angling. But within 10 minutes of fishing, two walleyes, a 6-1/2-pounder and a 5-pounder, were boated. That was around 9:15 p.m., and the trip ended up landing a total of four walleyes, two rock bass, a smallmouth bass and a white perch, on a slow pick. The fishing was slower than usual, but the anglers were happy, Dave said. When the trip began, the moon had just risen on the horizon, but the sky was hazy around it. As the moon rose overhead, the fishing slowed. Walleyes move to shallows at night to forage on spawning herring this time of year. A few of the baitfish, not many, were around. Most of the fish were caught on Rapala Original Floating Minnow lures in size F18, a 7-incher. But when the fishing slowed, a Yozuri Crystal Minnow was tied on, and caught. The lake was 74 to 75 degrees and somewhat dingy or stained. The same anglers took one of the trips with Dave last year on July 14, walloping 10 walleyes. The fishing, happening as long as herring spawn, could last a little while longer. The anglers this year were going to fish for carp along Passaic River with Dave, because the fish key in on mulberries that drop into the waters. But the Passaic ran too high from rains. Dave was on his way to fish for muskies on Canada’s Ottawa River, one of the top-five rivers for large muskies. When he returns, he’ll start fishing for muskies on New Jersey’s lakes more often, but will continue walleye fishing, too. Dave last week gave a talk at the Round Valley Trout Association, and his next talk will be at Lake Hopatcong’s Knee Deep Club. Dave forwarded results from the Gone Fishing largemouth bass tournament on Greenwood Lake last week on Tuesday. First place was 12.66 pounds for eight fish, and a 2.66-pounder was the lunker. First place won $750, and the next tournament will be on Tuesday on Greenwood. Dave’s friend Paul Schmidt’s club the Northeast Bass Masters held a tournament on Lake Hopatcong on Saturday. The winning weight was more than 15 pounds for five largemouths, and the lunker weighed 5.08 pounds. The club’s next tournament will be in two Saturdays, July 6, on Greenwood. Live to Fish Guide Service guides trips for trout, muskies, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleyes, crappies, chain pickerel, panfish, yellow perch, white perch, carp and more. Lakes fished include Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Monksville Reservoir, Echo Lake, Mountain Lake and Furnace Lake. Rivers fished include the Flatbrook, Pequest, Paulinskill and Ramapo.

A customer who trout fished on Big Flatbrook the other day said the waters ran a little high but clear, and he caught on caddis flies, and sulfurs began to hatch in the evening, said Greg from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Musconetcong River sounded high and dirty, but South Branch of Raritan River sounded like it ran at a good level. The South Branch recedes quicker than many streams. Nothing was heard about Pequest River. Lake Hopatcong still sounded high, but hybrid striped bass were clocked there in early mornings, like at 5 o’clock, mostly on herring, but also on top-water lures like Zara Spooks in dark colors or patterns. The lake’s walleye fishing seemed to become slower, maybe because of heat, but the reason was unknown. Catfishing started to turn on, including at Hopatcong on live or cut herring on bottom and at Lake Musconetcong on hot dogs. Crappie fishing was great at ponds and lakes like Splitrock Reservoir and Swartswood Lake on small Rapalas or Mister Twisters. Reports about smallmouth bass caught began to roll in from Delaware River, and the river had run high, and anglers hoped the waters kept dropping. Twister tails, small Senkos or Keitechs on jigheads nabbed them. Sunnies and bluegills could be fought all day long on lakes, whether for fun for kids or for yourself. Poppers are a fun way to catch them. Trout magnets under floats will hook up. Or Greg likes to fish small crank baits for them. Perch seemed almost non-existent, and maybe they searched for cold waters or something.

Few anglers turned out for the Knee Deep Club’s Stu Lant Tournament, a multi-species contest, on the lake Saturday and Sunday, Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong wrote in an e-mail. Still, quite a few fish were entered. They included hybrid striped bass from 4 pounds to nearly 8 pounds, mostly caught on bait. But a few were top-water plugged at night. The walleyes weighed from 2 ½ pounds to Lou Marcucci’s 8-pound 6-ouncer he grabbed on a herring. Lots of smallmouth bass 2 to 3 pounds were angled at Byram Cove and off Nolan’s Point. Largemouth bass entered were small, up to Kevin Shears’ 2-pound 12-ouncer. Knee Deep’s next tournament will be for hybrids on July 13 and 14. In other news, several trout were taken from the lake in the past week, on bait. Lots of chain pickerel to 4 pounds were wrestled on live bait or Mepps spinners. Many yellow perch were winged on smaller herring

For Mark at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield, Greenwood Lake put up quite a few largemouth bass, but the lake’s walleye fishing slowed a lot, he said. At a couple of tournaments on Lake Waywayanda, largemouthing was super, and all the chain pickerel bit that “you could shake a stick at,” he said. Pompton Lake had given up plenty of largemouths until rains. Catches dropped from like 20 per angler to three. Trout fishing was still good, and waters were crystal clear.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

South Branch of Raritan River ran at 111 CFS, very fishable, said Darrel from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. The waters dropped a lot, and were clear. The North Branch ran at 265, and Musconetcong River flowed at 280. Both levels were healthy for fishing, and the Musky might’ve run a little high. More waters drain into the river. Water conditions were no issue on local trout streams, but smaller flies and light leaders, definitely 6X, probably 7X, were in order. On the South Branch, trout were socked on flies like midges and emergers in sizes 18 and 20, RS2’s in gray and tan, and small bead-headed nymphs. Early and late in the day were times to fish, including to avoid stressing or killing the fish in heat. Even on the shaded waters at Ken Lockwood Gorge on the South Branch, the day was bright by 10 a.m. Smallmouth bass smacked cicadas on Raritan River. Or anglers fished crank baits or Senko worms for them.

At Manasquan Reservoir, a few anglers did a job on largemouth bass on shiners fished from the banks, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. The bass were getting off spawning beds, as waters were warming, reaching the 70s. Boaters on the rez picked away at crappies outside the trees. The impoundment’s hybrid striped bass fishing improved more and more on trolled Rapalas. Chain pickerel hit in Toms River at Trilco on spinners and shiners, mostly near Garden State Parkway. Big carp moved into shallows in the river around Trilco, looking for warmth. Trilco is a closed building supply, and no sign identifies the building, but locals know the stretch by the name, located near the Parkway. Catfish were cranked from the lake at Seacourt Pavilion, and chunked bluegills caught them best. Nothing was heard about trout. Customers last mentioned attempting to fish for trout on Toms River last week, but waters overflowed, so they didn’t fish.  Shiners, killies and nightcrawlers are stocked.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Catfishing really took off, said Tom P. from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Many fished for them on Delaware River from Florence and Bordentown all the way to Frenchtown. The anglers dunked chicken livers or cut bait, and one fished with crawfish tails. Channel catfishing was great on Millstown River, since waters dropped, from Griggstown to Manville. Northern pike attacked in the Millstone on spinner baits with willow leafs and Colorado blades for flash and vibration. Booyah ¾-ounce spinner baits were popular. Largemouth bass fishing was good, and most customers hunted them in private ponds and lakes. Rubber frogs were fished, and Pro Assassinator buzz baits worked well. Largemouthing was good at Manasquan Reservoir on Texas-rigged 5-inch Senkos in green pumpkin. One customer still caught trout on Delaware and Raritan Canal, including limiting out, on Power Bait. That was unusual by this time of year, but waters were only 74 degrees. Trout might die once waters reach 77 or 78, Tom thought.

Anglers during the weekend somewhat waited for waters to clear after last week’s rains, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. But afterward, Union Lake’s fishing was decent for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. A couple of reports talked about largemouths latched into at East Creek Lake near Heislerville. Largemouthing in evenings started to pick up. Rubber frogs caught, and lots of Power Bait worms started to be sold for the fishing. Or anglers seemed to start dragging the worms more often. Senko worms caught as usual. Catfish, decent catches, were tugged from Maurice and Cohansey rivers and tidal creeks. In saltwater, lots of summer flounder were bagged from back bays, but flounder fishing didn’t seem so good on Delaware Bay. 

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