<b>North Jersey</b>

After four attempts to troll a muskie at Greenwood Lake in past weeks, Capt. Dave Vollenweider from <b>Live to Fish Guide Service</b> from Montvale clobbered his biggest ever, last Wednesday, on Lake Hopatcong, he said. He estimated the fish to weigh 35 pounds, and a quick measurement showed that 47 inches was the length. But he didn’t “pinch” the tail, and thinks the fish was 49 inches. The muskie had an immense stomach, he said. The fish was trolled on a white Bucher Depth Raider lure and released. The lure was fished 25 feet behind the stern, near the boat. A spread of four rods was trolled at various depths and distances, and the lake was 68 degrees. The four trips on Greenwood produced none of the fish of 10,000 casts. Dave had wondered whether pesticide for weeds affected Greenwood’s muskies, and he had heard about muskies trolled at other lakes, including Hopatcong. Dave on the trip at Hopatcong first trolled for muskies in the morning, with no bites. Then he hammered giant bluegills and pumpkinseed sunfish on hare’s ear nymphs and Prince nymphs rigged in tandem with a dropper on a fly-rod. The panfish were seen on spawning beds, and were in beautiful spawning colors. Next, he trolled again, and slammed the muskie. Dave also joined an open-boat trip for striped bass on the ocean on a Belmar charter boat on Saturday. The goal was to liveline bunker for the bass, but the angling was dead. None of the fleet was catching. He saw a 200-pound mako shark docked on another boat at the marina. The mako was incredibly blue. Dave will keep fishing for muskies, including on guided trips. He’ll also guide for whatever freshwater fish customers prefer that are biting. Coming up, he’ll guide trips that nail walleyes on surface lures on lakes at night soon. Walleyes push to shallows, where they can be plugged, at night this time of year to forage on spawning herring. The big walleyes smash the lures. An article that Dave wrote about the walleye fishing is supposed to be published in the July issue of On the Water magazine. Catch Dave give a talk about fishing structure at 7:30 p.m. today for the East Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited at the American Legion Hall at 33 West Passaic Street in Rochelle Park.

Rain and cooler weather made trout fishing great on streams, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Succasunna. Weather is turning warmer now, but never really reached above 80 degrees in the past week or 1 ½ weeks. The rain made the streams flow at a good level for fishing, after the water ran low previously. The streams should fish decent for trout until July, because of the rain and cool spell, he thinks. Sulfur mayflies began to hatch, and terrestrials could be fished. Isonychia mayflies or slate drakes came off. Sizes 10 or 12 fished well for them, and a gray Wulff was a good imitation, and easy to see in waning light at dusk. Some good walleye fishing was had on Delaware River, also flowing “up” and in good shape, because of the rain. Lake Hopatcong fished well for different catches. Largemouth bass there and at other lakes were off the spawn. They must be released through Monday, because of spawning. A few walleyes began to be pasted at night at Hopatcong. Nothing was heard about hybrid striped bass from lakes like Hopatcong, but this was the time of year for hybrids to begin biting.

Passaic River was “up,” because of rain, said Cheryl from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Pine Brook. But northern pike were pasted from the river during the weekend. Some anglers headed for catfish to the river, but how they fared was unknown. Lots of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass hit at just about all the different small lakes and small private lakes. Many were caught, and both must be released through Monday, by law, because of spawning. Senko worms landed most. In saltwater, fluke fishing was good on Raritan Bay on one day during the weekend, and slow on the other, because of windy weather.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

South Branch of the Raritan River ran higher than 300 cubic feet per second, maybe three times higher than average, a couple of days in the past week, and ran at 180 this week, said Ron from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. All trout streams like that ran high because of rain in the past week. Not a lot was heard about fishing on the streams, and other types of fishing, because of wind and rain during the past week. But largemouth bass fishing was decent on lakes, including on Senko worms. Spinner baits caught the largemouths along banks early and late in the day. Release the bass through Monday, according to regulations, because of spawning. Crappie fishing was fairly good at different lakes. Nothing was heard about places like Round Valley Reservoir in the weather. Catch the shop’s Fathers’ Day Sale with discounts including 25 percent off all tackle boxes, buy any reel and get 25 percent off any rod of equal or lesser value, and 25 percent off Maui Jim’s sunglasses. Telephone the shop for exactly when the sale will be held.

Chain pickerel gave up action in the Toms River at Trilco, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Pickerel bite there almost year-round, and Trilco is a closed building supply. No sign identifies the building, but locals know the stretch by the name, located near Garden State Parkway. Carp became more and more active at Trilco, inhaling corn, raisins and dough balls. Pickerel and some largemouth bass chewed at Pine Lake Park. Regs require largemouths to be released through Monday, because of spawning. Lots of bullhead catfish swam Pine Lake Park, turning out decent fishing for them, actually. One angler fished a lake nearest the road, among three lakes in a row in Lacey, grabbing catfish at night on chicken livers. Dennis was unaware about the name of those lakes, but has mentioned them in past reports. Nobody reported fishing Manasquan Reservoir, but largemouths and hybrid striped bass should be on the prowl there this time of season. Nobody reported trout fishing. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Delaware River ran a little dirty, but smallmouth bass were sometimes plucked from the river at Trenton and Yardley, said Karl from <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Unlike in the rest of the state, smallmouths must be released through Saturday, because of spawning, on the river. In the rest of the state, they’re required to be let go through Monday. The river has its own regulations. The smallmouths swiped Rapala Original Floating Lures in size 7 in silver and black or gold and black. A few striped bass chomped in the river at Trenton on the Rapalas in size 13 in the same colors. Largemouth bass were tugged from Assunpink Lake, and Senko worms caught them well in green pumpkin or black and purple. The largemouths must be let go through Monday, like the smallmouths mentioned above.

Rubber frogs kept being bought for largemouth bass at <b>Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle</b> in Blackwood the past 1 ½ weeks, Ed said. The fish, limited to catch and release through Monday, because of spawning, began to smack the top-waters. The bass began to bite at Grenloch and Blackwood lakes the last few days, Ed Jr. from the store said. He was talking with an angler who copped the bass on the frogs and minnows and shiners. Another angler told him about lots of crappies on a tear at a pond in Woodbury Heights. Ed then fished there with his kids, and the crappies attacked anything. They caught them on worms, minnows and shiners.

Not a whole lot happened with fishing in the past week’s wind, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. But good largemouth bass fishing was reported from Salem Canal. Rubber worms and jigs were often fished for them, and any largemouths must be let go through Monday, according to law, because of spawning. Largemouths finished spawning, though. Anglers at Malaga Lake were into good fishing for largemouths and chain pickerel. In saltwater, summer flounder fishing seemed a slow pick, mostly on back bays. Not much was talked about Delaware Bay. Bluefish still swam the surf.

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