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<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The upper Delaware River gave up excellent catches of smallmouth bass at New Hope, Washington’s Crossing and the Delaware Water Gap, said Bill at <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Most of the bronzebacks were taking live shiners and leeches, but small crank baits fished at a moderate pace were also hooking up. The Trenton stretch held a potpourri of yellow perch, catfish and small striped bass to 24 inches, and bloodworms were best baits there. Dredge Harbor was producing decent largemouth bass activity for anglers dipping live shiners.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Fishing was great in local streams and on the Delaware River, said Bill of <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Interestingly, big stripers arrived in the Phillipsburg section of the Big D, and quite a few were checked in that weighed 20 pounds and up. A 48-inch, 37-pound, 12-ounce whopper that John Largo took was the top weigh-in, and a 38-inch, 27-pounder that Chauncey Mulligan claimed was second-biggest. Catfish and smallmouth bass rounded out the river catches, and Shannon Au landed a 9-pound 12-ounce channel cat. Roland Smith netted a 5-pound 12-ouncer, and Mike Riffert bagged a 7-pound 6-ouncer. Paul Calahan picked up a 4-pound 3-ounce smallmouth bass in the river. Raymond Daue fished Merrill Creek Reservoir for a 3-pound smallmouth.

The Passaic River was “smallmouth friendly,” said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. His customers were throwing white spinner baits, dragging them at mid-depth and hooking up with smallies in the 2- to 4-pound bracket. The key to success--and to saving face--was to reel in the spinner baits at a mid-depth pace, no deeper than 4 to 6 feet, lest you hooked into the snags on the bottom and lost lures. Lake Hopatcong held a frenzy of bass activity, and largemouth, smallmouth and hybrid bass jumped on spinner baits, live herring or shiners during the early mornings and late evenings.

Monksville Reservoir was a hotbed of activity, said Kevin of <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Not only was a good show of largemouth bass coming to bat, but some muskellunge were tearing it up to boot. Anglers were dragging white spinner baits around fallen timber and hooking up with bass to 5 pounds, and one customer broke off two muskies well over the 10-pound class. Anglers may want to use wire leaders to prevent muskie break-offs.  Lake Hopatcong started to see muskie action, especially around Lee’s Park and off Chestnut Point, and the real-deal muskie bite was historically slated to go off after July 4. But warmer water might be bringing them in sooner than expected. On the trout streams, such as the Pequest and Muscontecong, Light Cahill flies did the trick to bring trout to bank side.

Hybrid stripers from the lake were a bit larger this past week, said Laurie of <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Dominic Sarinelli pulled in a 7-pound 9-ounce hybrid on herring, and Eddie Mackin subdued a 6-pound 1-ouncer, and both were trolled on live herring. Lou Marcucci came up with a decent walleye that weighed 4 pounds 9 ounces. Corey Grushin found a 4-pound 4-ounce marble-eye, and Donald Dunne was not to be outdone with a 5-pound 6-ouncer, and both took live herring fished around rocky points.  Matthew Schroedor hooked a beautiful, 2-pound 4-ounce largemouth bass that was also caught on herring.

The yellow perch and walleye bite at Greenwood Lake seemed to be going full-swing, said Mark at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Amanda Fiducci cast out live shiners to bag 20 yellow perch and two walleye on a day out. Lake Hopatcong doled out a torrid walleye chew, and one customer reported catching 10 ‘eyes and four hybrid bass while trolling Husky Jerks in the early morning around the rocky points and deeper waters. Lots of Jersey anglers were heading north to Lake George for fantastic smallmouth fishing, and Al Panici fished there for two days and wrestled more than 300 smallies in the 1- to 3-pound range while fishing with Angler Select worms and Senko worms in Espresso and Pumpkin colors.

Spruce Run Reservoir was all about a fired-up, hybrid-striper feeding frenzy, said Chris at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Herring that were trolled on size-6 treble hooks from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. were finding brokensiders from 5 to 9 pounds with consistency. The fish came from around the bathing beach, boat launch and power line areas near Mulhockaway Creek. Round Valley Reservoir anglers were still pulling on a good share of lake trout, mixed with brownies and rainbows, while deep trolling live herring in the 50- to 80-foot depths.

Stream anglers were on the summertime pattern now, said Sean of <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. Best bets were to cast out beetle, ant and grasshopper patterns in sizes 14 to 18 to match the bugs falling off the trees. Low stream conditions warranted lighter offerings, and you could get away with size-14 flies, but you might’ve needed to go lighter for a more natural presentation. Spruce Run Reservoir was dishing out largemouth bass and panfish, and both were hitting Senko worms fished in the weed paddies in the coves. Round Valley gave up lake trout in the 5- to 8-pound range for those deep trolling herring.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

For trout anglers, Ken Lockwood Gorge offered the best opportunity to still collect a decent brown or rainbow, because the Gorge carries about colder water from its spring-fed tributaries, said Jim at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Light Cahills in size 16 as well as all types of spinner flies fished on the surface will be the hatches this week.

The Manasquan Reservoir was the best largemouth bass spot, said Roy of <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. Both bank and boat anglers were able to drop Senko worms around the near-shore structure to plant a hook in largemouths from 2 to 5 pounds. The mornings and late evenings were prime times, though day-time anglers did well if they went deep with worms, fishing near the bottom or under log structure, where bass were shading themselves from the sun.

Largemouth bass were hounding live killies at Lake Riviera, said Greg of <b>Brielle Bait & Tackle</b>. Although the bucketmouths were hitting, they were being overshadowed by chain pickerel, and it seemed a chore to get the killies past the picks to pick up a bass. Largemouths were becoming sluggish due to the early-season warm weather. The Manasquan Reservoir was showing largemouth activity, especially around the docks. Try throwing live killies on bobbers rigged for a 2-foot drop with a size-BB split shot to keep the shiners in the strike zone.

There was a lottery pick of lakes to catch largemouths, said Sean of <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> of Robbinsville. Lake Assunpink, Stone Tavern, Rising Sun, Gropp’s and Prospertown lakes all provided quality activity. When the waters got cooler during the early mornings and late evenings, the bass were hitting top-water lures, such as Jitterbugs and spinner baits, but when the sun was high in the sky, the fishing seemed to switch around to a jig bite, and Evolution jigs in black and brown and peanut butter and jelly were convincing the bass to eat.

Largemouth bass anglers scored a wild ride, said Bob of the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Lake Assunpink, Mercer Lake and Carnegie Lake were all top producers, but the key was when and how to fish. Early-morning anglers were having the best luck, throwing out small Rapala, Lucky Strike and 2-inch, series-100 Bandit crank baits. Mid-afternoon anglers were doing better with Yum Dinger and Senko worms as well as hard-nosed, Mann’s rubber worms worked along the bottom. Great colors included natural, earthy tones, such as browns, pumpkinseed and watermelon. Trout were hitting in the streams, and trouters had to go with small ants and beetle patterns in sizes 16 to 20, and a Japanese beetle hatch took place. The Delaware River had channel catfish on a tear, especially on slack tides during nighttime around Duck Island on Frabill catfish bait or Eagle Claw Nitro catfish bait. The Delaware and Raritan Canal was giving up a good catch of channels as well. Carp anglers were finding plenty of rod-bending opportunities on Uncle Josh Carp Bait, and for all intents and purposes the mulberry bite was over now. Reports also came from Scudder’s Falls on the Big D about walleye and smallmouth bass biting on slow-trolled crank baits.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Largemouth bass continued to be the main attraction, said Ed of <b>Creek Keepers</b> of Blackwood. Newton’s Creek was the new hot spot, and live, medium shiners were decking bucketmouths there. Blackwood Lake maintained consistency, though larger shiners were doing better there to trick up a bass. Chain pickerel were going nuts at New Brooklyn Lake, and a good way to get a vicious strike was to toss out small CP Swing or Roostertail spinners just in front of the weed paddies.

Oak Pond and Iona Lake were putting out plenty of bass, said Lou of the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Although many customers were giving up the freshwater fight to target saltwater species, bass anglers who consistently pounded out the lakes with shiners and spinner baits were coming home with tales of 3- to 4-pound bucketmouths. Hit the dawn hours for the highest concentration of feeding.

Bigmouth bass were all around the local lakes, said Jeff of <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. The ticket was to target them according to time of day. The mantra seemed to be a slow and low approach, casting flipping baits and jigs, especially the Sweet Beaver lineup in black, blue and green pumpkin colors in the early mornings, working around the cover of weeds and docks. Largemouths were full, 100-percent into their summertime pattern, and you had to be patient and slow with presentations, especially during mid-day. Parvins Lake and Cedarville Lake were two other hot locales.

Catfishers were in their glory, said Ki of <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. The Maurice River was handing out consistent cats on higher tides on dead herring, shiners or stink baits. Most of the whiskerfaces ranged 2 to 5 pounds, but some were larger or 6 to 7 pounds. Bloodworms fished on high tides were tallying up a treasure-chest-full of white perch as well, and some catfish were also honing in on the bloods to provide a good, unexpected tussle.

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