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<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Delaware River settled into a lazy, summer pattern, said Bill at <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Largemouth bass were picked up around Dredge Harbor and Tony's Cove and along the shoreline down to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. One customer drilled 11 bucketmouths, one smallmouth bass, four catfish and 16 small stripers on Senkos, lizards, fire-tiger Model A's and Rebel poppers. The stretch from Yardley to Frenchtown was dishing out smallmouth bass, small stripers and catfish. One customer fished the Point Pleasant area and scored several smallmouths from 12 to 15 inches on minnows and grubs tossed upstream of the bridge abutments. The Frenchtown section by the island across from the ramp gave up 19 smallmouth bass for one angler who fished tight to the shoreline with spinners and grubs.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

The Delaware River was high and muddy, but big catfish were being caught on leeches, crawfish and eel chunks, said Bill of <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Paul Pierce Jr. fought a 7-pound 8-ounce cattie, and John Riffert nailed a 5-pounder. Mike Riffert battled a 7-pound 8-ounce whiskerface, and Gary Sinko fished the river and bagged a 25-pound 9-ounce striped bass. Albert Natress tossed a line along the Columbia Dam and walloped a 17-pound 10-ounce carp, and Roger Cericola fished Mountain Lake and landed a 5-pound 3-ounce largemouth bass.

Although pike fishing simmered down for now, both largemouth and smallmouth bass stayed active in the Passaic River, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. Surface spinner baits and small crank baits were bringing the bass to bank side. The Delaware River put out small striped bass and smallmouth bass in the Blairstown stretch.

Smallmouth bass were the main attraction on the Delaware River, said Kevin at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. The Worthington area was on fire, and Senkos, small, black, 1/16-ounce jigheads with twister tails and 6-inch Gulp worms fished on black jigheads were all tricking up bronzebacks to 17 inches. Monksville Reservoir held largemouth bass and walleye, but only during the night, when the air cooled off. Top-water offerings such as Jitterbugs and black buzz baits worked best.

A mix of all species was keeping things interesting on the lake, said Laurie at <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Smallmouth fishing was hot for anglers dunking live herring off the points in about 20 feet of water, and the fish were averaging 1 or 2 pounds. Largemouths in the 2- to 3-pound class were also in the mix, and muskellunge were attacking herring, and boaters were trolling for the muskies with larger lures. A few 3-pound walleye were inhaling herring off the points as well, and lots of yellow perch and crappie were there. Hybrid bass were chasing top-water lures late at night along the shoreline, and Bombers, Zara Spooks, Jitterbugs or Hula Poppers were taking the 7- to 8-pounders.

A bass tournament at Pompton Lakes showed that largemouths were definitely on the bite, said Al at <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Every entrant took at least three bass, and a 4.3-pounder was the winning lunker. There were lots of 3- to 4-pound fish reported, and the action was taking place between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m., and although fishing was tough inside the slimy weed paddies, the bass were eager to chase Senkos and top-waters.

Extreme heat seemed to put Spruce Run’s hybrid striper fishing into a nocturnal mode, said Chris at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b> in Lebanon. Largemouth bass were hungry during evening sessions, when live herring found a few bucketmouths inside the coves around the weed beds. Round Valley Reservoir and Merrill Creek Reservoir were producing trout consistently, and the rainbows, lakers and browns were gulping down live herring.

Sultry water pushed the remaining, holdover trout deep into the holes and near the rocky overhangs in the rivers, said Ron of <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The Black River and the Pequest River were still holding the fish, though patience was a must. Flies needed to be drifted deep and slow along the bottom, and size-16 Light Cahills worked well.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Lake Hopatcong was the spot for walleye, said Jim at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Joe Sadikis nailed two 6- and 5.9-pound marble-eyes while fishing with live herring. Hybrid stripers were found in Spruce Run Reservoir, but it was a nighttime chew, and live herring were the consistent bait, and top-water lures were beginning to get strikes as well. The oft-overlooked Lamington River was a hotbed for smallmouth bass, and Yo-Zuri Pins Minnows and flies such as Wooly Buggers and streamers were tricking the fish. The Delaware and Raritan Canal was a panfish angler’s dream, because the slower stretches near Duke’s held lots of sunnies plus smallmouth bass. Customers who tried Round Valley Reservoir discovered that browns, rainbows and lakers were aggressively whacking jointed Rapala lures trolled 30 feet down.

Spring Lake was a decent catfishery, said Eric at <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. Stink-baits were bringing the fish to the hook during the night hours. Old Mill Pond was the place for largemouth bass and chain pickerel, and the bass were honing in on nightcrawlers and Senkos. The picks were hounding down bright spinners dragged near the weed paddies.

Mac’s Pond was a decent place to drop a line this past week, said Greg at <b>Brielle Bait & Tackle</b>. Joe Sommers landed a bunch of catfish, largemouth bass and sunfish using nightcrawlers there. The Manasquan Reservoir doled out bucketmouth bass from 2 to 4 pounds around the docks of the boat rental area, but the bite was over by 9 a.m., and live killies needed to be used, because the searing heat seemed to kill off live shiners as soon as they hit the water. The Asbury side of Deal Lake held a consistent gathering of crappie by the boat ramp, and small grub jigs were hooking the fish during evenings.

Bass anglers were scoring most action during early mornings and late evenings, said Sean at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> of Robbinsville. Top-waters such as Scumfrogs and buzz baits were getting strikes around the lily pads and surface weeds. The top-water fishing was fun, but for steadier action, use Senkos, Sweet Beavers or Rapala X-Raps. Mercer Lake, Gropp’s Lake, Carnegie Lake and the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area lakes were all productive this past week.

It’s time to switch over to top-waters for largemouth bass, said Carl at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. This summertime pattern settled in for sure. Frogs, poppers and buzz baits should all be in the arsenal. Stone Tavern Lake was the shining spot, and so was Deal Lake. The Manasquan Reservoir would normally be a prime location for bass, but the waters were down about 3 feet because of a release, and the level might dip even further if the heat wave continues.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Blackwood Lake was on fire for bass, said Joe of <b>Creek Keepers</b> of Blackwood. Purple Senkos fished weedless took bass to 5 pounds, especially in the weeds where the creek enters the lake. Catfish were on a tear at the floodgate section of Red Bank National Park, and Grenloch Lake anglers pulled up a mix of perch, bass and pickerel from the weeds. The store’s annual Catfish Tournament takes Saturday, July 21, with a payout of $2,000 in cash and prizes.

Anglers who ventured out in the heat have were hitting Grenloch Lake and Malaga Lake for a pick of chain pickerel and largemouth bass, said Lou of the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. They were having the best luck when the sun was below the horizon or during dawn and dusk, and top-water baits such as Jitterbugs were getting the most strikes.

The humid heat wave forced most anglers to fish during the early mornings or late evenings, said Steve of <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. So hours before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. were best to find largemouth bass, and Malaga Lake, Iona Lake and the Salem Canal were all consistent. Senkos and Power Worms attracted the fish when fished ultra-slow. In the local sand washes bass anglers were catching largemouths while drop-shotting plastic baits under the weed patches. Steady bass fishing was going down in the Maurice River, and the fish were chasing crank baits that dove in the 2- to 6-foot depths.

Catfish were the steady fare in the Maurice River, said Ki of <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Dead baits and stink baits put cats averaging 3 to 4 pounds on the bank, but some weighed 7 pounds. Union Lake anglers who fished from the banks were finding largemouths, sunfish and bluegills inhaling garden worms fished under bobbers, and the fish were also hitting small grub jigs.

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