<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

The Lambertville section of the Delaware River was the smoking spot for smallmouths, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Good numbers of hard-fighting fish were taking minnows and grubs in salt and pepper. One customer tackled 45 smallmouths to 15 inches, and another waded the Treasure Island area to pick up 12 smallies from 10 to 14 inches and an 18-inch walleye. One report had three customers catching 57 bronzebacks between 10 and 14 inches. Anglers fishing the Byram area also did well with smallies above the bridge abutments on live minnows. Tullytown Cove’s fishing was a bit slower, with only a pick on Senko worms, and Dredge Harbor was giving up a few of the smallmouths along with a good pull of catfish to 4 pounds.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Despite a deluge of rains this past week, channel cats were on a heavy chew on the Delaware, said Bill at <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Notable catties from the Big D included Ronald Peterson’s 5-pound 10-ounce channel, Dan Lair’s pair weighing 3 pounds 8 ounces and 4 pounds 8 ounces, 7-year-old Chris Farley Jr.’s two 4- and 5-pound fish and Mike Buczek’s three whiskerfaces going 7 pounds 3 ounces, 7 pounds 8 ounces and 8 pounds even. Oxford Furnace Lake dished out a nice, 5-pound 3-ounce largemouth bass for Mike Cerza, and Merrill Creek Reservoir was the place to be for Mandy Carmichael, who bagged a 4-pound 4-ounce brown trout there.

Pouring rains put stream levels back to a good height, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. The Passaic River was little bit dirty with weeds and debris, and it was tough to drag lures through it, though it should be cleaned up and fishable by now. Monksville Reservoir was the only place largemouth bass were reported caught, and weedless frogs worked best.

Smallmouth bass continued a torrid bite in the Delaware River, said Dom of <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. The Worthington section produced 30-plus bass for Greg from the shop as he cast out 5-inch Senko worms rigged wacky style. Other baits that worked well included the Gulp pogies and smelts. Anglers who came back from Mountain Lake said muskies were on the prowl and slamming large, red and black spinnerbaits as well as gold spoons trolled behind the boat.

Herring were attracting a wide array of species at the lake, said Laurie at <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. There were plenty of smallmouths, crappie and walleye to 4 pounds hitting off the points. Jim Welsh weighed in largemouths of 3 pounds 5 ounces and 3 pounds 9 ounces that swallowed herring. Jim Archambault was out trolling for muskies when he bagged a pickerel that weighed 4 pounds 9 ounces. Action with hybrid stripers on the lake was on the slower side, but fish of 7 or 8 pounds were coming up here and there.

Lake Hopatcong offered quality largemouth bass action, said Steve of <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The docks and weeds attracted fish to 5 pounds that grabbed Senkos, small crank baits and offerings like Yo-Zuri jerk baits in blue and silver patterns. The morning feed was the best time to fish, because afternoon boat traffic pushed the fish down and gave them lockjaw.

The South Branch of the Raritan River will be clean enough to fish by now, said Chris of <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b> in Lebanon. Largemouth bass anglers can work the Clinton stretch around the weeds to find a tug on the line. Lake Hopatcong turned up a good show of walleye off the points in 30 feet of water on small grub jigs tipped with herring. The walleye were biting very finicky, so be prepared for a fast hookset once you feel one mouthing the bait.

Cooling rains meant cooler waters in the streams, said Ron at <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield, and that will put the trout back in the game this week. Round Valley Reservoir gave up both largemouth and smallmouth bass chasing Muddler Minnows in sizes 8 and 10 and size-8 Wooly Buggers in chartreuse and purple. Carnegie Lake was a fun location to cast size-10, red poppers to rising panfish.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Although rains filled up many streams to normal levels, the downpours also discolored the waters, said Mark at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. The northern reaches of the Pequest and Raritan rivers held cleaner waters by early in the week, though most streams should be cleaned out by week’s end for trout anglers to get back on the ball.

Area impoundments such as Manasquan Reservoir and Spring Lake should be giving up bass now, said Eric at <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. Tactics should be switched to working the shallower edges, as water temps have dropped and pushed the bass into feeding mode to the perimeters of the lakes. Try casting shallow-running crank baits or working the surface with River to Sea Dragonfly imitations. Spring Lake was also giving up a host of catfish on the lake bottom on nightcrawlers.

Lake Riviera produced a selection of crappie, largemouth bass and pickerel, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Live killies fished on bobbers were bringing in the fish. Anglers at the Wading River could find a mild bass bite. In the south Toms River behind the Trilco building, pickerel and largemouths were drilled on Roostertails and live shiners.

Smallmouth bass in the Delaware River were the talk of the shop, said Frank at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> of Robbinsville. The stretch from Trenton to Bordentown saw action on bronzebacks at the creek mouths, where the fish spilled into the Big D along the shoreline. Although there was still a mess of floating debris from the recent storms, the river was fishable.

Grover’s Mills Pond was the highlight for largemouth bass fishing, said Carl at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Senkos worked around the grass patches were tricking up the bucketmouths. Gropp’s Lake held a shot of crappie activity, and small grub jigs worked well. The Assunpink lakes all gave up a pick of bass through the daytime, and weedless lures such as frogs and Texas-rigged Senkos were able to pull them out of the weeds.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Blackwood Lake maintained a largemouth bite, said Ed of <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. But a shining star of the week was Puppyland Lake, because not only bass were on the take, but crappie and sunfish were tearing up shiners, meal worms and nightcrawlers.

Heavy rains put the kibosh on most fishing, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. But he did hear an excellent report from a hardy angler who fished Union Lake. The customer reported casting live minnows to bag a bunch of crappie along with a solid pull of smallmouth bass to 3 1/2 pounds.

The only good thing to come out of last week’s torrential rains was that the lake temps dropped to 65 degrees from 85 degrees, said Steve of <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Normally the cooler water would be good, but the drastic and immediate change quelled the bass from hitting, though it should bounce back by now. Look to throw shallow-diving crank baits and break out the never-fail Senko worms. Malaga Lake and Wilson Lake will be best bets.

The Maurice River served up large white perch and medium-sized catfish, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. But a big surprise hit the river: Large striped bass to 20 pounds were seen cruising through the waters, most likely drawn in by the nor’easter last week. The bass chased nothing, and none were reported caught, but they were rising and finning around on the surface. Try casting live baits if you can get them or working medium-size Bomber plugs to get a strike if the linesiders are around.

Back to Top