<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Striped bass were now being caught consistently on the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. One customer was up at the Burlington Bristol Bridge and picked up a pair of 30- and 22-inch bass on bloodworms. Other anglers scored a few 28-inchers near the Turnpike Bridge, again on bloodworms. Down near the Commodore Barry Bridge, anglers were sometimes landing big bass to 38 inches on bloodworms, herring and clams. Shad and herring were hitting darts and Sabiki rigs in the river at the Trenton power plant. Several anglers fished behind the Railroad Bridge abutments, fighting lots of shad while dead-sticking spoons. The Susquehanna Flats at the top of Chesapeake Bay were also putting out stripers, and many anglers there were hooking 10 to 20 fish a day per vessel, mostly on Rat-L-Traps, Bombers and shad bodies. Closer to home, at Lake Nockamixon, the spillway was the best spot to find walleyes at night. Minnows and worms were producing several 3- to 5-pound fish. On the main portion of the lake, smallmouth and largemouth bass were starting to strike aggressively along the ledges on suspended crank baits, spinner baits, jigs and plastic worms. A 4.7-pound smallmouth was reeled in there, and so were bucketmouths to 3 pounds.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Trout fishing held steady at the local streams, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg, and the Pohatcong, Pequest and Musconetcong rivers were solid bets. At the Pohatcong, Bruce Naylor, Jr., Tatamy, claimed a 2-pound 12-ounce rainbow. On the Musconetcong, Mark Laros, Phillipsburg, beat a 5-pound 9-ounce brown, a 3-pound 3-ounce brown and a 6-pound 5-ounce rainbow, and Ken Hendricks, Greenwich Township, landed a 4-pound tiger trout. Carl Ambrose, Easton, bagged a 4-pound 6-ounce palomino trout at Bushkill Creek. Andrew Clark, Easton, took home a 3-pound 9-ounce brook trout from the Delaware River.

Trouters were cleaning up on catches at the Big Flatbrook and Ramapo rivers, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. Most of the fish were eating baby nightcrawlers or Power Baits. Pike fishers were moving out in full force to the Passaic River, as the water levels subsided, making it easier to send out live shiners on floats. Don’t forget to pick up a Passaic Pike Map from the shop before you head out.

Lake Hopatcong doled out a good show of walleyes around the Brady Bridge area, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. The ‘eyes were slamming Rapala Husky Jerks in the middle of the day. Stream water levels were dropping all around, and that was productive for trout fishing, and plenty of the salmonids were creeled on the Musconetcong and Rockaway rivers.

A mixed bag of species made up the take on the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong.  Most customers trolled the shallows with Phoebes, Rapalas and spinners, battling pickerel and trout. Hot spots included the areas at River Styx, Brady's Bridge and Prospect Point. Trollers were also fishing between Raccoon and Halsey islands and at Byram Cove to add to the catch. Ashley Truglio caught a 4-pound 2-ounce pickerel, and Mike Downey landed a 2-pound 15-ounce brown trout. Gerard DelVescovo nailed a 3-pound 13-ounce brownie, and Tyler LaMantia boated a 3-pound brown. Jim Smith hooked a 4-pound 7-ounce brown, and Dave Ruppert pinned down a 1-pound 7-ounce rainbow. Tyler Lambert settled a brawl with a 3-pound 5-ounce tiger trout.

Trout fishers got on the bite with both breeders and stockers on the South Branch of the Raritan River, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b> in Lebanon. Chris himself was able to get out and tackle a 4-pound rainbow from Clinton Falls and lost another big breeder there as well, using flashback Hare’s Ears for both. Largemouth bass fishing gained steam at Spruce Run Reservoir and other local lakes, and bigmouths to 6 pounds were already reported caught on white chatter baits.

Fly casters on the local trout streams had no problems connecting, said Ron from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The Big Flatbrook was a source for rainbows and brookies on sizes 14 to 18 flashback Hare’s Ears, sizes 8 to 14 Hornberg streamers and sizes 12 to 14 Quill Gordons. The Pequest was a trout haven for fly fishers tossing size-18 Zebra midges and size-16 chironomid larvae patterns.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

All local streams were in perfect shape for trouting, said Pat from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. The South Branch of the Raritan River was an excellent producer, and butterworms and small, silver Rapala Countdowns caught. Sizes 12 to 14 Hendricksons were the hatch for fly fishers.

An absolute monster brown trout, a 9-pound 12 ouncer, was weighed in from Spring Lake, said Andrew at <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. The beast hit a 208 White Roostertail that Tom Coopey cast. Trout anglers were pulling on fish throughout the Manasquan River, and the upper stretches produced a little better. Manasquan Reservoir started to show off its ability to give up largemouth and smallmouth bass, and one customer said he totaled two largemouths and a smallmouth that honed in on Yo-Zuri Pins minnow thrown from the banks.

Forge Pond was a hotbed of activity for yellow perch, white perch and a few herring, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Lake Riviera was the spot to catch a largemouth bass or chain pickerel, and live shiners worked best. Lester’s Lake behind the Marshall’s store held pickerel and catfish in its depths, and live shiners grabbed the picks, and dead shiners fooled the cats. Trout casters were finding Bryce Park and Spring Lake the prime locales. Spring fishing was picking up everywhere, Jeff said.

Crappie to 1 ½ pounds chewed pretty steadily on Lake Assunpink, and the slabs were liking pink hair jigs, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Gropp’s Lake was the pickerel hangout, with water snakes to 3 pounds chomping on live shiners. The Delaware River offered a spotty herring run last week, and maybe an angler would bag 3 to 6 on a day out. That could’ve changed now. Sabiki jigging did the trick on herring, and the bait fish were sometimes responsible for striper catches near the Trenton power plant area. Trout anglers were onto big specimens at the Musconetcong River.

Shad and herring were the focus on the Delaware River, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Both attacked Sabiki rigs, though shad darts and spoons attracted more shad. Go-to areas included the Pennsy Turnpike Bridge and the Trenton power plant. Largemouth bass fishing got an injection at Lake Assunpink, Stone Tavern Lake and Rising Sun Lake, and all gave up bites on lipless crank baits and chatter baits. Trout fishers found plenty of strikes at the Delaware and Raritan Canal and Stony Brook, usually on Power Baits and waxworms.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Grenloch Lake churned out monster trout, said Jay from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Frank Slater hefted in a brace of rainbows 4.3 and 4.2 pounds that ate waxworms. Tina Rodano put the brakes on a 4.9-pound rainbow that chomped chartreuse Power Bait to score. Adam Raiman hauled up a 4.8-pound rainbow. The state stocking last Wednesday no doubt added big breeders in the mix, and plenty were still in the lake to be caught. In other trout news, Doug Taylor hit up Rowan’s Pond to pull on brook trout to 2 pounds. Blackwood Lake started to put forth big largemouth bass, and Josh Morgan fished there and knocked down a trophy, a 6.8-pound bucketmouth that hit a rainbow-trout colored Senko.

Largemouth bass fishing gained speed, said Zack from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Daretown Lake, Rainbow Lake and Sunset Lake were all sources of quality reports, and Senko worms got whacked during the daytime. Crappie were on a tear at Parvin Lake, with small grub tails and hair jigs hooking the fish. A fairly steady run of herring was moving into the Maurice River, especially near the Union Lake Dam. Trout fishers had luck in the river to boot, and the Almond Road area was a good spot to locate a few rainbows.

Great news: The spring run really began to shine on the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Loads of herring moved in, and consistent striped bass fishing was going down on a daily basis. A few keeper-sized bass were reportedly nailed, though most of the action was on shorts to 27 inches. Higher tides were best, and both live herring and bloodworms should get a strike. Trout anglers headed to the Bridgeton Lakes for limits.

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