<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Striped bass began to infiltrate the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. Eight different keepers were reported caught from the Trenton area, two near Station Avenue, three off Linden Avenue, one toward Princeton and one near the Arsenal. A 33-incher, about 14 pounds, was the biggest so far. Downstream, smaller bass were moving up. One customer fished the flats below the Commodore Barry Bridge, picking up two 28-inch fish, before landing a 36-inch, 23-pounder! He also released nine bass down to 15 inches and reeled in four catfish and a couple of white perch, and bloodworms worked best for all. Some shad in the 2- to 5-pound bracket were now holding in the river near the Trenton power plant, and shad spoons and darts worked well. Another customer loaded up on crappies, 19 slabs up to a pound, at the Neshaminy Marina docks on tubes on 1/32-ounce jigheads. White and chartreuse were the hot colors.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Ric Mutchler of Easton reeled up a whopper, 19-pound 9-ounce carp from the nearby Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Lots of smaller carp swam the area, but the ox gave anglers hope that where there’s one, there’s bound to be more.

The flow of the Passaic River settled down to fishable levels, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. Pike fishers were heavily hitting the river with live shiners for the water wolves. Some 8-pounders were caught and released in the last week, and more of the lunkers should be taken as spring rolls on. Trout anglers will be heading to the Big Flatbrook or Musconetcong rivers to find their limits on opening day of the season Saturday. Remember to pick up your 2008 fishing license and trout stamp!

Lake Hopatcong put out quality catches, said Kevin from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus, and the back canals and shallow flats were home to lots of yellow perch and crappie, and pickerel haunted the state park area. Small Rapalas took most of the fish, and largemouth bass fishing was warming up at the lake, with a few of the bucketmouths smacking the Rapalas. Trout anglers were looking to target the Rockaway River when the season opens Saturday, and salted minnows are good baits to score bigger trout. On the Delaware River the Poxono boat launch area was a spot for healthy catches of walleyes on rainbow-colored Husky Jerks, an all-day chew.

Yellow perch and crappie made up most catches on the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Waters near Brady Bridge were the go-to locale, and fathead minnows were the prime bait to attract both species. Trout anglers will slow-troll Rapalas off the docks, over the shallows and near bridge pilings on opening day. The shop’s boat-rental operation is at full steam now, so you don’t need to own a boat to test the lake. Just rent one!

The Woodport section of Lake Hopatcong gave up a mess of yellow perch for John Panicci and his son, who cast out small spinners and worms to land scores, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The New York end of Greenwood Lake, in the arm section, was a top spot for crappie, and a customer caught more than 20 to 12 inches on small jigs twitched under floats. Trout anglers will look to the Ramapo River for the first catches of the new season.

Most trout fishers were ready to rumble and will focus on the South Branch of the Raritan River, especially at Clinton, said Chris at <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. Power Baits and worms take down plenty, but fly casters can send out small, size-14 bead-headed nymphs. Largemouth bass should start to feed again in Spruce Run Reservoir, and live shiners will fill the bill. Try looking around the coves and the shallows.

Trouters wanting to bend a rod will be on the Big Flatbrook or Farrington Lake, said Ron from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. Fly rodders should throw sizes 12 to 16 bead-headed nymphs, sizes 8 to 10 streamers and sizes 14 to 16 caddis patterns in tan. Spin-fishers should cast Mepps single-hooked Wooly Worms or yellow, No. 1 Roostertails.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Ken Lockwood Gorge, a special regulation section for trout that allows fishing despite the closed season, was a major producer of the fish, said Bob from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Check the regs before fishing there. He and two other anglers combined for 32 released brook trout, all upwards of 12 inches. Blue-winged olive flies and gold-ribbed hare’s ears were producers. Anglers this weekend will fish the Pequest and the Musconetcong to pull on trout as the season opens.

Everybody was looking forward to opening day of trout season, said Andrew from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Wall. The Manasquan and Toms rivers will be the main waters, bustling with anglers. Fly casters can try egg patterns and nymphs, while spin-fishers can launch Power Baits, nightcrawlers and meal worms. Spring Lake will be ripe for picking away at breeders, because it was stocked heavily. The shop’s annual Kids Fishing Day will be held at its pond on the grounds from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on opening day, Saturday. Kids ages 5 to 11, accompanied by an adult, can take part and are allowed to keep two trout each.

Trout anglers were chomping at the bit to hit the Toms River, said Jim from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in the town of Toms River. Power Baits and Roostertails will be the perfect choice to land a limit. Largemouth bass anglers listen up: The store is holding an insane sale on spinner baits at $1 apiece and bags of favorite plastics, including Fin-S Fish, Senkos and Culprits, also $1. Hurry and load up for the bass season!

Shad sometimes gave up action on the Delaware River, said Frank from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> of Robbinsville. Occasional gizzard shad and herring were in the mix to boot, and Sabiki rigs and shad darts took most fish. Striped bass were also trickling up, and linesiders to 28 inches sometimes inhaled live herring. Trout casters will get on the Lambertville stretch of the Delaware and Raritan Canal to pull on opening-day fish. Be sure to stop in and take advantage of the shop’s sale, featuring 10 to 20 percent discounts until Saturday.

The crappie bite was on fire at Carnegie Lake, said Tony at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown, and small, curly grubs were attracting the fish. Lake Assunpink offered its share of crappies along the shoreline, and chain pickerel and crappies were both biting at the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Lakes. On the Delaware River the season’s first shad started to be fought toward the Trenton power plant, and red and white shad darts got hit.

Pickerel were the main fare at the ponds off Route 9, said Dale at <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> in Waretown. The Wells Mills Ponds on Route 532 also drew attention from pickerel anglers, and try using live shiners or small crank baits for the feisty fish.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Opening-day trout-season anglers will pay attention to Grenloch Lake, Oak Pond and Rowan’s Pond, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> of Blackwood. Blackwood Lake offered largemouth bass, and so did Lake Rene, and they ate live shiners. One angler wrestled in a big, 30-inch muskie at Medford Lakes.

Trouters will concentrate on the stocked waters at Iona Lake, Grenloch Lake and Oak Pond, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown, and Power Baits will be the No. 1 choice. A largemouth bass tournament on Wilson Lake last week resulted in 15 bucketmouths taken, showing that the bass were beginning to wake up from the winter slumber.

Largemouth bass fishing was picking up every week, said Steve from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. The fish, warming up day by day on the flats, were starting to grab spinner baits in the shallows at Daretown Lake, Elmer Lake and Cedarville Lake. The Salem Canal was the place for a solid crappie feed on twister tails, mini tubes and Road Runners, and yellow and white scored best. Herring began to move up the Maurice River, and stripers were on their tails, because shorts were hooked and released.

Herring began to push up the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Sabiki rigs were hanging some, and savvy anglers were livelining the baitfish back in hopes for a striped bass. Word did come around that a keeper striper was bagged from the river. Both herring and bloodworms will be best baits for the upcoming striper run there.

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