<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Striped bass galore was the story on the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. He fished the Trenton area and landed seven stripers to 29 inches and seven catfish to 6 pounds. A customer threw Bomber plugs above the Calhoun Street Bridge and fought stripers 24 to 36 inches, and several tackled good catches of bass, including 33- to 43-inchers, between the Betsy Ross and Ben Franklin bridges, all on chunked herring or clams. Shad were taken from the river at the Water Gap, Easton, Narrowsburg, Calicoon and Long Eddy on smaller darts and spoons. The river’s smallmouth bass fishing started to pick up, and one customer fished for them at Byram along the wall to reel in 12 that bit minnows on a chartreuse bucktail.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

River and stream fishing held up, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. On the Delaware River, Matt Storm, 11, released a 2-pound smallmouth bass, and Tyrone Smull bested a 5-pound brown trout. Kyle Rodgers fished near the Columbia Dam and muscled in a 22-pound carp. Merrill Creek Reservoir produced on all fronts. Charles Green fished there and nailed a 5-pound 4-ounce brown trout, and Kevin Fenton plied the impoundment and released two 4- and 5-pound smallmouths. Chris Bogoly hit Lake Hopatcong and drilled a 5-pound walleye.

Water levels were fishable all around, said Adrian at <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. The Passaic River started to dish out smallmouth bass, and nightcrawlers or salted shiners floated underneath a bobber found some, and keeping the baits off the bottom was key. Lake Hopatcong anglers scored nighttime action on walleyes and hybrid stripers, and live herring hung both.

Largemouth bass were beginning to come off the spawning beds, said Kevin at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. An 8-pound bucketmouth was supposedly caught and released at Lake Hopatcong. Walleyes and hybrid stripers were strongly feeding at the coves and off the points, and live herring fit the bill. The Rockaway River was the best trout spot, and small, size-14 sulfurs worked well.

The lake warmed, and fish started to bite again, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Rich Morgan weighed in a 6-pound 2-ounce walleye, and Roman Pera and gang pinned down a good mix of action that included 4-pound-plus walleyes, stripers to 7 pounds and a 3-pound 8-ounce rainbow trout. Pickerel to 4 pounds were seen, and several anglers reported catching loads of trout. Most all the fish were caught on herring, Rapala Countdowns and in-line spinners. Rumors circulated about muskies chasing big swimming plugs in the shallows.
 
Pickerel and bass were hooked all around, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. Shephard’s Lake was a hot spot for a customer who tricked a mix of picks and bass on live shiners. The Pompton Lakes spit out 10 largemouth bass for another who tossed small, rubber worms. John Panici tried Lake Hopatcong and got five quality pickerel to 3 pounds and 11 largemouth bass from 12 and 14 inches at the Woodport and River Styx areas.

Largemouth bass got frisky on the South Branch of the Raritan River, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. One to 3-pounders walloped Senko worms dropped underneath overhanging trees along the banks. Trout anglers picked away at stockers on the Clinton Stretch of the South Branch on size-14 flashback Hare’s Ears.

Fly anglers landed plenty of trout, said Ron from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. Flashback Hare’s Ears and March Browns earned strikes on the Flatbrook, and sulfurs and olive, tan caddis flies were the deal on the Musconetcong. Beetle patterns worked best on the Black River, and olive caddis and sulfurs were the choice on the Pequest. On the South Branch March Browns and black quills were the secret.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

All streams were fishable and fairly clear, said Mark from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b>  in Bound Brook. Trouters should be able to locate leftover stockers and breeders recently put in the local streams. Though largemouth bass were again beginning to feed after the spawn, remember that the season for them is closed until June 15, so all bass must be released!

Lake Riviera was a hotbed of activity for pickerel and largemouth bass, especially right off the dirt road, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Forge Pond held a mix of pickerel as well as trout that punched Roostertails. The Ocean County College pond was a fun spot to battle channel catfish on herring chunks. The treelines and edges of Manasquan Reservoir began to hold post-spawn largemouth bass that jumped on Senkos cast out and twitched. A couple of bucketmouths and carp came from Spring Lake.

Customers talked about a few striped bass taken from the Trenton stretch of the Delaware River, said Eric from <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Live herring were still best baits if you could Sabiki jig a few of the remaining baitfish in the waters. Largemouth bass seemed to be waking up everywhere, and Mercer Lake, Lake Assunpink, and Gropp’s Lake all gave up the bigmouths on spinner baits, Senkos and Doc Waters tubes. Trout anglers could hang the fish from deeper sections of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, as the waters began to warm up. Try pink Power Baits.

Bucketmouth bass were on an early morning chew at Lake Assunpink and Gropp’s Lake, said Carl at the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Creature baits, crawfish patterns and lizards all drew action. At the Lambertville run on the Delaware River, smallmouth bass started to key in on Zoom Fat Albert grubs on ¼-ounce jigheads. Catfishing, including for 15- and 20-pounders, was on a tear on the Big D, and dunk stink baits or chunked herring for a connection.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Stafford Forge Pond was a solid bet for landing chain pickerel, said Scott at <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Mystic Island. Anglers could also head to Tuckerton Lake to pick up a medley of stocked trout, yellow perch, pickerel and largemouth bass. Live shiners or fathead minnows will take all the species.

Trout kept anglers busy at Grenloch Lake and Oak Pond, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. New Brooklyn Lake doled out a tangle with chain pickerel, and a 6-pound water wolf was caught there on a live shiner. Smaller model largemouth bass smacked live shiners at most lakes, including Lake Rene, Lake Arial, Lake Worth and Blackwood Lake. The fishery should only get better as the bass fully come off the spawning beds.

Pickerel and largemouth bass were now the prime suspects. Oak Pond and Malaga Lake both produced, and fathead minnows and killies gained the bites, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown.

Warmer weather sparked largemouth bass to feed, said Zack from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. The Salem Canal and Sunset Lake put out the bigmouths for anglers flipping jigs into heavy cover. Sunset Lake offered good crappie fishing on small jigs and spinners. Catfishing was a steady source of hook-ups on the Maurice River, with 3- to 6-pound whiskerfaces inhaling herring chunks dropped to the bottom.

Striped bass still moved in and out with the tides on the Maurice River, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. High tides produced the most, and live herring, if you could find herring, was the best bet. White perch on the river ate up bloodworms floated on a 2-foot leader, and catfish were strongly feeding along the river bottom. Use stink baits or cut herring to claim the bottom brawlers.

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