<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

Smallmouth bass fishing reigned supreme on the Delaware River, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. The New Hope stretch produced a mess of larger smallies to 19 inches, and the Treasure Island section seemed to give up larger quantities, with reports of up to 50 a trip. One customer fished there for a catch of 27 smallmouths, nine striped bass and six catfish that bit minnows, crawfish and hellgrammites. Minnows fished on a floating jighead worked well for anglers. A bit farther upstream another customer waded the upper side of New Life Island, reeling in 23 smallies and a largemouth bass while using poppers, Zara spooks, Rat-L-Traps and buzz baits. The river at Yardley, the wing dam and Washington’s Crossing were other haunts that held a fair share of smallies, including larger ones from 16 to 19 ½ inches. Those fish chased down Zoom grubs and fathead minnows, and anglers averaged 20 to 40 per trip.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Merrill Creek Reservoir was a shining gem for fishing, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Catches included Kevin Fenlon’s 5-pound 12-ounce largemouth bass and John Moser’s 5-pound largemouth and 4.4-pound brown trout. The Delaware River was running pretty clear, despite rains, and anglers hooked plenty of smallmouths and occasional largemouths, including Carl Reddington 5.3-pound bucketmouth. Sierra Ditmar, 9, fished Delaware Lake, scoring a 3-pound largemouth bass.

Heavy rains were welcome, because they filled up the Passaic River, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. But waters will remain muddy until later in the week. Once the river gets clean, look for largemouth and smallmouth action to heat up at the Route 80 Bridge. Senkos and gold Rapala Countdowns with a black back or other suspending crank baits will get strikes.

Local streams ran high and muddy but should clean up by week’s end, said Dom from <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. The Rockaway River should be the first stream to try, because the banks did overflow, but anglers could cast in the white water from the crosswalks with heavy lead split shots to catch trout that waited in the ripples. Use nightcrawlers or meal worms that tend to stay on the hook better in faster currents. Kevin from the store fished Greenwood Lake, nabbing a dozen largemouth and smallmouth bass that smacked Sweet Beavers.

The lake ran about 5 feet low, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong, but boaters found hybrid striped bass and walleyes that ate up live herring around the points that were still submerged. Crappies and yellow perch could be found in the deeper sections of the coves, pouncing on small jig, and both largemouth and smallmouth bass crushed Senkos in the early mornings at the coves. One angler released a 45-inch muskie as well. The shop’s rental boats will stay in the water through October.

Greenwood Lake offered the best action, said Al from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield, and largemouth bass attacked darker colored Senkos before and after the rains. The lake seemed to be turning over a bit, and the chew will be spotty until it turns over completely, falling into the autumn pattern. That should take place in a week or two.

The Round Valley trout bite slowed a little, said Chris from <b>Lebanon Bait & Sport Shop</b>. But persistent anglers at the reservoir could send down shrimp and Power Bait combos to latch into rainbows. Some anglers picked away at yellow perch, hybrids and largemouth bass at Spruce Run Reservoir, mostly in the early mornings or late evenings. The South Branch of the Raritan River should be fishable by Friday for trouters after the high waters.

Although many anglers shunned the rains, it will improve fishing in local streams, said Ron from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The downpours were well needed to fill them up, remaking pools and runs. Spots such as the Pequest River and the Musconetcong River should be fishable first by this morning, and trout will follow streamers in sizes 8 to 10, black wooly buggers in size 12 and bead-headed nymphs in sizes 14 to 16.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

The word from customers was that Round Valley Reservoir offered decent trout fishing, and shrimp and Power Bait combos were the baits, said Ron from <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Spruce Run Reservoir hosted daily catches of yellow perch, crappies and smaller largemouth bass, and garden worms and grub tails picked away there. The shop stocked a new batch of Boyd Duckett Carrot Stick Rods that are extremely lightweight and ultra-sensitive. Stop by to feel one out.

Pickerel were on a steady feed along the boat launch area at Lake Shenandoah, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Killies fished under bobbers took them to 2 pounds. Lake Riviera produced crappies and largemouth bass on shiners, especially from the dirt road that splits the lake. At the Trilco stretch of the Toms River white perch and small striped bass whacked minnows and Rapala crank baits. Heads up: The shop is holding a blowout freshwater sale this week into next, and stop in to load up on all sorts of goodies.

Bronzeback hunters on the Delaware River got the job done at Trenton, Bull Island and Scudder’s Fall, said Ryan at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. The smallmouths inhaled wacky-rigged Senkos and Rapala X-Raps. Ryan lambasted a whopper, 6-pound largemouth bass on a Senko out of Gropp’s Lake and also released a 5-1/2-pound, 27-inch chain pickerel out of Tindall’s Pond. Lake Mercer served up good numbers of 2-pound largemouths that mouthed Senkos and live minnows. In Lake Assunpink yellow perch got aggressive in the coves, and pink Trout Magnets hung them.

Bass fishing was a solid bet at Lake Assunpink and Lake Mercer, said Tony from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. Nightcrawlers worked best lately, out-fishing shiners. The Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area lakes were home to a ton of chain pickerel and large, slab-sized crappies. Fathead minnows took both with consistency, and look for brush piles to find the crappie schools.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Plenty of catfish were around to keep anglers busy, said Rick at <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. Whiskerfaces from 5 to 9 pounds sucked up dead-herring cut baits at Mantua Creek, Woodbury Creek and Raccoon Creek. Largemouth bass anglers waited for the ponds to clean up from the rains, and once the waters settled, morning top-water action should continue, especially around docks and pilings. Blackwood Lake, Stewart Lake and Newton Lake will be prime places. Tiger muskies were reportedly active at Big Timber Creek. Bring extra large shiners or cast out 2-ounce spinner baits to illicit a strike.

After the tough weekend of weather, this week should turn around with better conditions for fishing, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Spots such as Blackwood Lake, Lake Worth and Clementon Lake should all be worthwhile largemouth locales, and the waters should clean up by late in the week. Swim shiners for a hook-up.

Wilson Lake’s 13th annual Kids Fishing Derby takes place this weekend, said Lou at the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Be prepared with plenty of garden worms and minnows to catch an array of sunfish, pickerel, largemouth bass and crappies. Some anglers came in to buy fatheads to go to the local sandwashes to pick out bucketmouth bass to 4 pounds.

Local lakes got a much needed refresher with the rains, said Jeff from <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Despite the weather, dedicated bass anglers pulled on the fish at Union Lake and Blackwood Lake. But bass masters waited for the lakes to turn over to make the bass establish the fall feeding pattern. Best bets for now were to throw Senkos, slow twitching them.

The Maurice River kept dishing out a mess of catfish, said Ki from <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. Cut herring baits and Mr. Catfish stink baits landed the kitties to 6 pounds. A good word of carp fishing came in from the Union Lake dam area, where 5- to 10-pounders gobbled up Uncle Josh carp bait. Wrap some of the doughy paste on a size-4 hook and send it out to the bottom.

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