<b>PENNSYLVANIA</b>

As if the Delaware River’s smallmouth fishing could get hotter, the river got another injection of activity with the fish, said Bill from <b>Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Philadelphia. One customer waded along the Yardley islands, catching more than 45 smallies on fathead minnows and Rebel poppers. Another hit the Lambertville stretch, popping up bronzebacks to 15 inches. Yet another fished the New Hope section, tallying an average of 50 smallmouths per day on minnows and grubs. Other hot spots stretched from Frenchtown to Point Pleasant, and afternoons were best. The Point Pleasant area also held a fair share of walleyes and 1- to 4-pound catfish, and the walleyes honed in on fatheads, and the catfish nibbled on shrimp, herring, chicken livers, bagels, nightcrawlers and cut eels. The Tacony area of the river offered small striped bass that ate up shrimp and bloodworms, as one angler stuck five of the fish to 18 inches, along with 18 catfish that eagerly inhaled the same baits. Large schools of herring and shad were moving through the river.

<b>NEW JERSEY</b>

<b>North Jersey</b>

Merrill Creek Reservoir was a best bet, said Bill from <b>Bill’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Phillipsburg. Paul Nunes hooked a 4.4-pound largemouth bass at the impoundment. The Delaware River put out smallmouth and walleye action, but it was a little off. John Johnson nailed a 5.8-pound walleye and a 7.7-pound catfish from the Big D.

Northern pike went on a tear in the Passaic River during the weekend, said Adrian from <b>Fairfield Fishing Tackle</b> in Montville. Anglers tossed out spinner baits and Mepps bucktail spinners to land pike from 4 to 12 pounds from the banks. The cool, fall weather just might’ve sparked the northerns to get on a feed, and they might charge hard through October.

Hybrid striped bass were surface feeding at Lake Hopatcong, said Dom at <b>Ramsey Outdoor</b> in Paramus. Customers fished breaking schools with top-water poppers right after dark. Fly rodders plied the waters at Randolph Park with poppers to pull on smaller smallmouth and largemouth bass during the daytime. Lots of anglers made the trek to Pulaski, N.Y., for salmon on the Salmon River, and that fishery should really come around in the next few weeks.

Lots of hybrid striped bass bit live herring in the mornings and evenings in the lake, said Laurie from <b>Dow’s Boat Rentals</b> in Lake Hopatcong. Most were taken off Elba and Pickerel points, and Pete Cusick weighed in a 7-pound 12-ouncer. Jim Welsh caught a half-dozen hybrids 6 1/2 pounds to 8 pounds 11 ounces. Walleyes 3 to 4 pounds were sometimes pulled up from the ridge. Near Brady Bridge yellow perch, crappies and channel cats were on the prowl. The lake’s draw down is 5 feet this year, but waters at Dow’s are deep enough to keep boats available for rent until the end of October.

Trout hounds hit up the Big Flatbrook and the Ramapo River for their fare share, said Tom from <b>Meltzer’s Sporting Goods</b> in Garfield. The fish hung themselves on pink Power Bait and small in-line spinners. Largemouth bass activity was going strong at Cranbury Lake, where the bucketmouths chased after shiners fished under bobbers.

Hybrid bass fishing at Spruce Run was actually on fire, despite water levels being down dramatically, said Jody at <b>Lebanon Sport Shop</b> in Lebanon. The key method was to slow troll herring in the mornings. Smallmouth bass also ran rampant at Spruce, and shiners fooled the fish to 3 pounds. Watch for northern pike to start feeding as the water temperatures drop into a fall pattern. At Round Valley Reservoir lake trout were taken on live herring and Crippled Herring jigs in 70- to 90-foot depths, and both brown trout and rainbow trout should start cruising the shorelines in the next week or two.

Water levels dropped again in local streams, said Ron from <b>Ray’s Sport Shop</b> in North Plainfield. The Musconetcong River seemed to run higher and be the best option for trouting. There was a morning feed right at sunup, and productive flies included a size-16 peacock caddis and sizes 8 to 10 brown or brook trout streamers.

<b>Central Jersey</b>

Trout anglers traveled to Ken Lockwood Gorge, but water levels were low, so the fish were spooky, said Ron at <b>Efinger Sporting Goods</b> in Bound Brook. Drifting a bead-headed nymph through the pools gave the best chance to hook up. Largemouth bass chased down shiners fished along the shorelines of the lake coves.

A mixed bag of species swam the Trilco section of the Toms River, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Small, 8- to 12-inch striped bass attacked small crank baits and spearing, and pickerel whacked shiners. Carp sucked up golden raisins fished on the bottom. Bass casters headed to Deal Lake to jig-n-pig around the concrete house structures, pulling away at catches.

Largemouth anglers lifted bass from Lake Assunpink, Carnegie Lake and Gropp’s Lake, said Sean at <b>Harry’s Army and Navy</b> in Robbinsville. Soft plastic lures worked around the weed beds convinced the fish to strike. A good word came in that Lake Mercer dished out muskies to 30 inches on large shiners. Smallmouth bass anglers had a ball on the Delaware River, especially at Frenchtown.

Smallmouth fishing was an all-day affair on the Delaware River, said Carl from the <b>Sportsmen’s Center</b> in Bordentown. A variety of offerings worked, including 4-inch Senkos, Fin-S Fish, twister tails, Matzuo poppers and Yozuri Pins Minnows. They all hung bass from Dingman’s Ferry to Trenton. Largemouth bass fishing was solid as well, and smaller lakes such as Gropp’s, Stone Tavern and Rising Sun gave up plenty in the early to mid mornings. Top waters such as Zara Spooks and spinner baits dragged across the surface got attention.

<b>South Jersey</b>

Smallmouth fishing was tops on the Delaware River, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b> in Brooklawn. The river from the Walt Whitman Bridge to Big Timber Creek held them, especially at RiverWinds, around the docks and piers and along the grass beds around the creek mouths. Rick caught five smallmouths to 18 inches on Sweet Beavers. Largemouth bassers found Wilson Lake and Greenwich Lake productive with soft plastics and shiners cast around the brush piles. Stewart Lake was home to a mix of largemouths and crappies hitting marabou jigs. The area lakes as a whole seemed to be turning over, and bigger bass should be on the bite as the waters cool down.

Local lakes gave up decent bass catches, said Ed from <b>Creek Keepers</b> in Blackwood. Blackwood Lake was the most consistent, and shiners took the fish. The spillway area of the lake attracted hordes of sunfish for fun fights. Grenloch Lake and Lake Rene were pickerel hangouts, and the chainsiders hammered shiners. Some anglers said Oak Pond’s fishing was slow, but a move to New Brooklyn Lake gave up a sustained pickerel chew.

Cooler water temps sparked a few largemouth bass to chomp, said Lou from the <b>Sportsman’s Outpost</b> in Williamstown. Parvin’s Lake gave up several sizeable bigmouths for one customer who cast small spinner baits and Mann’s Minus-1 crank baits. Iona Lake was the top spot for another customer who had bass to 3 1/2 pounds that pummeled Senkos and Culprit worms. Stella’s farm pond produced a mess of slab-sized bluegills that eagerly pounced on minnows and garden worms.

Parvin’s Lake was turning over well now, and bass there were getting aggressive, said Zack at <b>Blackwater Sports Center</b> in Vineland. Small crank baits and chrome with blue Rat-L-Traps hooked the fish in the mornings. Union Lake was a place to try for quality largemouths. Fish and Wildlife's Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries completed habitat enhancement projects in South Jersey, with recycled evergreen trees and artificial structures deployed at four lakes. <a href="http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artlakeprojects08.htm" target="_blank">Click here</a> for info on which lakes, including GPS coordinates for the artificial habitats.

Catfish were the mainstay in the Maurice River, said Ki at <b>Huck’s Place</b> in Millville. One- to 5-pounders got attracted to anything with lots of smell, such as Mr. Catfish stink bait and cut herring. The river’s anglers awaited the movement of striped bass back into the river, and that could happen any day, with water temps dropping.

Back to Top